Longhaulpaul's Chasing the Cure

New Hampshire to Bike Week in Daytona, by way of Dallas

I wanted to call this post, Frozen Nipples and Fried Testicles, but decided against it. For the past few years, I have braved mother nature and made the migration south from New Hampshire to Daytona for Bike week. Well, mostly to attend the Iron Butt annual gathering in Jacksonville to break bread and tell lies to 300 other long distance riders.

 

 

When I got the call in February inviting me to give a talk at a national sales meeting the same week, I replied, “Absolutely yes. Where?”

“Dallas.”

“The one in Texas?”

No problem. It was 2000 miles to Dallas, another 1100 or so to Jacksonville, and then 1200 miles home. Not a bad catch towards my million mile goal, and besides the three feet of snow in my yard, the 6″ of snow forecasted for Dallas and the giant storm travelling the entire country east; my real issue was locating some decent beef jerky.

(Jerky Sponsorship needed here)

 

 

I will admit I tried not to look at the forcast 48 hours before leaving. I wasn’t changing plans and I don’t own a trailer or truck. The entire trip was at risk, and I didn’t have a good contingency plan.

It was cold when I left home and the temperature continued to drop for the first 300 miles, but I was able to get out of Dodge, and on time.

 

 

My first night was spent at a friend’s just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. With the promise of  ribs smoked all day long and a dozen home brews to choose from, it was clearly better than any 5 star hotel. It turned into a neighborhood cook out! It was a little warmer in North Carolina, about 50 degrees.

 

 

An early morning came fast and off I went,  heading west now, but again with the temperture dropping the more I rode. The day started at 5:00 am, with the temperatures around 40 degrees, and within an hour floating about freezing.  It never went above 42 degrees all day and riding through the Smokey Mountains was quite interesting as one lane was entirely covered in ice. Stuck behind the 18 wheelers at 20 mph, I had no place safe to pass. I finally made it to Memphis where Hotel Tonight and Apple Pay had effortlessly booked me a room for a decent amount. It drizzled the last 50 miles and I was cold!

 

All I wanted was a warm shower, a beer and some famous Memphis BBQ. I parked the bike for the night and eventually took a shuttle bus to Central BBQ to enjoy some pulled pork. It was sitting in the restaurant when I realized something was wrong with the camera of my new Iphone 6+, it would not focus anymore and all my pictures were fuzzy. Lucky for me, the phone has a pretty decent front facing camera.

Unlucky for you, the rest of my trip’s photos all had to be selfies!

 

 

The next day’s ride from Memphis to Dallas was cold and torrental rain. When I arrived at the plush hotel, I parked in the garage, unpacked and waddled my way to the front desk. The attendees were unaware an MS patient would be presenting at their conference and my talk was to be used to inspire them after the first long day of training.

The stream of water trailing me was impossible to hide, and dressed in full riding gear, I was leaking all over the marble floor. It would have been more  embarrassing if I wasn’t so cold and tired. I certainly looked out of place amongst the smartly dressed guests and I whispered my name to the reservation clerk, as if I were at the pharmacy retrieving my prescription for head lice.  I knew once I could unload and clean up, the identity of the weary and wet vagabond would remain my little secret.

 

 

Welcome to a hot shower, $4 for a water and pay TV. The room was very, very nice, had a great view and a decent glove dryer. I laid all my gear out across the room, it was all soaked!

 

 

A few hours after my arrival, I was scheduled for a rehearsal for my talk, and was quite amazed when I opened the ballroom doors, and how much effort was put into my introduction and the background behind the stage. I had never presented to a crowd of this magnitude before, there were going to be close to 1000 attendees! I reworked my talk multiple times over the next 24 hours, rehearsed it a dozen times and practiced with the new teleprompter App I had just put on my Ipad. It would scroll my speech at a predetermined speed, and I could control it with a wi-fi clicker device from Airturn. It was a trusting experiment, as if it crashed or messed up, I was stuck looking like an idiot.

I wanted my positive message to be powerful, funny and memorable, while explaining how truly grateful I am for what they do, after all, after 10 years since my diagnosis, my disease had not progressed. Because of changes I made in my life, I was healthy and happier than before getting MS.  I was following my passion, made possible because of advances in MS medications. I also believe we soon will find the cause of Multiple Sclerosis, learn to repair the damage, and eventually find the cure. So what these people do every day is personal, and important.

It worked!

My talk was well accepted, and I don’t remember paying for a single drink the rest of the evening!

 

 

Things felt a little weird back in my room, glad I wasn’t driving.

 

 

 

The next morning I took off, it was bit warmer with finally seeing the sun.  Most of my gear had dried out. I wanted to travel the Texas panhandle and stay in Panama City, but evertime I tried to ride the coastal route, it started to rain, drizzle or I got stuck in traffic. I ditched that idea and called the hotel where the Iron Butt party was being held to see if I could arrive a day earlier than my reservation. I was assured they had a room for me and drove the entire 1100 miles to Jacksonville. I arrived quite spent, but a warm shower and a dry bed fixed that.

The next morning I decided to head to Daytona where all the action was. I promised my friends at Twisted Throttle I would stop by, and always visit with my friends who run demos rides for Yamaha. In all the planning and packing at home, I had completely forgotten Florida was warm, and was soon overcome with the noon heat. Thanks to Kevin at Twisted Throttle, I was escorted into an air conditioned trailer to recuperate. I really wished I had brought my CTC-100 cooling system. How stupid was I?

 

 

 

 

After escaping from the heat attack I experienced at the race track, Siri located an Apple store so I could see if they could fix my cellphone camera. I entered one of only two locations in Florida (at least that’s what they told me why the wait was 4 weeks for an appointment) and soon realized it had been a wasted  side trip.

Sorry, but the selfies in this post will have to continue.

On Thursday evening I was invited to join some New England friends for dinner in Jacksonville at a place called Clark’s Fish Camp. We called for a large cab, and got a ride in an Escalade. Must have been a new driver, because on our return trip we got involved in a YouTube video trying to turn around in the parking lot. Not a scratch on the vehicle during the 32 point turn!

I must say, Clark’s was a very interesting place, I tried some new things and met some interesting creatures. I love restaurants with visual menus. Take your time checking out the pictures, it was quite the place, and I can’t wait to go back next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did I mention I tried something new? It wasn’t mayonnaise.

Check out this page of the menu. I could have ordered a Llama wrap but decided to go completely nuts.

 

 

Something told me I just had to order the local brew.

But the appetizer I ordered, that was all me.

 

 

 

I have to say, just between you and me, the Bison Balls were absolutely tasty!

 

 

 

 

Friday evening was the IBA banquet, great food, fun discussions and a chance to see old friends. I handed out lots of flyers for my two fundraisers.

 

 

After a week on the road, It unfortunately was also time for the reality check, thinking about the route for home, and someone always has to spoil dessert with the weather forecast.

 

 

 

 

 

For me and a few others from the New England area, we were getting snow, late Saturday and into Sunday. This was a problem. We decided to start early Saturday morning and try to make New Hampshire before the snow.

Racing Mother Nature can be tricky. It was very close.

 

 

 

 

It was one of the wettest rides ever, but thanks to two good friends, we made it home safe, 22 hours and 1200 miles.

Daytona by way of Dallas was not a bad start to the riding season, and with 2 feet of snow still on the ground at home, I do know how lucky I am to ride almost every day.

Because of the folks I met in Dallas, I am starting to receive invitations to share my story with others across the country. I am looking at a very busy next couple of months, raising awareness and funds while encouraging others with challenges in life to continue following their passions as well.

Sometimes when life seems overwhelming and tough, we all need a little reminder to embrace challenges, to take the Bison by the horn or the balls, and to never stop chasing those dreams.

– Longhaulpaul

 

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