CODDIWOMPLE CHALLENGES & RULES

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GRAND CODDIWOMPLE CHALLENGES

The Challenges are how you earn points. Please read the Rules and Challenge descriptions carefully! If you have questions, read the FAQ or email coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org. There is no one way to do this—so use the way which works best for you. Have fun!

Download a PDF of these challenges.

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1. Big Teddy Bears – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
The Green Mountain State is home to the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, who have been manufacturing Teddy Bears since 1981. There’s even a factory tour in Shelburne VT. For this challenge, your job will be to provide photographic proof of visit to Sites that have statues, sculptures, paintings, taxidermy or murals of bears. Bears must be too large to fit in your saddlebag. Commercial business sites are accepted for this challenge and City/State must be present in your submission. One per Site please. Pillion Bears and Flags with Bears will not be accepted!
2. Billy Goats Gruff Challenge – 50 Points each. Unlimited submissions.
In honor of Lincoln the goat, mayor of Fair Haven, VT from 2019-2020, you and two fellow Coddiwomple riders must gather at a chosen “crossing,” and one by one proudly proclaim, “I am a GOAT!” in your gruffest, most ridiculous bleating voice, as if daring some unseen troll to deny your greatness. Any rider who arrives without their flag is deemed an unworthy goat and, by ancient Coddiwomple custom, must be “sacrificed” to the troll in jest—mock-banished from the herd’s glory until they return properly flagged. Capture the spectacle in a single photo where three faces and three flags bearing “I AM A GOAT” is clearly visible, let creativity run wild with epic goat impressions, over-the-top poses, or scenic drama, then share your photographic proof and claim your rightful place among The Grand Coddiwomple’s legends of laughter.
3. Uncover Covered Bridges – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
Vermont is known for having many covered bridges. The mission for this challenge is to provide photographic proof of visit to covered bridges. The submitted photographic proof of visit must clearly prove that the roadway or trailway bridge is covered, and able to be traversed by the average motorcyclist on foot or on motorcycle. No, we are not looking for models of covered bridges. Non-covered and formerly covered bridges will not be accepted for this challenge.
4. Troll Hunt – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
Thomas Dambo is a Danish Recycle Artist who is known for his installations of giant wooden sculptures of Trolls, made entirely of recycled materials. In the early 2010s, Dambo began the “Trail of a Thousand Trolls” project which aimed to build a thousand trolls. As of July 2025, Dambo and his team had created 170 Trolls. To claim this challenge, obtain photographic proof of visit that clearly includes the Thomas Dambo Troll. Note: Some are free to see, some cost a fee, but all are well worthy of thee.
5. The π Challenge – 50 points. Unlimited submissions.
Think back to your high school geometry class. Do you remember what π is? π is a mathematical constant and is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter and has no end. Scientists have calculated over 31 trillion (?!?!) decimal places so far. For this challenge, we are only concerned with the first 42 decimal places (43 numerals) of π, which are 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169. Your mission: to submit photographic proof of visit to highway signs with two or more consecutive digits using these numerals from left to right. What does that mean? Referring to the 43 numerals, it means that you could submit a highway sign for Interstate 265 but not a highway sign for Interstate 365 because those numerals don’t appear in the 43 numerals left to right progression order of π. You can only claim each set of numerals once per Federal highway. For example, you can only claim Interstate 35 or US 69 once, not in each state where it passes through. You could claim an additional use of 35 or 69 as a state highway and US highway, such as US 35 or MI-35 if they exist. You could then claim OH-35 and TN-35. We must be able to clearly identify the state in order to reuse the numerals. City/State is required for this challenge. Remember, too much π leads to a bigger circumference!
6. Ben, Jerry and their Friends – 50 Points each. Unlimited submissions.
Vermont is known for Ben and Jerry’s and Maple Creemees, a delicious pairing of soft serve ice cream and maple syrup. MMMMMM! Your mission is to visit ice cream shop Sites and provide photographic proof of visit. Commercial ice cream shops are accepted for this challenge. The building and name of the ice cream shop must be clearly visible in the photograph and the comment as well as City/State where the ice cream shop is located. Only one of each name brand ice cream focused business allowed per City/State. For example, you can only claim one Dairy Queen per City/State. Submissions must be an ice cream-focused business that serves ice cream, not a business that happens to sell ice cream. For this challenge, frozen custard, frozen yogurt and fast-food businesses are excluded. By Order of The Demented Instigator, Dairy Queen is explicitly included.
7. Pour Some Syrup on Me! – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
Maple syrup is Vermont’s claim to fame. With our Rally returning to the Green Mountain State this year, it is time to give the most common receiver of that maple syrup some Grand Coddiwomple Love. Provide photographic proof of visit to waffle houses or pancake houses. The word “waffle” or “pancake” must be in the name of the restaurant and spelled out, and the building must be in your photographic proof of visit. Plural versions of “waffle” and “pancake” are also accepted. For this challenge, commercial businesses are accepted. Note—IHOP restaurants will be accepted because IHOP equals International House of Pancakes and The Demented Instigator has decreed it! No other abbreviated restaurant names need apply.
8. Ride US Highway 6 – 50 points each. 53 Submissions.
US 6 runs from Long Beach, CA to Cape Cod, MA, approximately 3205 miles. One of the longest US Routes, originally it ended in Long Beach California but was unfortunately truncated to its current end in Bishop California in the 1960s. It is known as The Grand Army of the Republic Highway as it winds its way through the US. Provide photographic proof of visit to any of the 53 Sites and Places located on or near US 6 that are listed in Appendix 6 with the required elements in the submission. Get all 53 and score a bonus of 5,300 points!
9. Green Mountain Mental – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
The Green Mountain Boys were a militia established in 1770 in the territory that became Vermont. To this day, both the Vermont Army National Guard and Vermont Air National Guard are collectively known as “Green Mountain Boys” and still use the original Green Mountain Boys battle flag as their banner. In honor of this historic militia, we present this challenge. Provide photographic proof of visit to Places that are named or containing the surnames Allen, Baker, Fassett, Fay, Galusha, Hoisington, Lyon, Robinson, Rowley, Tozer, or Warner.
10. The Signatories Challenge – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
Happy Birthday to the United States of America! To celebrate the Semiquincentennial of our Declaration of Independence from Britian, your mission is to submit your photographic proof of visit to Places named or containing the surnames of signatories of the Declaration of Independence. Those surnames are Adams, Bartlett, Braxton, Carroll, Chase, Clark, Clymer, Ellery, Floyd, Franklin, Gerry, Gwinnett, Hall, Hancock, Harrison, Hart, Hewes, Heyward, Hooper, Hopkins, Hopkinson, Huntington, Jefferson, Lee, Lewis, Livingston, Lynch, McKean, Middleton, Morris, Morton, Nelson, Paca, Paine, Penn, Read, Rodney, Ross, Rush, Rutledge, Sherman, Smith, Stockton, Stone, Taylor, Thornton, Walton, Whipple, Williams, Wilson, Witherspoon, Wolcott, Wythe.
11. Fight for Freedom – 50 points each. Unlimited submissions.
This year, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Independence did not come easily. From the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, to the British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown on October 19, 1781, the Revolutionary War was hard fought and hard won. To honor this struggle, your challenge is to provide photographic proof of visit to historic marker Sites that commemorate an engagement fought between the colonies and the British from April 19, 1775, to October 19,1781, or historic marker Sites that contain the words “Revolutionary War” or “War for Independence.”

Appendix 6 – 53 Stops on US 6

  1. Western End: The Entire Provincetown MA Mileage Sign in Bishop California
  2. California or Nevada Border sign on US 6—Note that the metal grates must be able to be seen to be scored.
  3. Nevada Historical Landmark 155: Silver Peak. The entire landmark sign must be visible to be scored.
  4. The World-Famous Clown Hotel in Tonopah, NV—The sign “Welcome to the World’s Famous Clown Hotel” which is over the main office must be clearly visible in your submission
  5. The NV 375 NY 0 marker at the junction of US 6 and NV 375 east of Tonopah NV
  6. The Nevada Northern Railway National Historic Landmark sign at the Nevada Northern Railway museum in Ely, NV
  7. Nevada State Historical Marker #98 Osceola Historical Landmark located at the junction of White Pine County Rd 39 and US 6. The entire marker must be visible in the submission.
  8. The Nevada or Utah Border sign on US 6/ US 50
  9. The Shoe Tree located just outside of Hinckley, UT on US 6/US 50.
  10. The TinTic Mining Museum sign and building on US 6 in Eureka, UT.
  11. The Elberta Sinclair Station located outside of Goshen, UT. The Sinclair sign on the front of the building must be clearly visible in your submission
  12. USPS Price UT located at 9550 Carbon Ave. The sign on the exterior that shows City State must clearly be seen.
  13. Colorado or Utah Border sign on I 70/ US 50/US 6 Highway. The entire sign must be clearly visible.
  14. The Dinosaur Museum located at 550 Jurassic Ct in Fruita, CO. The mural of the dinosaur and the sign “Dinosaur Museum” must be present in your submission
  15. The Eureka! McConnell Science Museum sign in Grand Junction CO
  16. USPS Gypsum CO located at 100 Oak Ridge Ct. The City and State must be clearly visible in your submission.
  17. Moe’s Original BBQ in Eagle CO. The sign in the shape of a highway shield should be in your submission.
  18. USPS Frisco CO located at 35 W Main St. Make sure the entire blue sign with City State is clearly seen.
  19. The Loveland Pass Elevation brown and yellow sign located at the highest point of US 6—11,990 FT above sea level. The entire sign and stone base must be clearly visible.
  20. The blue and white Museum of Miniatures Dolls & Toys sign located at 830 Kipling St in Lakewood Co.
  21. The Popcorn Man bronze statue located at the corner of Main St. and South 3rd St. in Sterling CO. The statue must clearly be seen.
  22. The Nebraska or Colorado border sign on US 6.
  23. The Welcome to Wauneta Little Grand Canyon sign in Wauneta Nebraska on Old US 6 east of Wauneta, NE.
  24. The Entering Central Time Zone sign on US 6 in Hayes County Nebraska
  25. USPS McCook NE located at 411 W 3rd St. The sign on the exterior that shows City State must clearly be seen.
  26. The Oregon Trail Historical Marker located on US 6/NE 73/US 34 just east of S Prosser Ave in Juniata NE. The entire sign must be in your submission.
  27. The Linoma Lighthouse located at 26545 US 6 in Gretna NE
  28. Jesse James Historical Site at 1469 State Hwy 925, Adair, IA. The train wheel must be fully visible in submission.
  29. USPS Newton IA located at 215 S 2nd Ave. The City and State on the building must be clearly visible.
  30. The World’s Largest Truck Stop sign located at 505 Sterling Dr in Walcott, IA. The sign on the south side of the building by the covered entrance in the parking lot.
  31. USPS Marseilles IL located at 100 Washington St. The City and State must be clearly visible.
  32. USPS Valparaiso IN located at 2700 Valparaiso St. The City and State must be clearly visible.
  33. The Nappanee Woodworking Tradition Sign in the parking lot at the corner of Clark St and US 6 in Nappanee IN.
  34. The mural located on the north side of La Michoacana Ice Cream located at 113 IN-5 in Ligonier IN
  35. The Giant Windmill that looks like a house with white siding close to the entrance to the Mid-America Windmill Museum located in Kendallville, IN
  36. The Monster Truck trophy mock-up located at the driveway to the Monster Truck Hall of Fame in Butler IN
  37. Indiana or Ohio border sign at the Indiana-Ohio border on US 6, outside of Butler IN
  38. The Giant Tomato Soup Can at the Campbell Soup Factory in Napoleon OH
  39. The Historical Construction Equipment Museum sign located at 16623 Liberty Hi Rd in Bowling Green OH.
  40. The Giant Skull at the entrance to Haunted Hydro at 1333 Tiffin St in Fremont OH
  41. The Sandusky Merry Go Round Museum sign located on the corner at 301 Jackson Street in Sandusky OH.
  42. The Vermilion Lighthouse located at 480 Main St. in Vermilion, OH. The lighthouse must clearly be visible.
  43. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Iconic pyramid building located at 1100 E 9th Street in Cleaveland OH.
  44. Ohio or Pennsylvania border sign on US 6 near Pierpont OH
  45. The PennDOT Sign Garden at the corner of Mercer Pike and US 6/19/322 in Meadville PA
  46. USPS Mansfield PA located at 320 S Main St. The City and State must clearly be seen in the submission.
  47. The Red and White Striped Lighthouse located at Coopers Seafood House in Scranton PA at 701 North Washington Ave. –
  48. The Sun on the building (not on the sign) at Costa’s Family Fun Park in Hawley PA
  49. The Welcome to Pennsylvania sign at the Welcome to Pennsylvania rest area located at 1042 Pennsylvania Ave. in Matamoras PA.
  50. USPS Peekskill NY. City and State on building must clearly be seen.
  51. Welcome to Connecticut Sign on US 202/6 in Danbury CT
  52. The Discover Beautiful Rhode Island border sign on US 6 in Foster RI
  53. The Brown End of US RTE 6 sign located on the cape in Provincetown MA


2026 Grand Coddiwomple Rules 3/1/2026 Version 1.0

GRAND CODDIWOMPLE OFFICIAL RULES

Download a PDF of these rules

  1. Applicability of Rules and Challenges
    1. These General Rules apply to the entire event and all individual challenges.
    2. These General Rules may be revised annually, and participants should check on April 1st of the event year for the final version of these General Rules and Challenges.
    3. These rules should be understood in the context that the goal of all challenges is for the participant to visit a location and complete the requirements of the challenge.
    4. Challenges may have additional specific requirements in the challenge description which must be honored to receive points.
    5. Participants may submit any questions about these Rules or Challenges by email to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org. All changes to, or interpretations of, these Rules and/or Challenges will be recorded in the Grand Coddiwomple FAQ on the Grand Coddiwomple website.
  2. Participants
    1. This event is open to all BMW MOA members as a no-cost member benefit. You must be a current member to register for the Grand Coddiwomple. You must maintain your membership through the end of the Grand Coddiwomple to receive points.
    2. Non-members are encouraged to register for this event. Once the BMW MOA Office processes your membership, your packet will be mailed.
    3. Registering for this event will be considered acceptance of the event rules.
    4. Participation in this event is strictly voluntary and does not constitute a contract between a Participant and the BMW MOA or represent any implication of liability or warranty. Participants are responsible for all costs and/or losses caused by or related to their participation in this event and are solely responsible for their actions.
    5. Participants agree to grant the BMW MOA the right to use submitted photographs for promotion of this event and the benefit of the BMW MOA.
  3. Event Dates and Registration
    1. The Grand Coddiwomple is an annual event running from April Foolﾕs Day through Halloween (April 1st – October 31st).
    2. Registration opens Groundhog Day (February 2nd) at www.bmwmoa.org/coddiwomple. Participants will receive an event packet via USPS with your numbered Grand Coddiwomple flag, a sticker and, if requested at the time of registration, a hard copy of the Rules and Challenges documents.
    3. Registrations will be accepted after the event starts, but late registration does not extend the end date or submission deadlines.
    4. All photographic proof of visit must be submitted by October 31 (Halloween) at 23:59 UTC -12, the Howland and Baker Islands Time Zone. This Time Zone is uninhabited and the last place on Earth where it will officially still be any given date. It is 4 hours behind the US Pacific Time Zone and literally gives the whole world a few hours of slack for turning in Grand Coddiwomple points.
  4. Definitions
    1. “Place” means a city, town, or village recognized as such by a State, Provincial, or other government authority.
    2. “Site” means a single physical location which contains, or is marked by, a memorial, historic marker, or other elements as required by the challenge.
    3. “Park” means a park established and maintained by a National, State, County, City, Village, Town, or other governmental authority.
    4. “Highway” means an Interstate, Federal, State, Provincial or County highway.
    5. “Object” means a thing, such as a statue, mural, carving, or others as designated by the challenge. It must be bigger than any saddlebag or top case on a motorcycle and cannot be of a commercial nature or used to advertise a business unless allowed with specific wording in the challenge.
  5. Photographic Proof of Visit Requirements
    1. Photographs submitted to claim challenge points must clearly include your flag, your motorcycle, and all challenge requirements. Your face can replace your flag or your motorcycle but not both.
    2. Visits to a Place, Site, Park, and Highway have specific documentation requirements as follows:
      1. “Place” – Your photograph must include one of the following that clearly shows the Place name: Post Office building, Fire Department building, Police or Sheriffﾕs Department building, Town Hall or City Hall building, City/town/village welcome sign, City/town/village limit sign.
      2. “Site” – Your photograph must clearly include a historic marker or point-of-interest marker that displays the elements required by the challenge.
      3. “Park” – Your photograph must include one of the following that clearly shows the Park name: Park Welcome sign, Park limits sign, Park entrance or exit sign, Park Visitors Center
      4. “Highway” – Your photograph must clearly include the official federal, state, provincial or county highway sign as required by the challenge. Your photograph must clearly show that you are on or at the highway in question.
      5. “Object” – Your photograph must clearly show the entire Object or enough to clearly show the Object as specified by the challenge.
    3. Any sign, plaque or other identifier must be a government marker or from a recognized historical organization—not from a private party or business unless otherwise stated in the challenge description.
    4. The plural of any defined term (Place, Site, Park, Highway, Object) is the same as the singular term.
    5. State includes Province or other similar governmental subdivision of a country.
    6. A Place, Park, Site, Highway, or Object may only be used once for a given challenge unless otherwise stated in the challenge description.
    7. In circumstances where you cannot physically get your motorcycle into the photo, your face must be in the photo in place of your motorcycle. If you have lost your flag, your motorcycle must be in the photo. Your face can replace your flag or your motorcycle, but not both.
    8. The primary photo must clearly contain all the required elements of a challenge. Supplemental photos may be submitted to help clarify the primary photo submission. The second clarifying photo may be submitted only to provide readability or other details of an element in the primary photo.
    9. A given photo can only be used once per participant per Grand Coddiwomple. For example, if you and another rider are in the same photo, each of you may use the same photo once.
    10. Any sign or other identifier must be free of mileage and distance indicators or arrows.
    11. Holiday decorations are not accepted for any challenge unless stated in the challenge description.
    12. Mobile objects (Cars, Trucks, Trains, etc.) are not accepted for any challenge unless stated in the challenge description.
  6. Grand Coddiwomple Flag
    1. Each participant will receive an official BMW MOA Grand Coddiwomple flag (hereafter referred to as “flag” or “the flag”) bearing the Grand Coddiwomple logo and a unique participant number. Your flag must be clearly visible in all pictures submitted as photographic proof of visit.
    2. If you lose your flag, please contact the Grand Coddiwomple Committee by emailing a description of your unfortunate and woeful predicament to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org.
    3. If you lose or forget your flag, your face must replace your flag in all photos. Your face may replace your flag, or your bike, but not both. For example, Rule 5g permits replacement of the motorcycle with your face in situations where it isn’t safe to include the motorcycle in the photo. In such cases, you would not be able to claim the photo without your flag.
    4. If you find a lost flag, leave it where you find it. Itﾕs ok to weigh it down if itﾕs in danger of blowing away or to post a message on the BMW MOA Forum or Facebook page that you found a flag and its location but leave it for the owner to retrieve.
  7. Submitting Photos
    1. All Challenge photos must be taken during the Grand Coddiwomple event period.
    2. All Challenge photos must be submitted using the Grand Coddiwomple Riders’ Portal. Instructions on how to register and submit photos are in the instructions which are posted on the Grand Coddiwomple website at www.bmwmoa.org/coddiphotos
    3. All Challenge photos must be publicly available individual links and viewable on common browsers. All Challenge photo links must be available till November 30th of the event year for audit purposes. If a Challenge photo link was previously scored and when audited that Challenge photo link is no longer available, the submission will be changed to rejected resulting in the loss of previously scored points.
  8. Code of Conduct
    1. This is a PG13 rated event, and all submissions must meet that standard.
    2. Participants are expected to follow all applicable laws and regulations while participating in this event.
    3. We expect all participants to follow these rules. Any attempt to cheat or intentionally distort the rules may result in the disqualification of a submission or a participant.
    4. Any pointless complaining will be considered an offer to volunteer to help with the next Grand Coddiwomple.
    5. Discrimination, hatred, and violence have no place here. Any submissions containing such depictions, or behavior which reflects negatively on the BMW MOA are grounds for immediate disqualification from the event.
    6. All decisions of the judges are final. Submit any questions or concerns by email to coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org.
  9. Earning Points, Completion, and Winning
    1. Participants earn points by completing some combination of the challenges listed in the “The BMW MOA Grand Coddiwomple Challenges.”
    2. Any combination of accepted challenge submissions which total 300 points is considered Completion. All participants who complete this event will receive a Certificate of Completion (suitable for framing) and a commemorative pin.
    3. The overall event winner will be the participant with the greatest combined total of points. In the case of a tie, the earliest completed submission will be considered the winner.
    4. The top three finishers will receive a personalized award.
    5. There will be a random prize drawing on or about National Squirrel Appreciation Day (January 21st) for riders who completed the Grand Coddiwomple. Prizes to be determined.
    6. All final judging, announcement of the winner, prize drawings, and mailing of certificates will be done following the end of the event.


 
2026 Grand Coddiwomple Rules 3/1/2026 Version 1.0

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