I was raised by wolves. Very kind, very nurturing wolves. I love riding to a town a just barely learned the name of on a Friday, making a decision at the intersection to get myself lost 1000 miles away from home on a Saturday, and trying to figure out how the hell I can get home on a Sunday. Just ride a place and see a thing.
Yesterday our chapter of B.A.C.A. held a poker run and fundraiser at Zion Harley Davidson. We had a decent turnout, and I think everyone had fun.
Hondo and I manned the 2nd, and 4th stops on the run. I love hondo. He’s 70 years old, got bad kidneys, a head full of great stories, an iron ass and a heart of gold. He’s not supposed to be in the sun, and refuses dialisis and figures when his time is up, his time is up. I kind of feel the same way. He works like a dog for BACA, and straight up he’s my brother. Any time with Hondo is good time. If I live to 70, I want his outlook on life.
When I got back to the rally I noticed my tires. Wow, they were terrible. I was shocked how bad they were, and that I hadn’t noticed. Luckily I was at the dealership and got a new back tire.
BACA recharges me. I’ve never been in an organization that I’ve felt fit me like a glove as much as this. I’ve done alot of service in my life, but none as important as this. Evertime we ride it directly effects innocent kids. I love it.
Ever since I first heard about the Iron Butt Ride of 1,000 miles in 24 hours I’ve wanted to do it. I wanted to KNOW if I COULD do it. I was pretty sure I could, but 2 nights ago I still wondered if I’d pull it off.
I was out the door at 3:30. It had rained the night before and the roads were still wet and I could smell the pinon & Juniper trees, sagebrush and alfalfa fields. It was awesome. 30 miles outside of town I hit fog. That may be normal where you live, but it southern Utah its a rarity. Normally I would have loved it, but I had just started and it slowed me down. It eased up but I hit it again in caliente for a spell.
Warming up outside of Rachel Nevada
The sun started lighting things up after Caliente. By this time I was pretty damn cold. I had checked the weather reports and it was supposed to be 55, but the guage on my bike said 40 and the damp foggy air made it feel colder. I’ve been cold before on rides, but I think the early start and long ride without stopping made my jaw lock up and I couldn’t stop shaking. I stopped at Tonopah, got some breakfast and slammed some hot coffee for 45 minutes till I stopped shaking. Talked to a few bikers who we’re doing an impressive 600 mile day, and realizing I was almost doubling that. By now the sun had come up and I was good. I was 6 hours into what I thought might be an 18-19 hour ride.
It all went good. The roads we’re clear and I hit my furthest point north around 2 pm, then headed south through carson city, California, high mountains and lakes. Stuff that normally I’d stop and really enjoy, eat the local faire and take pictures and wonder, but I had no time. It was all new roads now and that’d have to be good enough.
Near Willow Springs California. About 12 Hours into the Ride. Around 700 miles so far...
By the time I made Bishop California, 16 hours and 800 miles in I started to wonder If I was going to make it. I was pretty tired, and still had a lot of riding ahead of me. My sweat had got sunblock in my eyes and I was riding one-eyed for about an hour from the sting. I could see the rain clouds forming over the mountain range and called Mrs Zip to confirm the weather. It said clear, but I could see otherwise. I headed up what was a 1 lane road at times, and was 25 mph through the winding roads and I could feel the fatigue setting in. I wasn’t all that sharp, but I felt pretty determined. I wasn’t going to do this route again.
Looking back, if I had to do it again I’d have taken the Interstate. Thats easy riding, no stopping and starting, no stoplights or steep grades that required 25 miles per hour. I’d have done this in 18 hours, and more than likely I’d have tried for an iron butt 1500. Either way, I picked the route I picked, and I saw new territory to explore later.
Looking Like Rain
By the time I hit Beatty I felt kinda like a zombie. My legs we’re heavy and I’m not exactly sure I was walking straigh. 90 minutes later I was negotiating the freeway traffic in Las Vegas, slammed a red bull and a sandwitch, and headed home. At this point, I had my 1000 miles, but no witness to sign off on it, and no paperwork to give someone in a hotel. If I did, I may have stopped and got a room for the night. I wasn’t very sharp at all. I’d like to think I was tougher than this, but I was pretty tired and had been riding for 18 hours straight.
I rode over the utah hill and at this point, honest to God I was starting to hallucinate. I could hear things in my radio, and my bike felt weird and heavy to me, but I knew it was fine. It was just taking me a moment longer than usual to discern and disseminate the information I had going on all around me. Over the utah hill I heard what sounded like parts falling off my bike. I ignored it, and chalked it up to the sirens I heard in my stereo, and the rabbits I was seeing darting across the road that weren’t there.
I got in at 12:30 AM. Eleven Hundred and Thirty Four Miles in 20 Hours. I closed my eyes and I had the wildest dreams I was so beat.
This morning I woke up and noticed my left passenger footboard was missing. I’m glad to know It wasn’t a hallucination. I do need to buy another floorboard.
Bolt broke holding my passenger footboard
I’m pretty proud to join the ranks of those who are IBA certified. I’ll send in my documentation and reciepts, and to be honest even if for some reason they deny me, I don’t care too much. I know I have what it takes to be a member of the Iron Butt Association.
I woke up at 3 AM this mornign to get used to it, I felt pretty good. I went out to the dealership today to get some oil to top myself off for the trip and I’m ready. Side note- the dealership has a barbecue every saturday and Robyn and I have gone for the last 2 weeks. Pretty cool. It’s a nice outing and a good chance to get a few miles with my wife. we have fun.
So I’m ready.
No coffee (don’t need a full bladder), so I’ll slam a red bull in the morning.
Got my gas stations all mapped out, nothing further than 150 miles. I should be good there.
Got my paperwork and my clipboard, ready to save my reciepts to verify my ride to get the certificate. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, http://www.ironbutt.com should give you details.
Tour pak has my helmet, my .38 (don’t leave home without it), 6 bottles of water, sunscreen, rain gear (chance of rain in the afternoons, but I bet I miss it all), and some snack food like beef jerky and granola bars to keep me on the road, and not in the burger king drive through.
3 different credit cards, Just in case the CC company puts a hold on one because they see 1000 miles worth of charges and put a hold on my card. Have cash backup.
Maps and summaries go in my pocket. I have the route memorized, but just in case I miss something I’ll have a cheat sheet so I don’t have to pull over and spend time figuring it all out.
Music – Ipod is updated, and even burned a couple of CD’s with the music that’s been sounding good to me the last few weeks.
Bike is all checked out. I think I’ve got it all planned.
Question is, this is 400 miles more than my furthest ride ever. Can I do this? I’m positive I can. I know some people get uncomfortable, their back hurts, their attention wanes and they get bored with long rides. I love every second of it. There’s honestly no other activity in life that I was born to do like Touring. Even if it takes me 24.9 hours, I’ll do this, weather and traffic permitting of course. I’m slightly concerned about memorial day weekend traffic, but I’ll figure it out as I go. It’s not like i’m going to New York city. I’ll be riding through freaking tonopah and Bishop California. This should be fun.
I cannot friggin’ wait. If this goes off without a hitch and my monday morning is normal, then the western US is all of a sudden a much smaller place. the map on my garage wall will have alot more highlited roads of places I’ve been.
I took the wife for a ride up through zion National Park yesterday. Stopped at the dealership for a free hamburger, and came home. It was a good day actually, pretty simple. We stopped on the way home and went to star trek again. Cost of gas and a Matinee, and good company. The best.
HR, PUFFIN STUFF? Yeah, is it any wonder we all did drugs in the 80s? Proof that hippies shouldn’t do kids movies.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3U9BuOMkmM&hl=en&fs=1]
Another Gem:[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFMuNkseruo&hl=en&fs=1][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3T-ZaDiZvE&hl=en&fs=1]
I have no idea where I’m at with the Iron Butt now. It’s nothing but time and money, but both for me are up in the air. I need money, and I don’t have much time. If I can get the former, I’ll figure out the latter.
On a side note, I thought I’d post a picture of my family finally. To hell with identity theft and hiding behind my moniker.
Left to right: Skipper, Zip, "big MO", Mom, Dad, Skeezix. Seated Are Suzy Q, and my other sister Suzy Q, who we're separted conjoined twins.
I’m the one in front with the bowl haircut and the missing Tooth. I was mom’s favorite. My older brother Skeezix, is the serious one with the engineer boots. He listened to alot of Alice Cooper and put me in the chest Freezer once till my tears froze. Luckily, we found a carpeted spot in the forest to take the picture.
Every year, for the last several Years, Our chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse has given away a bike each year to raise money for abused kids. Last year we raised about $50,000.00, every penny of which goes to help abused children. We’re a 100% volunteer and non-profit organization, and we make a difference. I’ve seen it in these kids eyes who we take care of and adopt. First time we visit them, they’re terrified and don’t trust anyone. You can’t blame them. We make them feel safe, because they know we’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, and they know it. I’m B.A.C.A. for life.
Here’s our bike this year:
Sweet Ride. Custom 2008 Electra Glide Classic
Its a 2008 Electra Glide classic customized and Donated by Legends Vintage Motorcycles out of Springville Utah. It’s a phat bike.
We’re asking for $10.00 donations per ticket, every penny of which goes to help abused kids. You don’t need to be present to win. If you win, I’ll store it till you can come pick it up and will show you the best rides in southern Utah. If you have time, I’ll show you the best parts of Route 66.
Last year we gave away a custom road king, but I think this year we have an even better looking bike if that’s possible. The drawing is on Saturday, November 7th in Mesquite Nevada, and if you can make it we have a great time. If you can’t, either way you can’t lose: If you get the bike, its obvious. You get a really kick ass bike that turns heads. If you don’t, you help abused kids get therapy or help to overcome the bad hand that they’ve been dealt. I’d love it if you’d help out.
Tickets are $10 a piece, and if you donate I’ll email you a scanned picture of your ticket and will enter the hopper to win the drawing on november 7th. Remember you don’t need to be present to win. This bike is easily worth 25 grand.
My riding buddy can’t find his green card, so theres a good chance I might not head to Canada. I’d really like to make that run, but if not, I’ll head to either Oklahoma City by myself, or Amarillo with my brother Pat. We may end up getting our Iron Butt 1500, which is 1500 miles in 36 hours. Hell, we may do it in 24. More details forthcoming.
Either way I’m going to do it. I’m ready. I’d love to do it with Clint to Canada, but if I can’t my goal is to hit new parts of route 66 with my good friend and brother Pat, who is an Iron butt and hardcore rider in every sense of the word. He’s #1 on my list of people to ride with. We both do alot of miles, both love the road, and both will do whatever it takes. At the end of the long days, we both love a good glass or two of scotch and a fine cigar, and this route will warrant all of those.
To see things I’ve never seen on the mother road will make it a perfect trip I’ll think about for a lifetime.
