Another Iron Butt ride in the bag. This makes twelve for this year (and fifteen total - so far).

2024-10-13 "Spaceship"

I was born in 1944. This is 2024. The math is pretty easy this year.

"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: 1,014 miles

GPS Log Map (Track of Actual Ride )

I love these Iron Butt motorcycle trips, and I've done this route before - a few times. Its is my favorite. It's so fun and scenic - until I get to the point, late in the day, where it becomes grueling. Then I suffer through it for a few hours until I get my second wind, and the riding becomes fun again.

The grueling part begins at Ft Stockton after I've ridden all day. The sun goes down and I realize I'm a very long way from home - and I'm only half-way along the route. Sorta discouraging! My legs are cramping, my body is dehydrated, and I'm tired. I slog on through the night, making my way west along I-10, dodging the endless streams of traffic - mainly the semi-trucks carrying huge loads of who knows what. I stop for gas every three hours and often meet such nice people. Talking with them - usually about the bikes they use to have - is refreshing.

After riding the first half of the night, the tiredness slowly wears off and I become even more determined. finally riding west of Datil New Mexico in the wee hours, I start seeing elk browsing alongside the road, and they give me even more strength. I love these animals. in the blackness of night the full moon lowers to the horizon. It seems huge, and the orange gleaming light almost blinds me. The night is stunning - and it's reserved for me, these majestic elk, and a few jackrabbits crossing the lonely road.

Dawn of the new day is nearing as I pull into our driveway. Jenny has been watching my track, and has risen early. She opens the garage door and I pull the bike in. I'm home.

Departing home on the morning of Oct 13th.

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.

My dash display shows the bike's milage (40,896) and the tire pressure, front (37) and rear (42).

Travis from Pie Town, here at Quemado NM getting gas for his truck and filling a large fuel container. He used to ride a 250 but traded it for a 650 - a decision he regrets because the 250 was so much more nimble, he said. We both hoped that we would see each other again riding in the area sometime soon.

Getting gas myself, at Quemado. This is Fuel Stop #1 at the beginning of my Iron Butt "Spaceship" ride.

Quick stop for photos at the VLA viewing area (Very Large Array - National Radio Astronomy Observatory telescopes) along highway 60.

One of the telescope dishes currently sits just across the highway. The antenna dish is 25 meters (82 feet) in diameter, and there are 27 these in the array, spread out all across the high valley- called the Plains of San Agustin.

Looking north at more dishes in the far distance.

Another stop I like to make is at the Trinity highway sign. the White Sands Missile Range north access road comes out here, and was the site of the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. (More info)

Fuel Stop #2: Tinnie, New Mexico

Tinnie

Roswell, NM welcome sign

2024-10-13 "Spaceship"

I named today's route for this cute highway display (Location), which goes back umpteen years and is very famous. And for the spectacular launching and landing of Starship 5, which I was watching live this morning, just before my departure from home. (Link) This was the first catching of the booster back at the launch pad. Truly a historic event.

Welcome to Artesia, NM (Location)

Back at the Duck Pond in Carlsbad. This is a real visual treat after riding in the arid high desert all day.

Looks like a small flock of Canadian geese are making a stopover on their way south.

Fuel Stop #3: Carlsbad, New Mexico

Pecos, Texas

I chose to ride on a Sunday because the truck traffic would be less on highway 285 in the late afternoon when the oil workers get off work.

Nearing Fort Stockton I stop to photograph the sunset.

Fuel Stop #4: Fort Stockton, TX

Fort Stockton. I typically plan my trip start time (the time I leave home) so that I will arrive at Ft Stockton at sunset. The route turns west here, and after sunset I wouldn't have the sun hanging low and glaring in my eyes, making the highway ahead difficult to see. Also in my plan is to ride through El Paso late at night when the traffic is less.

Fuel Stop #5: Fabens, TX

Fabens

"Nice bike" says the driver of the car getting gas next to me.
"Do you ride" I reply.
"No, but I used to, before my leg started giving me problems. I had a Harley then switched to a Ducati". (That would be like going from a Ford to a Ferrari no offense to my Harley riding friends). This is George from California. A month ago he drove to Austin to care for his brother, and is now returning home, where he works as a car salesman. Nicest guy ever, and we talked for 10 minutes.

"Keep the greasy side down" this guy said. "I used to ride Harleys and they leaked oil real bad."
This is Chris from somewhere back east. I met him in the store talking amicably to a clerk. He was hitching back home. Nicest guy ever, and we talked for 10 minutes. He wasn't panhandling, and said that he left his sign (and bedroll) stashed in the bushes over by the exit.

Oh, the people you meet on a motorcycle trip. They make life golden.

Coffee Stop #1: Las Cruces, New Mexico I don't drink caffeinated coffee except when on a long motorcycle trip when it helps keep me alert. Riding a bike at 80 mph at night, one nod and the ride (and maybe your life) is over.

Midnight coffee stop in Las Cruces.

Riding highway 25 north from Las Cruces - at night - is not as fun as it could be, due to the small but real chance of a deer running out in front of me. I take it a bit slow and use the utmost caution. Tonight I had an encounter with an agent at a checkpoint, when I thought his hand-wave was a go-ahead, when in fact he wanted me to stop. He chased after me for a short ways, then read me the riot act for not stopping. "I didn't even say Hi" he said. Nonetheless, it was all good, and he let me proceed.

Also, riding the 25 north at night usually can be a bit problematic due to the presumably nice people driving cars behind me with their bright lights blinding my vision in my rear view mirrors. They will approach at high speed, and I have to flash my super bright tail lights to alert them that the red light is a motorcycle right in front of them, rather than a car in the distance. At which point they will brake to my speed and take station right behind me - bright headlights glaring. Thus they will carry on for miles, until I pull over to the shoulder - at which point they will reluctantly pass and go rocketing off. Seems like they they are sitting in their comfortable car or truck in body only. Their heads are somewhere else.

Fuel Stop #6: Socorro NM

Socorro

Moon over Socorro

I forgot to bring my heated jacket, so the ride from Socorro, up and over the continental divide, was bone-chilling. And I had to ride slow for fear of running into a elk or running over a rabbit.

Fuel Stop #7: back at Quemado

Another Iron Butt ride is in the bag, and now for the ride back home.

Jenny had dinner cooked and the wood stove going - and its warmth sure felt good.

The next morning I went out in the back yard to photograph Jenny's little garden, and it brought some thoughts:

Used to be, I had to hike two thousand miles to challenge myself, and urge myself out of my comfort zone - for person growth. Now in my eightieth year I can archive much the same results by simply sitting on the seat of a motorcycle. But it's all the same thing: getting out in the real world, admiring its beauty, and celebrating life. A person can go out and sit on a city park bench, watch the birds, and breathe the fresh air. That would be equally enriching, as long as they leave their problems at home. Or a person could do something halfway between these extremes. But the recipe for success is simple. As they say in the Iron Butt community: Plan the ride, then ride the plan. In other words, make a plan, then go out and do the plan.

That's about it for now, until the next one.

Be Nice to Others ... Ditch the Hate ... and Fill Your Life with Integrity.