Summary: 2018 Cannonball

It is hard to believe that a month has passed since we completed the final stage. Things return to normal, but your mind is able to relive all the events of the month long adventure known as the Cannonball. Certain days and events rise above others, and some are forgotten in the passing of the miles. You never know where or when the takeaway moments are going to come, but they will, and they're yours for a lifetime.

For me, the days with difficulties rise on this list. The days you're tested, when you're backs up against the wall, sink or swim time. That's the Cannonball.

The day from Anamosa to Spirit Lake, changing tubes, patching tubes on the side of the road, racing the clock on the final 30 miles knowing it was going to be close,  approaching the Indian factory and seeing Mike, Patty, and Scott Byrd stopping traffic waving me in, racing up the cone lined entrance, and making it in on time was special.

The day to Sturgis. Two broken intake valves, a stuck exhaust valve, a leaking fuel tank, and running out of gas in the Badlands. All handled on the side of the road. Repairing a intake manifold with a Mt Dew can on Mt Rushmore, then totaling a head 60 miles out. Didn't get an Ace sticker that day, but felt like I earned one. It was a standout.

The day off. We started at 8:00 am and cranked the bike at 10:00 pm. We changed the front head, piston, exhaust valve, both intake valve assemblies, changed the hedstrom carb to a linkert, replaced the wheels, soldered the fuel tank, and reworked the rear fender struts. If working on an old bike is your thing, it doesn't get much better.

And the people make the memories. Mike and Patty were there everyday doing whatever it took to make another day, the day off accomplishments would not have been possible without Joe Gimpel, then all the new friends we made along the way.

Then there's the final day. The celebration, the short ride in. Having lunch overlooking the Columbia River, and the last 2 miles.

2018 was definitely a standout Cannonball. The routes, stops, staff, and organization were all top notch. As far as my performance,  I didn't get my perfect score, but it sure beat the side of a California highway, 28 miles from Carlsbad.



To be continued.........

The Finale

Stage 14 from Spokane Valley to The Dalles Oregon, was another tough 303 mile day. The morning route crossed some barren plains, with the wind blowing strongly in our faces. It never let up, thru the lunch stop at Kennewick, Washington, all along the Columbia River to The Dalles. It was a tough, but uneventful day. Arriving at the Dalles, they had a block party for us, and a late start time for the final stage the next morning.

Sunday morning arrived sunny and clear, and we prepped the bike for the last day. One last pin was cut for the front intake, and we were ready. It's always bittersweet on the last day. You are so ready to get to the finish, but you don't want it to be over.

Team 96 at the last official start 

The route for the final stage was classic. Old highway 30 that had been cut thru the gorge in the early 1900's was fantastic. I eased along, enjoying the final stage, and arrived at the final checkpoint at the Bridge of the Gods, where we were staged for grande finale. Class 1, then Class 2, and finally Class 3 left for the Skamania Lodge across the river!

Staging for the final 2 miles

The 3 Hedstrom Indian arrive at the finish.

The Skamania Lodge, The Grand Finish, overlooking the Columbia River

Spokane Valley: Stage 13

Stage 13 began with a beautiful ride out of Kalispell, along Flathead Lake. We turned west on 28 headed for Washington, and at the first gas everything was fine. But old habits die hard, so at about the 50 mile mark, the front cylinder pushrods bound, and the tig weld broke. This time I had tiewired the bottom half so as not to loose the cup, and was able to save it. It happened on a pretty decent climb, but the bike made it to the top, so I packed the pieces in my tool roll, and soildered on on just the rear cylinder. I thought I would get as many miles as possible, but soon noticed the bike was moving along pretty well. At speed, the front cylinder intake valve was working like an atmospheric valve, with the most noticeable differences at low rpms, and starting from red lights.

But soilder along we did, and made all 254 miles into Lone Wolf Harley Davidson that evening.

Princess "Half-a-day": the 1 cylinder twinn

The reoccurring theme of this trip has definitely been trying to nurse a sick Indian to the finish each day. Long days and late nights are the norm, and it seems each day brings the same challenges. So tonight, I'm going to try to sleeve the pushrod and silver solder it, then redo the valve domes and grind new lifter pins. Afterall, It's the Cannonball.

Stage 11 and 12: The Mountains

Stage 11, 248 miles from Billings to Great Falls Montana. The day should be spectacular. Heading towards Glacier Park in NW Montana, the route would prove to be great. After a run up the high plains, we turned onto US 89, The Kings Hill Senic Byway. Beautiful road up to the pass, with a nice steep climb at the end. The old singlespeed Indian did fine, but I decided I would gear down for Glacier the next day.

I have ridden Going to the Sun Road before on modern bikes, but you never know on these antiques. The weather decided to cooperate, but Jason still gave us the option to bypass Logan's Pass. Most riders chose the pass, and it was a special ride. 

Entering Glacier National Park

The Sun was shining on the way up, with sleet and snow at the top. The steep descent towards west Glacier it was spitting rain and foggy. Still a beautiful ride, and the old Indian preformed well.

Tonight we are in Kalispell Montana. Gonna change the gearing back and get ready for Spokane Valley.

Stage 10: The Day After

Stage 10 would be 300 miles from Sturgis to Billings Montana. We had finally arrived at the stages I had been looking forward to, with open roads and beautiful scenery. After a long day off, the #96 Indian is at the start for the 7:00 am start.

The morning was cool and crisp and the first 50 miles clicked off without a hitch. The first gas came and went, and as is typical with this motor, it doesn't like to start and stop. So at about 50 miles I noticed a drop in power, and looked down to see the front cylinder intake pushrod and lifter pins had been ejected. I soildered on for another 100 miles on 1 cylinder, then lost the rear cylinder due to a stuck intake valve. I changed the valve, spring, cage, and seal again, but the pushrods was not the correct length, and immediately broke the rocker.  So I had made it to Montana, only to be waiting on the bus.

Big Sky Country, not far from Custer's Last Stand

Another long night in the motel parking lot, but we figured out the problem with my valve geometry. All the spares were different lengths, and the valve stems were different lengths also, so we made the correct length pushrods and lifter pins. We also decided the new intake valves were to tight on the guides, so we opened them up.

Hopefully tomorrow we'll be back on track.