Iron Butt changes…

1 Comment / Random Thoughts, Route 66 / /

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.

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Iron Butt Route

1 Comment / Random Thoughts / /

I haven’t had a good ride in a couple of weeks now.   I really want one.   I ride everday to work and back, and went to caliente for a few hundred miles but it’s not the same as a really, REALLY long and good ride.   The iron butt ride to calgary will be that.

I planned out my route.   I leave May 22nd.   [googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=st+George+Utah&daddr=High+River+AB+CAnada&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=37.074208,-113.584615&sspn=0.254199,0.617981&ie=UTF8&ll=43.827645,-112.608035&spn=13.50687,2.53085&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

1152 miles.  I’ll leave at 3 AM, and hopefully get to High River by 9 or 10 that night.   God, I can’t wait.

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Caliente Nevada

1 Comment / Rides / /
H took the beer holster, ready to drrrrrrink
H took the beer holster, ready to drrrrrrink

My 2 closest friends of 25 years went riding this weekend.   Not a long way, but 120 miles away out in the middle of nowhere in a small canyon town of Caliente Nevada.      I like to ride longer distances, but when old friends want to ride at all I’ll take what I can get.  the company was great, the weather was perfect and the beer flowed.

On the Road to Caliente
On the Road to Caliente

Harrison and Justin are just great friends.    We went to high school together, and have seen our share of shit in 25 years.   We rode out, played pool, drank beer and enjoyed each others company.    It was a great weekend.

Caliente is a small railroad town out in the middle of nowhere in Nevada.    The population is about 1,000 people.    The Knotty pine is an outstanding bar, and the beer and food are cheap, so it’s become a bit of an easy overnighter for my friends and I.

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RoadRunner's Retreat

17 Comments / Route 66 / /

I’ve always been fascinated with Amboy California. Roy’s may very well be my favorite place on Route 66. I once met its owner Buster Burris, and he was nice enough to sit and talk to my wife and I and talk about route 66.

Just East of Amboy and before Chambless is Roadrunner Retreat. It’s a ruin of a place that begs questions of it’s story. It does to me.

The roadrunner retreat is as classic as Roy's
The roadrunner retreat is as classic as Roy's

I can’t find alot of information on the Roadrunner Retreat.   Today I found some clues.

Vintage 1950's Postcard of Roadrunner Retreat
Vintage 1960's Postcard of Roadrunner Retreat

This section of route  66 was bypassed in 1972, and not much later it began to dry up.   I’m sure RR could tell us some stories.   Do you have any?   I’d love to have pictures and info on this place.  there’s just not a lot on the internet.

Roadrunner Retreat 2008
Roadrunner Retreat 2008

Today I contacted the Northern Arizona University Library and they gave me a picture of  this awesome area:

Roadrunner Retreat in 1989
Roadrunner Retreat in 1989 - The Expressway Diner.
Roadrunner Retreat 2005
Roadrunner Retreat 2005

Amboy survived for years.   Even though Buster Burris bulldozed much of the town to avoid having to pay taxes on it after the 1-40 bypass,  Roy’s stayed open for almost 25 years.   Buster was tougher than boiled owl.

I don’t know how much longer Roadrunner Retreat lasted.   I’d love to know it’s story.  I’ve been here probably 8-10 times, and I don’t know anything about it.   If you know ANYTHING about this cool place, stories or history, please post or email me at MrZip66@gmail.com .

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=34.559502,-115.605011&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=12&sll=34.560577,-115.606384&sspn=0.131189,0.30899&ie=UTF8&ll=34.560859,-115.606384&spn=0.197914,0.292511&z=11&output=embed&w=425&h=350]

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Gift for the Street Glide

2 Comments / Random Thoughts / /

My good friend Erik and I do alot of horse trading.   He’s a harley freak himself, and a while ago he hooked me up with a boot for my bike.   I think its a boot.  It could be a dock.   Hell, I have no freaking idea what it is.   I’m not even sure if the street glide likes it, or If I like it.   I do know it makes it nice to work on the bike for some things.

I have no idea what the hell this thing is called.
I have no idea what the hell this thing is called.
But it's like an uber cool kickstand
But it's like an uber cool kickstand
I think my bike likes it. It hasn't complained.
I think my bike likes it. It hasn't complained.

I’ve had this thing all winter, but every time I tried to use it, I just pushed it across the garage so I hammer drilled it into my garage floor and lag bolted it in right.

I need to do a long ride.   I’m posting pictures of my bike in that boot thing.   Dammit, I need to ride.    Someone tell me a good story.

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2 Riders injured on Oatman Road

1 Comment / Random Thoughts, Route 66 / /

Sad Deal….Authorites say two motorcyclists were injured in a head-on collision in western Arizona Thursday.

According to Mohave County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Patricia Carter, the accident happened on Highway 66 about 12 miles east of Oatman.

She said that at about 12:45 p.m. Anthony Clark, 42, of Las Vegas was traveling eastbound on a Harley Davidson motorcycle and crossed left of the center line.

He struck another motorcyclist, Justin Goodman, 37, of Las Vegas, who was also riding a Harley Davidson traveling westbound.

Both men were thrown from their motorcycles, Carter said.

Clark was transported to Kingman Regional Medical Center and Goodman was airlifted to University Medical Center in Las Vegas by Careflight.

Both motorcycles were towed from the scene and the accident is under investigation.Both motorcycles were towed from the scene and the accident is under investigation.

Full Story

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FLYERS ELIMINATED IN 6

1 Comment / Random Thoughts / /
Max Talbot turned the game around with his fight.
Max Talbot turned the game around with his fight.

Good Sunday.   Wife and I watched our Pittsburgh Penguins end the Philadelphia flyers season so the flyers can go golfing tomorrow.  HA!

Penguins > Flyers
Penguins > Flyers

I thought it was awesome that they kept chanting CROSBY SUCKS right up until he scored again to put the final nail in your coffin.   Yeah, that chant works for you.
See ya next year fellas.

In fact, the flyers remind me of Adam Lambert from American Idol.   I like them about the same:

I think I just threw up in my mouth.
I think I just threw up in my mouth.

On another note, my brother Pat got  his iron butt 1000 tonight.    I’m happier than hell for him.   1000 miles in 17 hours.   Hit road blocks from wrecked semi’s in New Mexico, but split lanes and jumped barries to make it through.    My brother Pat is a fucking stud.  Here’s to you bro.   You’re as hardcore as they come, and I’m proud to be your brother.   I owe you a bottle of fine single malt scotch.

There's never been any doubt that Dunn's are Iron Butts. Let it be on record that my brother Pat is the first.
There's never been any doubt that Dunn's are Iron Butts. Let it be on record that my brother Pat is the first.

Great day today, and still another day in the weekend.

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Overhaulin’

1 Comment / Random Thoughts / /

You know what, my wife is pretty damn sweet.   She loves Extreme Makeover home edition, and I like Overhaulin.   Yeah, I’ve watched EMHO with her, but the fact that makes her amazing to me is she watches Overhaulin’ Reruns with me.

She’s with me when its good, and she bunkers down with me when it’s bad.   In my experience, that’s a a rarity.   Straight up rarity.   I sincerely love my wife.

I am.  Gasoline…. (so is Mrs Zip).   If I had to do it all over again honey, the only thing I’d change is I’d find you earlier.

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