Feel free to include the R-rated version !!! -----Original Message----- From: Dave Biasotti [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2002 1:11 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Dave's Great Adventure - Post #2
Well folks, I've got to say that I've talked to Dave practically every day. It's so funny sometimes when I get calls because I never know what to expect (or at what time). Below are are few of the calls I've gotten over the past couple of days, along with my commentary. Keep in mind that this is my first true ld jaunt as "command center controller". All of Dave's other rides have been 1 - 3 days adventures but this one truly is ld riding at its best (and worst sometimes) but all in good fun, here are a few of the calls: - First Call: "Hi honey, the stars are out and its really quite beautiful" (must be one of the 'good days'), "I'm thinking of you" (hmm, this is getting good!), "that ride through the valley coming back Thanksgiving weekend when you were with me" (did I mention it's now 4 a.m.?!). . . "I've been riding all day, couple of great bonus locations and I stay awake by thinking of you" (ok, we'll keep this "G-rated"). . . this was one of the more, shall I say, 'relaxed' conversations. . . . unlike the previous one when it sounded like all HECK was breaking out . . . - Second Call: "You'll never believe this (this is going to be one of the those 90 mph conversations), we've had a great day, picked up a slew of bonuses, we're getting close to the checkpoint - and I got tired - we pull over to the side, take a power nap, and make it to the checkpoint at 8:59 a.m. - collecting extra bonuses because we made it by 9:00 a.m." (cutting it a bit close!!), "did I tell you about all the bonuses??!!!", "Oh, and the Fed Ex packages arrived, I got the new Valentine mounted (I won't tell him just yet what the BILL's going to be. . .), "guess my last one got fried from one to many 'saves'! Gotta get some sleep but Alan and I are doing great. We're planning on sleeping a couple of hours and we'll be back out sometime around 11 a.m." (not exactly my idea of 'sleeping in' while on vacation but ya know, I'm sure none of YOU ever do that, right?!!!) - Third Call: "I'm on the ferry, it takes off at 3:24 p.m. and we arrive at, you guessed it, 3:24 p.m. We are the last to make it, we would've had to blow off the whole Orcas Island bonus if we hadn't made it here on time, we've picked up some time and captured a lot of bonuses, I think we're looking pretty good right now. It's another beautiful day, weather is good and I'm getting to see some places I've never seen before". (so he's made it from SF bay area, to Mexico - started the rally in Mexico, back into the US and now getting to Canada, three flags already, and a lot of miles). - Fourth Call: "Honey, you'll never believe this, it's snowing right now." (ok, so that is one of the few things I'm really not sure to believe - given, its what, JUNE?!!), "yeah, we were heading up this pass, making great time and it started snowing on us. . . not even the truckers have chains at this time of year. We were about 100 yards from a tunnel and couldn't get enough traction to keep going, I started sliding backwards, so I maneuvered my back wheel into some tire tracks and had just enough catch to get going forward again. Thank God for this tunnel, I got off the bike and went back to push Alan into it. (once again, I'm glad he and Alan are traveling together). He was over in the far left lane and had no tire tracks to get into. Man, you don't know how much you appreciate tunnels until you get into a situation like this. I'm not sure what we can do except wait a little bit and see if we can follow either the snow plows (is there such a thing is JUNE?!@) or some car tracks. I took some pictures of us completely covered in snow. . . us, our bikes, the landscape. It's actually quite beautiful but treacherous at best. We're going to stay here and hopefully the snow plows will be here soon." (at this point he sounds pretty hopeful that they'll get some type of resolution soon) - Fifth Call: "It's been snowing like HE _ _ , and we're not going anywhere, seems that the government here in Canada used to provide services but then they turned it over to a private organization. . . and nobody's showing up. . . the cars are blocking the left hand lane so the plows can't get here. . . the truckers are trying to get the cars to stay out of their way, it may come to blows but Alan and I are safe here in the tunnel, at least for now. . . times ticking though and I'm not sure we can make up all the miles we need to in order to make the next check point, it's starting to not look very good". - Sixth Call: "well we finally made it out of the tunnel, we decided to retrace our way back down the hill, there's a center cement divider so we couldn't just turn around, we ended up going back down on our side facing oncoming traffic" (glad I wasn't there! sounds pretty hairy but I'm glad they're safe). . . Alan and I are going to get some breakfast, call Joe Z. and let him know what's been going on. . . hopefully we can find a lower area so that we can head to the check point but with 1300 miles to go, bad roads and a freak weather storm, it's not looking good. I'll call you later once we've had a chance to clear our heads". (at least they're down off the summit and safe). - Seventh Call: "We're not going to be able to make the checkpoint" (I can hear the great disappointment in his voice). I think Alan and I are going to get some sleep and when we wake up, decide whether we're going to keep going or give it up and come home. (this is probably the lowest point I've seen him for some time). I'll call you back when we wake up." - Last Call: "Hi honey, how are things going. . . (he seems pretty rested). Alan and I have talked and even though we've DQ'd, we're going to continue. Told Alan I want to get a picture of me at Santa's house at the North Pole. We're going to head up to the area where we were to check in just to let everyone know that we're ok (albeit a day late) but, heh, we're on vacation and are going to enjoy the rest of the trip, make it to the final checkpoint with all the other riders (if they weren't caught in the same storm) and share a few of our adventures. (I'm actually really glad to hear this. . . my horse was hurt traveling to my last race which, ideally we would have finished top 10 if not top 3 - so I know recovering from a 'disaster' can be very disappointing. . . alas, sharing the time with your compadres at the end can do a lot for the soul. I remember meeting Dave and the gang after the Northwest Passage in '01 and hearing a 'newbie' - first time rider - tell his stories about all the hotels he was going to stay in and the art of discovering what bonuses were all about. I can't remember the guys name, but he made us all laugh - even though he finished with NEGATIVE POINTS!!!) I'll try to continue to keep you posted . . . and although I could be mistaken, Dave's great adventure has only just begun. Alan Barbic, several years ago, got Dave interested in ld riding (when Dave 'helped' him on one of the Iron Butt rides). . . and I distinctly remember Dave saying "I'll never do THAT!" . . . at which point we did the Wine, Woods and Water Tours (a great GTS gathering) and I could tell, it was only the beginning. I'm sure one of these days, I'll be back at "control central" sharing his adventures on the Iron Butt - although, I'm curious what Dave will say at this point - 'never'?! Take care and safe riding, Sandy p.s. now that Dave has a little bit more time on his hands, don't hesitate to call him on his cell phone. If he misses your call, please leave a message. . . your words of encouragement might just be a pretty good salve for his disappointment. -- Dave Biasotti // Fremont, CA hm ph: (510) 249-9429 cell ph: (408) 309-1726 The information contained in this e-mail including any attachments may constitute Corvis Corporation Proprietary Information that is subject to Non-Disclosure Agreement and cannot be disclosed to any other party without the express consent of Corvis Corporation. If you are neither the intended recipient of this e-mail nor responsible for delivering this e-mail to the intended recipient, note that any dissemination, distribution, copying, or retention of this e-mail is prohibited. If you believe you have received this e-mail in error, we request that you notify the sender by return e-mail and then delete this e-mail and any return e-mail immediately.
