Tuesday 9/12
Stage 5: Clarksville, TN to Cape Girardeau, MO
198 Miles

Today was another good one for Jonas and Salvatore, our 1937 Harley-Davidson UL. The ride started from Clarksville in light rain, and ended with a beautiful afternoon in Cape Girardeau, MO. We finished the full day, and earned another 198 points.

We’re still learning some things about Salvatore, including the right amount of oil to add, and when to add it. The team continues to get great advice from other Cannonball riders and support crew. We’re so lucky to be surrounded by these experts who love to do anything they can to keep the old bikes running well, and for every rider to finish as many miles as they can.

Salvatore is starting and running well. The team is beginning to get into a daily routine now that we’re not struggling every day with a motorcycle that was having trouble. Every day we start work about an hour and a half before Jonas’ race start time, do our morning checks and tweaks, get a few things packed onto the bike, and get Jonas into his riding gear.

About half an hour before the start, we’re usually pretty close to being ready. At that time we often take a few pictures and a video to talk about the day ahead. And there’s often a last-minute thing to tweak - Yesterday it was a loose tail light that need a couple extra zip-ties; today we needed to adjust a side mirror at the very last second.

Last-minute mirror adjustment

Last-minute zip-ties on the rear light

The team will go and watch Jonas start, pack the stuff in our hotel rooms, then go back to pack up “Camp 36,” which is the work area we set up around our trailer and van each day. Once all the stuff is packed in the van and trailer, the support crew hits the road. The crew is not allowed to take the same route as the riders, so we’re usually on major highways and interstates to get to our next destination. On the way we’ll often stop to buy whatever supplies we need, or some additional adult BEvERages. Two of us are trying to do a few hours of work per day in our regular day jobs, and are sending work emails and making calls while we’re driving.

Once we get to our next hotel we’ll immediately set up Camp 36, then go to wherever the rider finish line will be for that day. When the riders finish there is often a public display of the bikes. After the display time is finished we’ll go back to the hotel, do the daily maintenance on the bike, take more videos, write blog posts, and have a couple drinks. Then to bed so we can do the same thing all over again the next day. Rinse and repeat.

Jonas had lunch in Paducah, KY. While he was there he was able to meet two old friends that came to see him.

Today’s finish was at John Boardman Pavilion in Cape Girardeau, MO. Cape Girardeau hosted an event at the finish so that the public could come see all the old motorcycles and talk to the riders. Cape Girardeau is a lovely city, and the park is along the Mississippi River. There is a flood wall between the city and the river, and the city has covered the wall with beautiful huge murals. Several hundred people came out, and we had a great evening talking with folks.