Today was a BIG day for Motor Maid convention activities. Unlike in recent years, we held the Dot Robinson Road Run (DR3) and the town parade on the same day. The day started at 6 am with the alarm. I (Beth) dressed and walked over to the Holiday Inn next door to pick a number that would tell me my starting position for the DR3. I drew 32. That meant that I would leave at 8:32 a.m. to ride the 60+ mile course. Since it is a timed event averaging 30 mph and the goal is to arrive at “surprise” checkpoints on the way at a specific time, I spent a bit of time writing in the arrival times next to the distance markers on the printed directions. Many motorcycle odometers can be a bit off, and I discovered last year that my odometer registers nearly 2 miles less than the printed directions by the time I reach the end of the 60-mile course. So this year, I relied more on the times when taking certain turns. You do not know where the checkpoints are on the course, so it is important to pace yourself correctly and try to keep as close to 30 mph as possible. Everyone starts with 1000 points, and points are deducted for arriving a minute or more either before or after the time you are expected to arrive at a checkpoint. I think I did pretty well, but some years many riders can have excellent scores and very close scores. We’ll see what the score is tomorrow! Unfortunately, I have no picture of myself actually riding in the DRRR. It’s not my bike, but below is what we do with our numbers so the checkers can identify each rider. We also tape our directions to our tanks or inside our windshields.

The DR3 ended in the town of Powell, about 20 miles away from Cody. By 12:30 p.m., everyone participating in the DR3 had finished, and we enjoyed a nice lunch in the picnic pavilion.

We walked over to the nearby high school football field to get our official group picture in the bleachers.

We reassembled at the fairgrounds on our bikes and took off for the first parade through Powell. We passed through a number of neighborhoods, a day care, the Boys and Girls Club and a nursing home, where the staff and residents were out on the lawn waiving as the 200+ of us, all in our blue and white uniforms and white gloves, passed by honking and waving. At times like these, I wish I had a helmet-mounted camera.

We then took to the highway for a 65 mph jaunt back to Cody for a second parade, but not before traveling a bout 10 miles of it on loose gravel because of a highway resurfacing project (thank you, Federal Redevelopment and Recovery Act!). We rode that segment at about 25 mph!

The Cody parade took us into town and down the main street through the central business district, up and around by the Wal-mart and back down to the hotels. Again, more honking, waving and proud moments for both those riding and those watching. Thanks to Tim for staking out some good positions to take pictures.

Tonight there was a party at Cassie’s a local restaurant and bar just outside of town.

Cassie was originally the town Madam who grew tired of the town officials always coming to her establishment for money/taxes, so she moved her “business” outside of the city limits. Parts of the original building are still there and the current establishment is thriving. Apparently, the move didn’t hurt her business. We had a great time listening to a local singer who turned out some snappy dance tunes and ballads.