Modern Vespa

Cannonball officially starts on Thursday, September 9th. I realize that's almost a week away, but quite a few of the participants are about to start transiting to the starting line in Vancouver, BC. Bagel has already left, in fact, and is doing an Iron Butt from the SF Bay Area up to Vancouver.

This thread is the official place for all MV Cannonballers to post status updates, photos, and anything else relating to their adventure. We're all very eager to hear about it.

This thread has location tracking turned on. Photos emailed to this thread (see the "@" button in the upper-right corner) will be automatically posted with geotag information pinpointed on the map at the bottom. SPOT Messenger status updates sent to this thread via email will similarly be shown on the map.

Good luck, riders, and I'll see you in Vancouver!

EDIT: In addition to our coverage here, you might want to follow the individual blogs of the riders:

(and yes, all the rest of you can post here too...)

Strong winds here in Portland...I blame Bagel.

Yeah. Jesse K said he had beans for breakfast before he left this morning.

Wow, you guys felt that? Actually, that was from the leftover chili that I had for dinner last night. Too bad I couldn't have tapped into that energy source to help power my scooter today, for there was plenty of it to be had!

Unfortunately though, a late start compounded with fuel delivery problems from an insufficiently tested spare tank hampered my endeavor to complete the Iron Butt today. I made it as far as Portland, riding just over 700 miles in 13.5 hours. Somehow, I managed to do that on an extremely insufficient amount of sleep, using far too much caffeine and energy drinks combined with sheer willpower. I don't recommend anyone trying that, it's a very, very bad idea. In any event, I did arrive safe and sound in PDX and I'll make the last hop skip and jump of the remaining 300 miles to the 'Couv tomorrow. I'm going to pass out now... good night!

700 miles in 13.5 hours. Ouch. Ironbutt indeed. Well done!

Oops... make that 700 miles in 15.5 hours. Brain hurts... not working so well right now. Iron butt would have been 1000 miles within 24 hours. Going to pass out now... for real.

Just riding "700 miles" makes my butt sore!!

Just woke-up wondering about ya, B. Damn shame you couldn't make it to BC. But making P-Town in 15.5 is really damn good; took me 10-even for Eugene to home (non-stop).

Another time, man. If I can ever get the GTS running like it should, maybe we can do a shuttle-run Iron-Butt.

Never underestimate the power of a good night's rest; bedtime at 2a/3a and waking at 6a is not considered "enough".

Rest-up and make sure the bike's ready for next week.

How's your ankle holding up, Bagel?

My ankle is doing pretty well, it's still a little tender and I need to be gentle with it, but it's been healing up nicely. My left knee, on the other hand, has quite literally been a real pain (old injury), but that's nothing new.

I would have been up in P-Town a lot sooner if it weren't for the fuel system woes, and if I had gotten more rest. I needed to take a couple of longer breaks along the way just to re-center myself and get ready for the next stretch. As for today, I'm very well rested and ready to rocket the last 300 miles up to Vancouver.

700 miles, so close, but yet so far...

Murray, Dave the Driver and I are on the road heading to pick up Matt and then pointing the truck West and heading for Vancouver.

See you guys there.

Is there a link to the route showing where the Cannonballers are expected to arrive each day?

Best of luck to all Cannonball participants. May the events of the run all be fun ones.

What happened to your fuel, bagel?

We do need some drama. Wouldn't be any fun without...

I suppose that's true, I'm just hoping that there are no serious problems or injuries, that's all

Glasseye and I are going to ride up to Vancouver and ride along with the Cannonballers for Day 1.

Packed and ready to go. Early tomorrow morning (or whenever glasseye gets here) we're off.

8:30 ish....

R

a few pics from Saturday...

My twin Chris helping off load my gear at the family log cabin in the Catskills.


Murray, Simon, and Dave arrive.


The vespa is all loaded up on the trailer. All set to head west!


The truck is filled to the brim!


A fitting statue in the lobby of tonight's Best Western

I've been tracking ScooterMe's iphone here, http://www.scootercannonballrun.com/tracking/index.php?rider=5

You guys should be packing on some miles today.

Big brother is watching.

We're aiming to pile the miles today. 8)

I made some adjustments to my tracking map yesterday. If you PM me your "@" email address for this thread, I can have my tracking map/iphone system auto email your position reports for posting here.

Updated: I finished programing the elevation profile traveled for current day. It uses your reported positions and then does a path look up to Google's elevation API and plots it on a chart that is appended below "Today's" map.

Team Northeast hits Ohio

Indiana!

It got burned up in my cylinder...

Well, first I discovered that I accidentally pinched the fuel line going from the spare tank to the main tank when I put it all together. I thought it was flowing because I rode for a while after hooking it up and filling both tanks, then the next morning I saw that the level had dropped in the spare tank... but it must have only produced a trickle, but not enough to keep the fuel flowing while I was riding WOT. Then fuel got backed up inside the vent line causing it to vapor lock. I thought I had sorted that out, but I forgot to allow the fuel to flow from the spare tank into the main tank before closing the cap on the main tank, which left air sitting inside the fuel line that kept it from flowing into the main tank. I think I have it all sorted out now, I'll be testing it out over the next couple days to make sure.

Hi MV,

It's Karen G. from Portland, Oregon. I'm planning on scooting up to Vancouver either tomorrow or Tuesday for Cannonball.

I wanted to also post a thank you to MVer Danny H from Texas. When I was scooting down to Texas for Amerivespa, I had to replace my rear tire. Couldn't find any in Roswell and didn't have internet access. Danny kindly posted on this list for me asking for help locating a spare. Pistol Pete saw the thread and mentioned it to Mike Bobadilla and Dan Ciccone. They all happened to be in Roswell the same time as me and we were able to ride together to Lubbock(spare tire) and then San Antonio. Thanks for helping me out Modern Vespa.

Cheers,
Karen G.

Well done Team Northeast. Keep truckin till you hit water. When you do turn around and get back as fast as possible

Sorry if this was asked before but where in Vancouver does the Cannonball start on Thursday and at what time?

Have the day off so I may stop by before the start.

If anyone wants any info about Vancouver just let me know.

Cheers,
Dan

Hah. Kinda wonder this miself

We'll be departing early from Vanier Park.

Hopefully Bagel will chime in and confirm, but I believe the plan is for the first batch of scooters to leave at 7am, followed by a second group at 7:30am, and then the final group at 8am.

I think the 50's get to leave at 3am

On the road to Canada.

Wow, I would give anything to be up there riding with you guys! It is pretty exciting watching this unfold.

Yep, that sounds about right to me... on all counts.

And this is only the prelude. Just wait till the real event begins!

Haulin it across
the USA Baby!!!

Today's agenda:

First to conquer the South Dakota grasslands / badlands, Perhaps a sturgis Photo op, wall drug!

a corner of Wyoming and the goal is Montana somewhere... drive till midnight then the stage is set for the run in to Seattle

at 75 mph the truck has been getting 11mpg not bad with 4 guys a full bed.and 4 PTWs.

to team Northeast: don't worry we are off loading 1/2 of the contents of the bed to be shipped down to Oregon, still room...
Cheers,
Murray

I don't know how to make the video a little window to play from the post so you get a linky instead. (Moderator feel free to make it a window, thank)

Enjoy...