How 2020 Changed Things ~ Part 2
Oh Man, What's Next?
After returning from Portland, I settled back home, but the atmosphere quickly shifted as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded. Uncertainty loomed, yet I tried to maintain a sense of normalcy amidst the grim news.
Meanwhile, my sister, feeling uneasy in Washington State, opted to return to Wisconsin with the help of a friend.
Between March 1 and May 31, 42 states and territories Implemented mandatory stay-at-home orders, and life became increasingly disrupted. However, Washington had yet to issue such orders when the Spokane Inland Pacific Northwest Motorcycle Show was set to open.
I joined my friend Becky at the show to help set up her booth in the swap meet area. Despite rumors of the show’s cancellation, we proceeded with our preparations. Ultimately, the official announcement came, confirming the shutdown due to mandated closures in Washington State. Though disappointed, we made the most of our sneak preview of the show.
Upon returning home, I found my sister nearly ready to depart. It was sad that she was leaving but it was important for her to do what would make her more comfortable.
As the pandemic escalated, guidelines like wearing non-medical masks and staying at home became widespread. While some states enforced stricter measures, others remained more lenient.
While complying with Washington’s stay-at-home order didn’t make me happy, I understood its necessity. I had already done my grocery shopping and I was stocked up on essentials before panic buying swept through stores.
Despite the challenges, I adapted to the new reality, exploring new avenues of entertainment like YouTube videos. This period of confinement also provided an opportunity for learning and discovering new interests, enriching my time at home.
Doing it in a Mini Way ~
In May, my friends and I were feeling restless. For the past few years, we’d taken part in a 100-mile mini bike race, which had always been a blast. However, this year, despite the race happening as usual, our group wasn’t comfortable being part of the large event.
The first time we joined the race, I was 62 and had never raced before. I was persuaded to give it a try, so why not start my racing career at 62? We all dressed up, and I even raced as a Ladybug.
When we decided not to participate in the organized race, we organized our own. It was all about fun and getting out of the house. We tried to keep our distance most of the time, but sometimes we forgot we weren’t supposed to be that close to our friends.
Similar to the previous races, it was a 100-mile race done in teams. It wasn’t an official race, just our group having fun. I bought a mini bike for the team, as I had previously borrowed one for the races and felt it was time to have my own.
We gathered at an Off-Road Vehicle park to set up. After unloading our mini bikes, we put on our costumes and decorated our pits for some added fun. Each pit was stocked with snacks shared among everyone there.
After a brief riders’ meeting to explain the route, we each took at least one practice lap. While others focused on practicing their racing techniques, I took the opportunity to learn the track and enjoy the views during my practice.
Our team consisted of Rick, who is my age, his nephew Orrin, a young teenager, and myself. Orrin was thrilled to join us, Rick was experienced, and I was more laid-back when it came to racing.
The mini bikes weren’t designed for the kind of rough treatment we put them through, which was part of the fun, and they were relatively cheap. When I bought mine, I knew it would take a beating, but the amount of fun we’d have with it made it worth it for me.
I completed two laps before letting Rick and Orrin take over to give them a better chance of winning. Rick allowed Orrin to take most of the laps, as Orrin was eager and full of energy.
Midway through the race, Jesse and Paul encountered issues with their mini bike and couldn’t fix it quickly. With the pit bike available, they asked if they could switch bikes. We agreed, as we were making up the rules as we went along.
They took off and were doing well, leading by almost two laps by the end. However, as Jesse approached the finish line, he crashed hard due to forgetting about the bump at the end of a long flat straight stretch. Rick, who was behind him, stopped briefly, but seeing Jesse was okay, continued on.
The finish was about 200 yards from where Jesse crashed and all we could see at first was a big poof of dust. Since he was standing and Rick didn’t stop we knew he was OK.
Jesse, determined to finish, dragged the mini bike with the engine’s help. Paul ran down to assist him, while Rick passed his bike to Orrin to finish the last lap. Despite the mishap, we all found it amusing and cheered Jesse and Paul on.
When Orrin came in we had the finish line back up so he could ride through it and we gave him a hero’s cheer for his finish. The last time came in shortly after Orrin. Later we told Orrin that he was the real winner since it took Paul and Jesse two minis and dragging their bike across the line. Meanwhile, Orrin was on the same mini he started on and rode across the line.
After sharing coffee and breakfast with everyone, I headed home, thinking about the wonderful weekend.
