“Congratulations! Your application was drawn for entry in the 2019 Iron Butt Rally!”

Those thirteen words (OK twelve words and a number) set my heart a-beating in a completely different rhythm when I first opened the email from Lisa Landry, the rallymaster of the IBR. The day had been foretold, of course, for a few months and mutterings were heard in all corners of the LD riding digi-verse, counting down the days until the drawing announcement scheduled for April 1 – the day that fools get all the attention.

The Iron Butt Rally is the toughest street motorcycle endurance riding competition in the world. 11,000 miles in 11 days is the tagline, though actual mileage varies from rider to rider. The game involves not only crossing the continental US and often Canada to multiple checkpoint locations, but also collecting points by visiting “bonus” locations for a photograph or other proof of visitation, calling in to the rally staff during specified time windows, and taking rest breaks when appropriate and as needed. It is a test of mental acuity and toughness as much as it is physically gritting out the long miles in the saddle. Readers of this blog have read my tales of riding similar rally events over the past few years – wonderful and fun events all, they are all roughly based on the IBR’s formula and pale in scope. This is the Big Leagues.

I had dared to drop my application into the vast bucket of dashed hopes and dreams back in January 2018, not knowing if I truly was/am ready to face this challenge yet, should my name be drawn from the void. I’d had a heart-to-heart talk and gotten buy-in and support, if not permission, from my wonderfully understanding wife Charlotte, who puts up with my restless traveling spirit and partners with me in many of my adventures.

“Of course you’re going to do it, and I’ll support you, though I’ll miss you,” says she.
“Only a SpotWalla link away!” I said, already clicking send on the email message containing my application.