Friday, May 26, 2006
Iron Buttin' it to Key West
Sorry for the delay in posting. I refused to pay for Internet access when it's promised for free and wasn't available on Thursday night as you will see.
I got up very late (for me) at 0800 CDT, 0900 EDT on Wednesday, so felt I was already behind the 8-ball...Anyway, it felt great to sleep in and my body must have needed it because I almost NEVER sleep 10 hours.
30 hours later....
I'm in Key West. It was a long a gruelling trip, but I made it on one piece.
Took off thinking I would go to Ft. McHenry, then Arlington Nat'l Cemetery, then something further down the line. Got to Ft. McHenry and got 2 stamps, then tried to get to Arlington only to be tied up in knots with DC's road system - never did get there and spent way too much time NOT getng there.
Finally got back onto I-95S and started thinking about a IB run instead of staying in Savannah that eveining. If I slabbed it all the way, I could be in Key West earlier on Thursday, time to see some things, get my 4 Corners and extreme 4 corners stuff done and still have some time to enjoy Key West.
WRONG, Mush head!!!
The following demonstrates how well-minded logic confronts cold reality... x3!
As I finally got back to I-95 heading south out of DC, I ran into a traffic jam - there is a drawbridge open... Who in their right mind puts a drawbridge in the middle of an Interstate??? It has traffic backed up no less than 5 miles in each direstion!! I was one of the lucky ones because I was at least "on the bridge", but others weren't nearly as lucky. After about 15 minutes waiting, I decided this was enough and nudged Tigress onto the shoulder and went to the front of the line - why? - because I could. I was a ilttle worried about all the junk on the shoudlers of the highway, but I figured it would show up in a very short time if I picked up a nail or something - got lucky.
I did manage to get another stamp in Fredricksberg, VA.
So, I'm rolling down the highway (after my 35' stop) and thinking I'm not making any time whatsoever today and I HAVE to be in Key West by Thursday evening because I have this reservation and if I don't use it, I'll get charged for it and If I don't make it in time, I'll have to get another rooom and the will cost me double, etc., etc. (Mild panic attack... where did I pack that Valium???) Options:1.) ride a little further than originally planned, stop and finish on Thursday, or 2.) Iron Butt it all the way - meaning don't stop 'til you git 'er done.
Once you get into the mindset of IB riding, the miles roll by - ride, eat, sleep, repeat.
So, I'm rolling along in the far left lane, passing cars when all of the sudden, something whoshes by me on my right - it's some jackass on a crotch rocket. Never saw or heard him behind me. Those are the kinds of things that can get both him and me killed.
I stopped in Savannah, GA about 2230 for gas and to call my daughter, Anna to let her know I was okay and what I was going to do. I even woke her up - unusual for a kid who can easily sleep 12hrs/day and is a night owl to boot. Seems there is a storm system going thru up there and she has two Velcro dogs (AVelcro dog is one who, when a storm is coming, doesn't want to be more than 3 mm away from you at any given time) with her in a very small bed - must've been crowded.
I was in the "Zone" most of the night. Some people call it the 1000 mile stare. You get into this place in your mind where you're not really concentrating on the road, but you're aware of everything that's going on - the road, what's moving on the periphery, the instruments below you, your speed, how your body feels, etc., etc. When you're in the Zone, it feels like you can ride forever. I've had a similar experience sailing. I remember one particular night when we were racing in the MAC. We were up in the Manitou Islands, near the top of Lake Michigan and it was night. It was windy and we had a reef in the main with people on the rail. I was at the helm. I had a point of light off the starboard that I was using as a reference point and the boat was feeling good - balanced, moving through the water nicely - I was steering with two fingers. The Zone took over and I was in heaven, feeling the boat beneath me and how she was balanced, checking the instruments, comparing our position to the reference point of light, feeling how she was heeled, checking the wind and making small adjustments. I stayed that way for some two hours when someone else came up to relieve me. It felt like I had just gotten on the helm, but it had been a full two hours - felt like ten minutes.
After riding for almost 12 hours, I decided I need to stop and rest for a few hours. Florida rest areas are now police patrolled to prevent bad behavior, so I figured that was as good a place to stop as any. Stopped, put the bike on the center stand, put my feet on the handlebars and my head on the Moto Fizz and tried to rest. I didn't rest well, but I must have gotten some sleep because the Screamin' Meanie said I had been "resting" for an hour. Okay, time to roll. Somewhere around Daytona, the sleepies started to kick in and I knew I had to stop. I found a c-store that was just opening and pulled in there for coffee. While I was sipping it, I saw a wonderful little nook in front of the store between the propane cylinder cage and the ice machine - perfect for one person to sit and rest. I crawled in there, set the Meanie for 45' and was asleep almost immediately. This was much better rest than the one I had at the rest area and I woke up much more refreshed and relaxed. Time to roll.
Large section of I-95 are under construction with lane changes, etc., but there are few backups. I passed the section where there had been forest fires a week ago (the Interstate was actually closed for a time) and saw and smelt the aftermath. In some cases there was still smoke rolling across the road like fog. Stinks.
Up to this point, navigation has been simple - get on I-95 and aim south. As I'm approaching Miami, the Garmin keeps wanting to put me on the Toll Road and I'm resisting. Motorcycles and Toll Roads don't mix very well because when you have to stop at a toll booth, here's what has to happen - in order: 1.) stop the bike, usually in the worst possible place - in the middle of the lane where all the grease and oil from other vehicles accumulates, 2.) make certain bike is in neutral. 3.) pull off a glove so you can fumble around for bills or change. 4.) hand money to attendant and get change. 5.) put change away and put glove back on, 6.) shift bike into gear and take off. Meanwhile, you've backed up traffic and can practically feel the wrath of the driver behind you. Do this 5-6 time over a couple hour period and you decide that even though the route may be faster, it simply isn't worth the effort. Hence, no Florida Turnpike for this dude.
I-95 ends at Rte 1, the road I want to take to Key West. Unfortunately, I-95 meets up with Rte1 practically in the middle of Miami. More stop and go traffic. Did I mention that it was raining?? You'd think that Miamians would be comfortable driving in the rain, but it appeared to me that this was about the first or second time they had ever seen it - they're terrible drivers in rain.
Finally got thru Miami and Homestead and headed down toward the Keys. It's still raining.
I got to Key Largo, the first of the island chain and traffic is pretty heavy. There are passing lanes, but like most states, people ignore the right land and stay in the left, thnking they are going to pass the only slow moving vehicle 20 cars ahead of them - stupid!
As I am heading down the chain, I can see that it is going to be raining for while - Skies are grey and dark, the wind is coming from all directions in gusts and sometimes it looks and feels like the rains is coming from sideways. At one point the only thing I could see was the taillights on the SUV ahead of me by 50-75'. I thought about stopping, but where? THere are no gas stations with canopies nearby or any place to take shelter and it seemed kinda stupid to just stop and stand by the roadside getting wet - so I just kept on going. This was some of the worst weather I've ever gone through on a motorcycle, bar none.
About Islamorada the rain stopped completely and from there to Key West, they had had no rain at all. By then, however, everything I own and have on board is completely soaked At one point, it looked like it was going to stop raining, so I took the time to change into dry gloves. Caught again - now I have TWO pairs of wet leather gloves.
I finally arrived in Key West about 1730, found my B & B and began to try to unpucker certain parts of my anatomy.
Trip stats:
Total miles this day: 1373
Cumulative miles so far: 3777
Driving average:59.9 mph
Overall average: 44.7 mph
Driving Time: 22.54
Stopped Time: 7:49
Total Time: 30:44
I actually had a documentable SS1000 in here (1000 miles in 24 hours) which is pretty good considering the really lousy start I had the previous morning.
Later,
Mike
I got up very late (for me) at 0800 CDT, 0900 EDT on Wednesday, so felt I was already behind the 8-ball...Anyway, it felt great to sleep in and my body must have needed it because I almost NEVER sleep 10 hours.
30 hours later....
I'm in Key West. It was a long a gruelling trip, but I made it on one piece.
Took off thinking I would go to Ft. McHenry, then Arlington Nat'l Cemetery, then something further down the line. Got to Ft. McHenry and got 2 stamps, then tried to get to Arlington only to be tied up in knots with DC's road system - never did get there and spent way too much time NOT getng there.
Finally got back onto I-95S and started thinking about a IB run instead of staying in Savannah that eveining. If I slabbed it all the way, I could be in Key West earlier on Thursday, time to see some things, get my 4 Corners and extreme 4 corners stuff done and still have some time to enjoy Key West.
WRONG, Mush head!!!
The following demonstrates how well-minded logic confronts cold reality... x3!
As I finally got back to I-95 heading south out of DC, I ran into a traffic jam - there is a drawbridge open... Who in their right mind puts a drawbridge in the middle of an Interstate??? It has traffic backed up no less than 5 miles in each direstion!! I was one of the lucky ones because I was at least "on the bridge", but others weren't nearly as lucky. After about 15 minutes waiting, I decided this was enough and nudged Tigress onto the shoulder and went to the front of the line - why? - because I could. I was a ilttle worried about all the junk on the shoudlers of the highway, but I figured it would show up in a very short time if I picked up a nail or something - got lucky.
I did manage to get another stamp in Fredricksberg, VA.
So, I'm rolling down the highway (after my 35' stop) and thinking I'm not making any time whatsoever today and I HAVE to be in Key West by Thursday evening because I have this reservation and if I don't use it, I'll get charged for it and If I don't make it in time, I'll have to get another rooom and the will cost me double, etc., etc. (Mild panic attack... where did I pack that Valium???) Options:1.) ride a little further than originally planned, stop and finish on Thursday, or 2.) Iron Butt it all the way - meaning don't stop 'til you git 'er done.
Once you get into the mindset of IB riding, the miles roll by - ride, eat, sleep, repeat.
So, I'm rolling along in the far left lane, passing cars when all of the sudden, something whoshes by me on my right - it's some jackass on a crotch rocket. Never saw or heard him behind me. Those are the kinds of things that can get both him and me killed.
I stopped in Savannah, GA about 2230 for gas and to call my daughter, Anna to let her know I was okay and what I was going to do. I even woke her up - unusual for a kid who can easily sleep 12hrs/day and is a night owl to boot. Seems there is a storm system going thru up there and she has two Velcro dogs (AVelcro dog is one who, when a storm is coming, doesn't want to be more than 3 mm away from you at any given time) with her in a very small bed - must've been crowded.
I was in the "Zone" most of the night. Some people call it the 1000 mile stare. You get into this place in your mind where you're not really concentrating on the road, but you're aware of everything that's going on - the road, what's moving on the periphery, the instruments below you, your speed, how your body feels, etc., etc. When you're in the Zone, it feels like you can ride forever. I've had a similar experience sailing. I remember one particular night when we were racing in the MAC. We were up in the Manitou Islands, near the top of Lake Michigan and it was night. It was windy and we had a reef in the main with people on the rail. I was at the helm. I had a point of light off the starboard that I was using as a reference point and the boat was feeling good - balanced, moving through the water nicely - I was steering with two fingers. The Zone took over and I was in heaven, feeling the boat beneath me and how she was balanced, checking the instruments, comparing our position to the reference point of light, feeling how she was heeled, checking the wind and making small adjustments. I stayed that way for some two hours when someone else came up to relieve me. It felt like I had just gotten on the helm, but it had been a full two hours - felt like ten minutes.
After riding for almost 12 hours, I decided I need to stop and rest for a few hours. Florida rest areas are now police patrolled to prevent bad behavior, so I figured that was as good a place to stop as any. Stopped, put the bike on the center stand, put my feet on the handlebars and my head on the Moto Fizz and tried to rest. I didn't rest well, but I must have gotten some sleep because the Screamin' Meanie said I had been "resting" for an hour. Okay, time to roll. Somewhere around Daytona, the sleepies started to kick in and I knew I had to stop. I found a c-store that was just opening and pulled in there for coffee. While I was sipping it, I saw a wonderful little nook in front of the store between the propane cylinder cage and the ice machine - perfect for one person to sit and rest. I crawled in there, set the Meanie for 45' and was asleep almost immediately. This was much better rest than the one I had at the rest area and I woke up much more refreshed and relaxed. Time to roll.
Large section of I-95 are under construction with lane changes, etc., but there are few backups. I passed the section where there had been forest fires a week ago (the Interstate was actually closed for a time) and saw and smelt the aftermath. In some cases there was still smoke rolling across the road like fog. Stinks.
Up to this point, navigation has been simple - get on I-95 and aim south. As I'm approaching Miami, the Garmin keeps wanting to put me on the Toll Road and I'm resisting. Motorcycles and Toll Roads don't mix very well because when you have to stop at a toll booth, here's what has to happen - in order: 1.) stop the bike, usually in the worst possible place - in the middle of the lane where all the grease and oil from other vehicles accumulates, 2.) make certain bike is in neutral. 3.) pull off a glove so you can fumble around for bills or change. 4.) hand money to attendant and get change. 5.) put change away and put glove back on, 6.) shift bike into gear and take off. Meanwhile, you've backed up traffic and can practically feel the wrath of the driver behind you. Do this 5-6 time over a couple hour period and you decide that even though the route may be faster, it simply isn't worth the effort. Hence, no Florida Turnpike for this dude.
I-95 ends at Rte 1, the road I want to take to Key West. Unfortunately, I-95 meets up with Rte1 practically in the middle of Miami. More stop and go traffic. Did I mention that it was raining?? You'd think that Miamians would be comfortable driving in the rain, but it appeared to me that this was about the first or second time they had ever seen it - they're terrible drivers in rain.
Finally got thru Miami and Homestead and headed down toward the Keys. It's still raining.
I got to Key Largo, the first of the island chain and traffic is pretty heavy. There are passing lanes, but like most states, people ignore the right land and stay in the left, thnking they are going to pass the only slow moving vehicle 20 cars ahead of them - stupid!
As I am heading down the chain, I can see that it is going to be raining for while - Skies are grey and dark, the wind is coming from all directions in gusts and sometimes it looks and feels like the rains is coming from sideways. At one point the only thing I could see was the taillights on the SUV ahead of me by 50-75'. I thought about stopping, but where? THere are no gas stations with canopies nearby or any place to take shelter and it seemed kinda stupid to just stop and stand by the roadside getting wet - so I just kept on going. This was some of the worst weather I've ever gone through on a motorcycle, bar none.
About Islamorada the rain stopped completely and from there to Key West, they had had no rain at all. By then, however, everything I own and have on board is completely soaked At one point, it looked like it was going to stop raining, so I took the time to change into dry gloves. Caught again - now I have TWO pairs of wet leather gloves.
I finally arrived in Key West about 1730, found my B & B and began to try to unpucker certain parts of my anatomy.
Trip stats:
Total miles this day: 1373
Cumulative miles so far: 3777
Driving average:59.9 mph
Overall average: 44.7 mph
Driving Time: 22.54
Stopped Time: 7:49
Total Time: 30:44
I actually had a documentable SS1000 in here (1000 miles in 24 hours) which is pretty good considering the really lousy start I had the previous morning.
Later,
Mike
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I don't know how much you read back on my blog, but I was on Islamorada for a week with 17 other brothers for Quarter break. Yes, quarter break. We essentially get two spring breaks.
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