Falling Leaf Rally wrap-up

More than a dozen Indianapolis BMW Club members were among the 862 mostly BMW riders attending the 2010 Falling Leaf Rally in Potosi, Mo. this weekend. The closing ceremonies opened and closed with an anvil shoot. This is a video of the first of the two. (It’s really hard to track a flying anvil with an LED monitor viewfinder.)

Wikipedia on anvil shooting:

Anvil firing (also known as an anvil launching or an anvil shooting^[1]) is the practice of firing an anvil into the air with gunpowder.

Typically, two anvils are used: one as a base (placed upside down), and another one (also known as the "flier") as the projectile (placed right-side up, atop the base).^[2] Alternatively, a single anvil can be fired from a stone base. The space formed by the anvil's concave base is filled with black powder (not modern gunpowders, which have much higher energy densities) and a fuse is made to project out. The fuse is lit, and the resulting deflagration (the rapid combustion of the powder rather than explosion) sends the projectile anvil hundreds of feet into the air.

An alternative method is to place the bottom anvil right side up, and fill the hardy hole with black powder. A torus or washer, often made from a playing card, is placed over the hole, with a space for a fuse or powder trail. The top anvil is placed upside down, face to face with the bottom anvil.^[3]

Anvil firing was once commonly performed in the Southern United States^{[citation needed]} as a substitute for fireworks during celebrations. One such noteworthy celebration was held on the day the state of Texas voted to secede from the Union. On February 23, 1861, Texas Ranger and prominent Union supporter, Thomas Lopton Campbell Jr., was held captive and forced to "fire the anvils" in the streets of Austin.^[4]

Anvils were also traditionally fired on St. Clement's Day, honoring Pope Clement I, the patron saint of blacksmiths and metalworkers.^[5]

Although its practice has lessened in recent years^{[citation needed]}, enthusiasts still participate in anvil launching events and competitions.

And here is a photo of those of us from the Indy Club who camped together at the rally. Living in northeast Arkansas made for a relatively short ride for me. I left for home about 10:15 a.m., stopped briefly at Poplar Bluff, Mo. to check in with Maria and take the liner out of my jacket and rolled into my driveway at 12:24 p.m.

Oh, yeah. I stopped for this picture too. Oh, Lord, stuck in Lodi again.

The Garmin stats:

• Miles ridden: 454.8
• Average speed: 50.2 mph
• Maximum speed: 86.1 mph
• Time riding: 9 hours, 3 minutes