Pregame

Traveling by motorbike requires packing light. We both limited ourselves to about a briefcase-sized bag of clothing for three weeks of travel. Basically, take a good look at today's outfit: it looks remarkably like tomorrow's outfit. You may want to look at it from a distance is all I'm saying.

We attended the mandatory pre-race meeting which was notable for its marked lack of useful information and abundance of other rider's TMI. A guy that did the race last year told us he travelled with 26 pounds of gear last year. He got it down to 18 lbs this year with the following strategy: he will wear the same jeans and shirt for the entire 10 to 12 days he expects it to take him to finish. His one concession to hygiene, and I use this term loosely, is that he will change his drawers daily and just throw away the dirty pair each day. As an aside, he wasn't wearing a wedding ring. Quelle surprise, eh?

I mean, I get it: this event involves a level of personal funk that can only be tolerated by either limiting one's exposure to other humans that have observable noses or by providing a generous dollop of personal space in all interactions. But fer cryin' out loud, pack some extra clothes, man! It isn't like you have to carry the extra 8 lbs of clothes yourself, dude. The motorcycle does the work!

Actually, other riders were extremely friendly and generous with advice. While race officials refused to announce the total number of participants, it looked like about 250. there are 20 women riding. One of the other women was telling us about riding last year. She rode most of the way with a guy she met along the way. She said he was so handy, he was like McGuyver. he was the kind of guy that could start a fire with nothing but a shoelace. That's a pretty good quality for a traveling companion, I guess, unless you own a lighter or have the 99 cents required to purchase one at the nearest 7-11.

I think what i am trying to convey here is that These are hard core people. I, on the other hand, have a core made of stay-puft marshmallow that thrives in cool, comfortable conditions. Preferably surrounded with chocolate. And maybe a graham cracker. We will see what tomorrow brings.