Pappy James' Iron Butt Rides

A New Ride

2008-04-18T08:40:00.000-05:00

Well I did it. I went and traded my trusty ole CLC on an '07 R1200GS. It is a much lighter and more nimble as well as versitale bike. However, with the expandable bags I gave up none of the packing room or comfort.

I can't wait to head back up north to home next week so that I can put some real miles on it. (The trip will be 630 miles one way. So far I've only managed to get in 120 miles in a single day.)

Been a while

2007-05-24T07:47:00.000-05:00

Well it's been a while since I've posted.
I've not been able to do any real LD rides since last August....

However, thanks to a pending switch in jobs (I'm entering Intentional Interim Ministry.) I should, after gettting settled, have lots of opportunites to ride.

I'm also going to hopefully start hosting a RTE. (Ride to Eat) The idea came to me in light of the fact that I'll be moving every 1 to 2 years. So I'm going to have the "Where's Pappy? RTE".

2006-08-31T11:51:00.000-05:00

I'll probably head down to Oklahoma City for Dinner soon.
Other than that I'm in the planning stages of adding a 7 gal Fuel Cell on the back. It will mount in place of the trunk. And by the use of quick disconnects and the mounting system I will trade it and the trunk out depending on the situation. This will bring my bike up to the 11.5 gal limit set by the IBR, which is still a dream of mine.

My next "big" ride I hope to enter a 5 day or so Rally next Summer. I'm not sure what will held because August is the IBR!

Well that's it. I'll be posting pictures of my project as I begin work.

My Ride

2006-08-23T06:53:00.000-05:00

I thought I most post a pic of me and the ride.

First Off, here is me at my "day" job.

Here I am at the "Sea of CLC's" Rally in Southern Indiana last May. Often at a rally I'll be found behind a gill burning some meat.

And here is my ride. A 2003 BMW R1200CLC. She's a real cruising tourer with the best of both worlds. Although she'll not be ripping it off the line she cruises as smooth as can be at about 3,500rpm at 75-80mph. Farkles include a Sirius Sportster, a camera mount, an Etrex Legend GPS, and Arm Rests for Mama and oh yea, a nice sheepskin butt pad for me. Currently I have over 24,000 miles on here and am no where near slowing down.

The States I've ridden in so far.

2006-08-14T07:23:00.000-05:00

create your own personalized map of the USA
or check out ourCalifornia travel guide

August 6th-9th Great Lakes Challenge Ride Report

2006-08-11T13:21:00.000-05:00

GETTING STARTED

Well I began under beautiful, but warm, weather right at 6 pm. After meeting John M. and Buck L. at the Jiffi stop in Springfield Il to witness the paperwork I gassed up and heading east.

I selected my route on the gamble that the extra miles would make up for the massive traffic delays due to construction on I-80. So I headed East through Indianapolis, because it was late I made up a little distance by going straight through Indy rather than around it, and then north at Columbus OH to Cleveland OH where I merged with I-90 east and stopped for the first of my "required" stops. As I began to get close to the OH/PA border I found my mind begin to wander and decided to make a stop. I found a rest stop just east of the PA border where I stopped. At this time it was beginning to get a little cool, a welcome thing after weeks of high temps and even higher humidity back home. So using my tank bag as a pillow and draping my arms down by the warm engine I had a good sound nap. I wasn't the only motorcycle at the rest stop there was an old Honda parked beside me. However her owner must have found a tree somewhere because I never saw him/her while I was there.

Well newly refreshed from my nap I head out again. Traffic continues to be light and the weather perfect. Even as I get into NY the traffic never picks up beyond tolerable. Before I know it I'm at the International Bridge picking up my next "required" ticket. Now my daughter, who will so be driving herself, hates bridges. Even the big four-lane monster concrete things we have crossing the Mississippi around our home. So I just know that she'd "love" the international bridge. So I click on my video camera to get footage. For those who have never crossed the bridge on I-81 from Watertown, NY to Canada it is a two lane bridge about the width of good sized alley which goes straight up and then straight down in an arch.

OH CANADA

Well I arrive at the border ready to have a long wait having already been warned that Monday was the end of a civic holiday for Canadians. Much to my happy surprise all the lanes are open and at least half are empty. So I scoot right up and get check through. The border guard just chuckled when I told her the purpose of my visit. She simply stated, "So you'll be leaving Canada within about 24 hours eh?" with a twinkle in her eye. I can only conclude she's met my type before! I begin to make my way to the next stop North Bay, ON. (And yes, I now know it is North Bay NOT North Shore…) Highways 401 and 416 are just as promised 4 lanes with good flow then I turn west onto Hwy 417 which becomes Hwy 17 and it is here that I finally beginning to understand that there is a real difference in the US Interstate system and the Canadian. Oh yea, and like any of us might be the folks sure weren't in a hurry to get back home from holiday. So I spend my day muttering and passing. However before I know it there is the sign for North Bay just ahead and I was still well on schedule. I notice a Honda Goldwing behind me. I don't take too much stock in it as there had been a constant stream of bikes out enjoying the beautiful weather. However this guy just keeps with me then he starts waving, and finally he pulls up and asks me through hand signals if I need gas. It is here that it dawns on me the North Bay Iron Butt contingent had found me. I followed him to a Shell station where I get to meet Cameron S. and Peter D. face to face. One small problem though, the Shell station is out of gas! An omen? Maybe. We scoot across the street for a quick fill up and lunch. I am handed a weather report for the rest of the Canadian trip and a stern warning about the lack of gas stations at night between Hearst and Thunder Bay.

THE DARK OF NIGHT

As I leave North Bay the sky begins to darken and a cold drizzle begins to fall. Harkening back to the warning about the lack of stations I make an extra stop or two. I finally arrive at Hearst. After filling my gas tank as full as I can, I check my extra gallon of gas and then duck into the restroom to change into my cold weather gear, as there was a beginning to be a frost to the air. I head out into the wilderness. I began to watch closely for critters such as bear and moose that might want to cross the road. At first there is a steady stream of trucks but even that has begun to dwindle. After the expected 140 miles I stop to pour in the extra gallon of gas. A quick stop at the side of the road and I am on my way again. However I soon realize that I've not seen a town or service station, closed or otherwise for miles, soon my warning light comes on but I don't panic. However I realize that there must be a town soon or I'll be stopping anyway. And there it was... the sign that Nipigon and an all night Husky is a mere twenty Kilometers away. I begin to have hope but then comes the dreaded sputter, the forewarning of an impending stop due to lack of fuel. So about 10 kilometers from Nipigon and at 3 in the morning I coast to a stop in the middle of the Ontario wilderness. (On a side note, do the bushes in Canada all grow in the shape of bears or are they cut that way?) I try for about thirty minutes to get on of the truck to stop. By this point the only traffic on the road is me and logging trucks. I finally get one to stop by almost stepping out in front of him. I explain my situation and he simply tells me he doesn't know what to do and drives off. So I start pushing. About 5 am two ladies, or should I say angels, on their way to Holiday stop and ask if I need help. I tell them my situation they say that they'll go and see if they can find a gas can when I tell them that I have one they grab it and say they'll be right back. After what seems like forever, but is actually only a few minutes, they arrive with the gas. At this point though my battery is dead. We try several times to get it push started but to no avail. Here comes the third "Angel" a gentleman and his work truck. He gets out his jumper cables and connects to my "jump start cables" and before you know it…Smoke! The small bike cables had melted. I tell them I have to pull the tank and then jump the battery. They, all three, jump in and begin to help. And finally at 7 am I am rolling towards Nipigon for a fresh tank of Gas and a new day.

A NEW DAY

Feeling fresh, with a renewed appreciation for humans in general and Canadians in particular I make a call into the blog to inform folks that I'm going to try and make the 50 hours although I know it is an unlikely goal. I just can't make myself give-up yet. I get turned around and end up going through downtown Thunder Bay after my next gas fill-up, but even that 15-minute error (turns out it didn't matter anyway) could not deter or depress me. The sun was out traffic was flowing and I was on my way. I was able to make quick work of the border crossing back into MN. I am disappointed though to discover that the entire North Shore Road to Duluth is again a two-lane highway. I once again find myself muttering and passing my way down the road. Once I arrive at Duluth I decide for mental sake, if not time, I would skip going south on "state" highway 53 opting instead to take I-35 south to St. Paul and then to I-90 Madison and home. I continue to make good time. However it is around St. Paul that I realize I'm not going to make the 50-hour goal but I just am ready to be home.

THE "HOME" STRETCH

The ride home I begin to feel every bump and tickle in the road. My butt feels as if it is sitting on Iron not being Iron. My helmet has left a sore and I lost one of my good cold weather riding gloves. Yep, I knew it then I was almost home. Well, almost in that Iron Butt sense of the word, I still had about 700 miles to go. Finally, I made my last stop before the end of the run. I was somewhere north of Bloomington. It is now after 10 pm. While thinking about how good it will feel to be done I realized that I was defiantly losing my concentration. So, getting home safe being the primary goal I decide to stop at a rest stop I found just north of Bloomington, IL. As I came out of the restroom it started to rain. I just laughed, pulled my coat up over my head and woke up about 3 hours later. Well one Thunderstorm and 90 miles later I found myself back at the Jiffi stop in Springfield, IL. Oh yea, there was that little 30 mile trip to the rest of the way home but that was just gravy.

THE DETAILS
Left 6:03 pm Central Time August 6, 2006
Arrived 2:43 am Central Time August 9, 2006
Total Time 56 hours 40 minutes
Total Miles 2,803

Done and Home!

2006-08-09T03:49:00.000-05:00

Well suffice it say that the last 24 hours have been by far the most difficult I have ever experienced! I hope to never have a day like this again....and will cherish the experience of it always.

After a few hours of sleep and soaking I will begin to put together a ride report. But let me say thanks to all the folks who saw me off and saw me during the ride as well as all of you who have been following this blog and my progress.

Here are the final initial stats. I clocked my last receipt at 2:45 am Wednesday 8/9.
So I completed a 2.8k mile Great Lakes 100 in 56 3/4 hours.

Peace,
"Pappy" James C.

T-minus 19.5 hours

2006-08-05T10:24:00.000-05:00

Well it is just under 20 hours till I launch.

I have completed (as much as we ever really complete this) updating the farkle for the trip.

I have added a Garmen e-trex legend and ram mount, a new ram mount for my Satellite radio, a ram mount and a 2 gig SD for my digital camera so I should get some really good video, a Laminar Lip, and a sheepskin seat pad. (There should be plenty of pictures in the wrap up post so I'll wait until then to post any.)

Begin looking for updates Tomorrow, Sunday August 6th, to the blog by audio. I will be leaving from Springfield, IL around 6 pm and my first call-in should be around 8:30 to 9:00 pm.

Well until tomorrow...

Great Lakes Gold

2006-07-13T07:12:00.000-05:00

I am now in the planning stages for either a Great Lakes Gold or a Great Lakes 100. The difference being that with the Gold the entire run is done in under 50 hours with the 100, yep you guessed it, under 100 hours.

Once again I will be planning and working on the Gold but will fall back on the 100 if the ride gets to tough. (Remember Saftey is always a concern.)

Here is a map of my proposed route. I'll add more details of the trip later.

Follow-up to 2nd Saddle Sore

2006-07-13T06:55:00.000-05:00

BTW the ride in IL was approved for 1,015 miles and was in fact the first ever Illinois Saddle Sore.

My first ever Saddle Sore 1000

2006-07-12T07:10:00.000-05:00

My first ever Saddle Sore was done in September of '05. It was here that I caught the long distance riding bug. I rode just over 1000 miles in exactly 24 hours. I did learn a very valuable lesson. Never ride with a non-Long Distance Rider on an Iron Butt qualifying ride. I finally abandoned him for the last three hours as he decided to take another 30 minute coffee break on the road.

My route took me from west/central Illinois to Memphis, TN then west to Possum Kingdom, TX.

My second Saddle Sore 1000.

2006-07-12T06:53:00.000-05:00

Here is a reprint of my second Saddle Sore 1000 from the Iron Butt.org General Discussion Forum.

Ok, so I get this really good idea to leave Thursday afternoon (3/9/06) to attempt a BBG ALL within the state of Illinois. Well the big day finally comes, I get the bike ready with a 6k mile service, carefully pack any tool I might need on the side of the road, turn off the pager. The time has come. I look out the door and rain. I check the weather channel and web and the forecast is rain until about 1 am then clears for at least 24 hours. I decided to go for it. I leave at 7 pm. Hit the road. BUT, I get stuck behind farmer Joe. (You see in order to do a full 15k miles without re-using any roads really takes some doing and some riding on a couple of two lanes. Well here I am hunkered down driving a good 5 to 10 mph under the speed limit the rain is getting harder and the temperature drops. I finally get to Peoria already a good thirty minutes behind schedule. I realize that although I have enough tools to rebuild the bike I forgot to pack extra socks. So at the second truck stop I give in. (One might think a truck stop would stock necessities like socks!) I turn for home. I arrive back in Jacksonville at about midnight having traveled only a mere 200 miles. I dry off and go to bed feeling defeated. Upon getting up the next morning I'm not only upset about not getting my ride but the sun is shinning as bright as ever. It only took me one cup of coffee before I madly hit the map program, call the wife, and I'm off on a shorter but Illinois only Saddle Sore.

As you can see I chose this time to stick to the interstates so I create a sloppy figure 8. I head out at 10 the next morning to try again.

As for the actual ride itself it was rather uneventful. But as I rode I welcomed spring in many ways. First, I noticed the smell. Smell tells you a lot about seasons that you can never get in a car. It smelled like pre-spring. You know you could smell the mud and last harvests corn stalk stubs beginning to turn to mulch. The Hawks were out having a late morning hunt. And of course, just to add a touch of difficulty, that great rite of passageÂSpring Break. The roads were packed with kids heading home for Spring Break. I had to stay on my toes in that many seemed to be in a hurry. My favorite was a little white car with two young ladies in it. The passenger bent in half with her feet on the dash. (Ok now stop that! I'm a married man and a preacher!) The reason I remember them is because they had this real knack for getting stuck behind trucks while everyone else passed. However when they finally found the left lane they would hit it like Bo and Luke in a Dukes re-run. I guess they passed me at least four times in a hundred miles on I-80.

Well the ride goes wellÂI know what you're thinking, "too well". And you are right. I realize that I'd cut about 40 miles off of my ride by bypassing Chicago and turning south off I-80 directly on I-57 south. Quickly at my stop at East St. Louis I re-work my trip and decide to hit I-74 for a little detour back up through Peoria. Sounds good all I need is a gas stop to show my turn off 74 onto I-155. But Noooooo, every station I found on I-155 all the way down to Lincoln is closed, but not only closed the pumps are closed as well, I didn't know that was true anymore. The real kicker is that in Eureka, about 10 miles out from I-155 was a really nice new Shell station that I noticed because I wished it was closer to Peoria. Unfortunately I needed that stop to document my detour. So I get home around 2:20 am.

Hopefully, I have documented enough to complete the ride which according to my speedometer was right at 1023 miles and my MS Maps & Streets was 1006. So if my documentation is correct and someone hasn't beaten me to the punch (Yes, I checked the current ride report) I have now completed the first ever IL-1000.

But even if it doesn't meet the criteria, more importantly, I have welcomed Spring in only the way we know how!

Pappy