SaddleSore 1000 = 1,000 miles in 24 hours.

"Ray, as I have said before, you are an inspiration to all of us!" -Michael Kneebone, President and Founder: Iron Butt Association - "World's Toughest Motorcycle Riders"

Ray's Iron Butt Rides

SpotWalla

Google Map: 1,006 miles

Actual GPS Log

Jenny sends me off at 3:00 AM

Departing home.

Gas stop #1: Springerville, AZ

An Iron Butt ride begins at the first gas station, with a Dated Business Receipt (DBR) showing the date, time and location. The rider photographs the DBR against the bike's odometer, as an indication of the running mileage. These photos are required for an Iron Butt certification.

Gas stop #2: Superior, AZ

Superior

Jeremy B. and his son Fynn. Jeremy is a good friend from the tracker classes of 1996-97. I gave Fynn the book because he is hiking the PCT.

Arriving back home, I took this photo of a jar of Maple syrup that Jeremy made from his trees in Wisconsin and concentrated over a bow-drill fire. Pretty special! The eggs are from our chickens.

Gas stop #3: Yuma, AZ

Yuma

Desert View Tower

Coyote's Flying Saucer Retrieval and Repair Service Location

Gas stop #4: Jacumba

Jacumba. This place has a Cobra helicopter on it's roof

Gas stop #5: Back in Yuma - mid afternoon.

Yuma

At the Sentinel Rest Area, I laid down in the shade and closed my eyes for five minutes.

After riding through Phoenix for forty miles in heavy traffic, I missed the turn-off to Payson and continued on the 202 for another six miles - looking for the turn-off. True to form in just about any city, my GPS was no use. I have three of these, bought on ebay for $20; this was number two. I have to actually stop and reset them, to get them working again. Clearly, I need a better GPS.

Gas stop #6: Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale

Stop in Payson to put on some warmer clothes.

Gas stop #7: Back in Springerville at 11:03 PM.

3:53 AM - 11:03 PM = 19 hours, 10 minutes

Springerville

Pretty tired from riding 19 hours, but also pretty happy to complete another Iron Butt challenge.

As I was accelerating out of Springerville in the black of night, I had to come to grinding to halt for a deer that was walking across the highway. When seen from ten feet away, it looked like a cross between a deer and donkey with thick and short light-gray fur. I had never seen a deer like this, but then again I was fatigued and not thinking too clearly.

Jenny opened the garage and welcomed me home, and we sat in the living room for a short while, as I told her all about the ride.

Note: these rides I'm doing this winter and early spring are training for much bigger Iron Butt rides hopefully coming up soon. Please stay tuned...