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.
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.
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
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.
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
I can’t find alot of information on the Roadrunner Retreat. Today I found some clues.
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
Today I contacted the Northern Arizona University Library and they gave me a picture of this awesome area:
Roadrunner Retreat in 1989 - The Expressway Diner. 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 .
