Gary Hoops Last 24 Hours 4 Corners Tour I am writing this to tell a story about my last 24 hours of the USA Four Corners Motorcycle Tour I rode recently. I do give you a little background prior to the real story. Some of you are motorcycle riders and will be able to relate. Hopefully for those of you that are not you will be able to follow along and feel what I felt. BACKGROUND Most of you know that I had been planning on doing the USA Four Corners Motorcycle Tour. The motorcycle tour must be ridden entirely on your motorcycle. There are 4 official checkpoints. I chose to ride them in this order; 1) Key West, FL 2) San Ysidro, CA 3) Blaine, WA and finally 4) Madawaska, ME. I have 21 days to complete the ride from the postmarked date on my first checkpoint mailing. A pre-addressed envelope is mailed from each checkpoint containing proof of visit. I spent some time in planning my route and figuring out the time table. I figured I could do it in 17 days, which would give me 4 days for unplanned events. In my planning, I knew I would need at least one front tire change and a 5K and 10K service. However, I did not plan it into my schedule but will happen at some point during the tour. I started Monday Sept. 14th from Key West, Florida after riding down there from my home in The Villages over the weekend with my wife. We returned home on Monday afternoon and I started solo on Tuesday morning. The fourth morning I was in Austin, Texas for my 5K service on my Harley Ultra Classic. The service took close to 5 hours so I decided to ride late to make up the time. While riding in western Texas I got caught in a rain storm. I stopped long enough to get my rain jacket on after being soaked and continue to ride. Early morning I stop at a truck stopped to warm up and I catch a few winks sitting up in booth. I left there, filled up and continue to ride in the light rain. Daylight comes and that makes me feel better. I continue to ride and end up in Yuma, AZ doing over 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours. I am back on schedule. Through the 11th day of riding I am on schedule even with a tire change thrown in. That too was a story to be told but not at this time. On the 12th day I was to ride through Yellowstone National Park, take highway 212 over Beartooth Pass, 15,595 ft. and end up in South Dakota. This was an aggressive planned ride to start with but with a road closure in the park I only made it to Billings, MT by night fall. It took me more than 4.5 hours to get out of the park. Road construction being done on the Blue Tooth Pass is another good story for another time. On the 14th day I am close to being back on schedule however, I must stop the next morning in Janesville, WI for my 10k service. I made a call late on Sunday evening inquiring about the service and the service manager was great. Just went to winter hours he says, so bring it in at 9 am tomorrow and we will get it done and get you on your way. Which he did but the service still took almost 5 hours. The 15th evening I end up staying in South Bend, Indiana instead of Buffalo, NY as planned. The 16th night I spent in Niagara Falls instead of Montreal, QC This puts me only 1 riding day behind my original schedule but there is no threat of not making it to Madawaska, ME on time. Or is there? I am both very anxious and excited about being just two days away from making the tour complete. The plan was to cross into Canada, ride hard, and spend one night and the next day I would make it to Maine. I normally stayed in motels where I can park my Harley right outside of the room in the parking lot for security purposes. I normally try to be within eye sight of my bike. Even with a security system, fork lock, and Road Lock on my bike I check it several times during the night normally. This motel was unusual with sliding doors where I could just walk through them and I was at my bike in the parking lot... I was up early the next morning and waiting for some daylight to take off. I program my Garmin GPS and I was off to Niagara Falls. The weather is cold, wet, and nasty. I have my electrical vest and gloves on along with my chaps and my bright orange HD rain jacket. Under all that I have a long sleeve micro cotton shirt plus two other long sleeve cotton tees. I don’t like riding this way, at times feeling like the Michelin Man you see in commercials. But being plugged in kept me very warm during the ride. Niagara Falls is awesome but with the poor weather and visibility I did not stay and explore as I was both nervous and anxious to leave the good ole USA. I elected to ride in Canada from this point as it was a shorter ride and pretty much a straight shot compared to riding through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Each checkpoint location is the furthest city in each of the four corners, with Madawasaka being in northeast Maine. I stopped at the Duty Store at the border, asked about the exchange rate in currency and figured it wasn’t a big deal and elect not to trade paper. I got a hot coffee and donut next door at Tim Horton’s which was very good. I had heard about Tim Horton’s on Sunday Morning television newscast but never seen one or been in one. They are the number one donut shop in Canada for sure. I crossed over the bridge and come to a Canadian guard. He asked me the nature of my trip, where I was from and headed how long I would be in Canada, and for my ID (passport). After a brief chat, I was on my way. Immediately, I was pleased with the condition of the roads but there were signs I could not read. I should of beef up on my knowledge of kilometers. My bike only shows mph so I rode with the traffic or as I normally do a little ahead of it. I find it best to stay out or away from traffic, if you can. Everything was good until I missed a turn in Toronto, but it turned out good as I got to see a portion of city life. The streets had electric trolley running on metal rails in the middle of the road. Parallel parking along the side of the street accept around the intersections. I had to be careful of where I rode with the tracks in the road not being street level. I noticed some businesses along the street but mostly old homes and apartments. Few obese people, lots of people walking, many with backpacks. Many bicycles, a few sport motorcycles and then there was a noisy Harley that got a lot of looks. I had to get gas at a corner station as I was running low. The pump had a button for English which when push put the language and changed liters to gallons. Not many of the gas pumps that I encounter in Canada had this feature. However, they all took plastic without fail. I got back on track and was on my way to Montreal. I was on 401 until around Montreal when I got on 20. Came thru Montreal during evening rush hour without incident but the sun was losing its light. I had ridden around 430 miles but I wanted to continue on towards Quebec. Things seemed good even though the weather was only in the 30’s with some scatter rain. I was comfortable and elected to push on to make my final day’s ride a short one to Madawaska the next day. It was now dark, I do not like riding after dark due to the possibility of hitting a deer or moose, on the road especially in this part of the country. But with the anticipation of getting to the USA early the next day I continued to ride. Normally I stay clear of 18 wheelers but this night I would ride behind one and used its light to help me see further down the road. I had gotten some new bulbs for this trip and had good visibility to the sides of the road. My eyes were in constant motion checking for any potential problems. I stopped to get gas in Drummondville, about 60 miles outside of Montreal, and to look for a place to spend the night. I elect to continue on towards Quebec. I found in Canada in many locations you have to leave the main road and ride a short piece to get to any type of services. Much different than in the states where you normally have easy off and on access to gas and lodging. In about 50 miles I follow an exit to a hotel. I register but when I found out the price I elect to cancel the registration and continue to ride. The layout reminded me of a motel in my childhood home town that has seen its better days. A gentleman approach me that could speak k a little English to see if he could help, as the lady could not speak English and was puzzled that I didn’t want to stay. He said all the rooms would be around this price until I got closer to Quebec. My next stop was at a Comfort Inn in Levis, which is just across the St. Lawrence from Quebec. By this time I was very tired and cold and elected to treat myself to a little better accommodation for the night. I would only have about a 4 hour ride to the USA in the morning. In the next few hours I will experience extreme emotional lows and highs. My nerves will be challenged to the tenth degree! I will encounter a Biker’s nightmare and the possibility that I will not finish my ride on time. After I register I return to my bike to unload the luggage I have sitting in the passenger seat. Once I get it to my room I return to my bike to get the rest of my luggage and move my bike to a proper parking space. To my astonishment I cannot locate my bike keys. My entire trip I have made it a point to keep my wallet in my left front jean pocket or in a left zipped jacket pocket with my keys treated in the same manner on my right side. I try starting my bike but nothing happens. I return to my room and check my luggage, the pockets of both jackets have been wearing, the pockets in my chaps, then I do it again and again. I am in shock thinking how can this be, this close and now I can’t start my bike. I return to my bike looking all around it, through one hard side luggage that wasn’t locked. My left hard side case is locked along with the trunk case on top. The good thing is that the locked hard side case contained my cold weather gear and I am wearing most of it. The trunk case contains my Harley maps, diary, sunglasses, goggles, cigars, etc. Damn I cannot remove my Garmin from the bike either. I go back to my room and try to do a time chart to figure out where I might have lost my keys. My keys contained a FOB which is part of a security system and when present the module will automatically disarm when the ignition key is turned to ignition or access. The FOB has to be within 6 to 8 feet for you to be able to start the bike. My key ring contained other keys including a barrel key that performs several functions; unlocks the gas cover, can lock the fork, and lock and unlock the hard side cases. My Road Lock security key plus a Garmin security tool was on a second ring. The biggest loss on my key ring was my last dog tag from my military service days. I figure I must have lost them in the parking lot of the motel I stopped at but did not stay at. When I came out of the hotel it had stopped raining and I unlocked one hard side to get to cleaning materials for my windshield. The FOB had to of been present or my bike would of not started there. I may have dropped them by accident in the parking lot. I was feeling a little better, then I started thinking how do you rent a car in Canada to go pick the keys up? I go to the front desk to have a conversation with the clerk on duty, telling her of my dilemma. She was very concerned for me and helpful. I had the receipt from the motel and had already called and spoke to a lady explaining that I thought I had dropped my keys in the parking lot. I asked the clerk if she would call her back and explain the situation to her. She did and said the lady understood me but her English was not good. She would check around the motel plus the parking lot and call back. In the mean time I return to my room to call my wife, telling her I have good news and bad news. The good news I am in a room for the night, the bad news is I have lost my keys and I cannot start my bike. I ask her to locate my 2nd set of keys which she did. I told her she could overnight them the next day, I would not get them until Saturday but I would still make my date. Again feeling a little better, we say goodnight. Later I try calling UPS but offices were closed until 7:30 in the morning. The lady calls back stating she found no keys. My mind is racing; I am still amazed that I have lost my keys. After a good hot shower I find some comfort in thinking of over-night the keys tomorrow and fall asleep. I may have to spend another night or two but I will make my dead line. The next morning I fall into despair talking with UPS as the fastest they can get keys from Florida to the motel is 5 days. Too late! There is something called critical delivery where they can get the keys to the border and then I need an agent in Canada to get the keys to me, the cost would be staggering. So there go my emotions on a downward spiral. I speak with my wife and tell her to forget UPS. She has already called the local Harley dealership and is asking me about a personal identification number? I remember something but without my manual, that is locked in my case, I didn’t know exactly how it was used or for what. She said she would call Harley back then call me back. As I walk to the front desk the clerk from last night had the number and address of the local Harley dealership in Quebec for me. Wow, I was about to ask if she could look it for me and she handed it to me. I call the local dealer explained my situation. First thing I understood was that if I had not locked my ignition, which I had not, and could remember the 5 digit personal identification number that I should have entered when I bought the bike I should be able to override the security system and start my bike. I got an adrenalin rush thinking I could get my bike started and get to the border. But I had to remember the 5 digit Pin number! What would I have entered? I jotted down several possibilities but how do you enter the Pin number? The gentleman is trying his best to explain but I was having trouble understanding his English, plus my hearing is not perfect. So the Comfort Inn clerk comes to the rescue again. She calls the gentleman back and writes the instructions down, step by step. He also says that if I can’t get it started they would come and pick it up. They would also find a locksmith if needed to open luggage cases. I rush outside in the cold and do the instructions. It does not work. Why did it not work because I didn’t follow the steps or was it the Pin number? I try it several more times......no success. I come back in and call the dealership in Florida. He walls be through the steps I have on my paper, they are good. However, he adds one step that wasn’t mention before. I study my PIN numbers and select one that had to be it. I rush back outside to try this again, after a few tries I finally got the proper screen to pop up. I enter my numbers and bingo.....IT STARTS! What a rush of excitement that comes over me. All 3 ladies from the hotel desk staff come outside giving high fives after they hear the roar of the Harley come to life. At some point I called home telling my wife it started. By now I had missed the breakfast provided by the hotel. The last thing I had eaten was that Tim Horton donut back at the duty store starting out yesterday morning............But I really wasn’t hungry; I was excited and wanted to get going. I packed up, said my thanks to each of the staff members several times, and crossed my fingers I could over-ride the system again. It did and I was happily on my way. USA here I come finally. It was cold but I was toasty being plugged in and enjoying the ride, seeing the beautiful colors of the leaves was awesome. I had picked my route and time of year for the fall foliage. I expected Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont to be glorious as well. A little later it started to rain again and seemed to turn a few degrees cooler. Good time to get some gas I thought as I knew that little gas light was going to pop on any instance. As I pulled off the main road I looked down at my gas cover, my heart tried to jump out. The cover was locked and I had NO KEY. What was I thinking!! I had been so excited to get my bike started I hadn’t even thought about the locking gas tank cover. Magnitude of things goes through your mind in a split second in a situation like this. I am in a strange place, miserable weather, bike is running but not for long, little to no gas and no way to put gas in my tank. Okay what now? I can only give credit to God that he led me to a Canadian Police station as I pulled into this small town. I stopped and asked the receptionist for help. She understood English better than she could speak it. I told her I was almost out of gas, had lost my keys and could not unlock my gas tank. Could she help me? She made several phone calls, speaking French all of the time. A few minutes later an officer appears with her in the lobby with a map. Between both of them I understood they were sending me to someone that they think could help me. But if I got there before 1 pm they would be closed for lunch. I pulled into the business that sat back away from the road, riding thru gravel pot holes filled with water but who cared at this point. I enter the business at 1 pm to be greeted by a friendly gentleman. I explained my predicament and could he help me. He conferred with several other men and then asked me if he could drill it. I said yes, I just needed to be able to get to the gas tank, I could tape the top shut. He asks me to drive into his shop. The shop is big but the aisles are narrow and go up and then down. There are 5 or 6 men working in the shop, two of them are assembling brand new snowmobiles. While I am waiting I exam the snowmobiles and try to ask questions, but that doesn’t work with the language barrier. Finally the gentleman comes back with a barrel key and tries it in the gas tank cover, it works and he starts to laugh speaking in French to the others. He then asks me if I know what that key was for. He tells me it is for his Pepsi machine. He takes another one from a snowmobile and it works as well but only for the gas lid, not the ignition or hard cases. He pours me some gas and gives me a key. He wasn’t going to charge me anything but I insisted so he said $10.00. All of them were intrigued how I had to enter a code to get my bike to start. They were good people and friendly. I found the local gas station, fill up and start again towards the border and my final checkpoint. I was again excited knowing soon I would be crossing back into the USA. The last few hours had certainly been an emotional roller coaster for sure. I was thankful for God’s help plus the good people who had helped overcome the obstacles. Once again USA here I come. Wow, what a feeling riding over that bridge crossing back into the USA. I was ready…. I had placed my passport in my rain suit pocket for easy access. As I pull up behind two vehicles I am watching the process as I wait my turn to enter. Seems pretty simple, they hand their passport to the lady, she walks away, comes back has a short conversation, hands them their passport back, and they are permitted to drive thru. Before I am waved forward I notice a welcome sign above the bridge to Madawaska, Maine stating Madawaska is the furthest northern town in Maine. As I pull up and stop, I pull out my passport and hand it to the lady. My thoughts are already thinking about getting gas, finding the post office, taking a picture, and finding the 4 Corners Park. The lady returns, doesn’t return my passport and asked me to pull around and come inside. My stomach sinks and I say under my breath, What Now! As I pull around the building I notice parking spaces with tables to each side where I expect they would inspect the content of a car, etc. I pull up take off my luggage and sit it on the table and unzip it. About this time the lady shows up again and says to come inside. I follow her in and have a seat. A short time later an officer approaches me with my passport. He asked me when and where did I enter Canada, how long had I been in Canada, what was the nature of my visit, did I make any purchases in Canada, did I have anything to declare, After going off and coming back several times he asked me where I was born, where was I living. Then he said, "I want to inspect your luggage!" I said, "okay but I have a problem, you won’t be able to get into one case on the side and my top case as I have lost the key." He says, "Yes you do have a problem." We go outside to the bike. He does a very intense search of my portable luggage. He asks me by case what is in each one, and then inspects the one he can get into. He asks me some of the same questions as he asked inside. He then asked me where I worked. I told him I was retired, so he wanted to know from what or company. He then handed me my passport back stating, "If I didn’t believe you, we would be finding a way to get into your luggage cases." He then gave me directions to the 4 Corners Park, which is probably less than 2 miles away and advised me not to ride at night due to the Moose in the area. I had overcame the final obstacle and made my last Four Corners checkpoint with three days to spare, and it felt so good as well as self rewarding. 10/01/09 End of Four Corners Tour 10/09/09 Home after some 11.600 miles, 30 states and 2 Canadian provinces Bewilderment, amazement, shock, Home