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The Iron Butt Association - The world's toughest motorcycle riders

THE BIG RIDE, OR, FINALLY IRON BUTT CERTIFIED
This article was published in the Michigan Motorcyclist Magazine in the fall of 1999.

We both had watched the weather forecasts many times each day for
the five days prior to May 7th 1998. The closer it got the worse the
weather forecasts looked. Forecasts for rain covered the entire
Midwest and plains states. But we knew you can’t trust weather
forecasts. Still, rain suits and luggage double packed in plastic bags
would be a precaution. And a darn good thing it turned out to be.

Alec would leave from home in East Jordan MI and I from home in
Beulah MI. We would meet at the intersection of U.S. 131 and M 115
just south of Cadillac MI.

The appointed time arrived and with witness forms properly signed
verifying location and mileage I left Beulah after getting gas at the
local Amoco station and being sure to get the computer slip noting
time, location and fuel.

A quick ride in beautiful 65 degree weather down 115 to the
appointed meeting place confirmed that the decision to take on this
challenge was a good one. I waited 20 minutes for Alec to arrive. We
both gassed up and tucked the proper receipts into our log books. The
ride down 115 to the MI state line was a great ride in beautiful
weather. One stop near Grand Rapids for gas got us into Indiana
without incident. The sky gradually turned more ominous as we rode,
portending the predicted weather.

Our gas stop within view of the I 80 toll road brought sprinkles and
gave us a good spot to don our rain gear for the first time. For the
next 539 miles we rode in the rain. Sometimes it was heavy,
sometimes lighter, but it never stopped. The wind from the east had
made us fight for control on our way south but going west the east
wind was our friend and increased our gas mileage a little at each
stop.

In order to time our arrival in Plainville KS. We had to resolve to go
thru Chicago traffic during rush hour. Construction on I 80, rush hour
traffic in and around Chicago and the rain and heavy spray from the
constant parade of big trucks added immeasurably to the challenge of
an all night non-stop ride to reach out goal.

At the Holland ave exit off I 80, near Chicago we stopped for gas and
verification slip and decided to hog down a Burger King sandwich,
fries and a drink. We must have been the major entertainment to the
patrons of Burger King. Soaked and leaving puddles wherever we
stopped we were indeed a sight to behold. By the time we took off
our rain gear, leather coats, chaps and fleece jackets we could have
opened our own clothing store.

After a 25 minute stop for bike and human fuel we were back on our
way, in the continuing down pour. Our rain suits performed perfectly
but even the best rain suit allows leakage around the neck and our
multi layers of clothing became gradually soaked from neck to mid
chest. In 75 mile an hour winds (our travel speed in the rain) cold wet
clothes quickly impart a decided chill. Shivering saps valuable energy
and tightens muscles. Alec had a stroke of genius, when at one gas
stop he discovered a hand dryer in the rest room which we used to try
our shirts, socks and underware before continuing on in the
unrelenting rain.

It seems I failed to mention that while still in Michigan Alec noticed
that my headlight had burned out. I quickly switched to the dim setting
and proceeded on. The hours of monotony allowed time to consider
how I would see during the all night ride approaching. At it turned out
Alec rode in front and I used his headlight to light my way all thru the
night. A quite satisfactory solution until my dim light filament died,
fortunately after daylight on Friday.

It is now after midnight, still raining and we are making good time
considering our frequent stops to warm up, dry off, get gas and sneak
a bite to eat.

By 1:00 a.m. near Des Moines Iowa it stopped raining. It is a mixed
blessing to see the bright moon in the sky and enjoy being able to see
without fighting the spray from countless thousands of fellow
travelers. A mixed blessing because now the clear sky drops the
temperature sharply down ward into the mid 40's. With still five hours
of riding before first light it will only get colder. We both wondered
why we had not planned this trip for August!

We are now able to maintain a steady 80 miles per hour and made
Lincoln Nebraska gas stop at 5:12 a.m. Light is not far away if we can
stay awake and warm.

I found the only way I could stay awake for the two hours before
daylight was to talk to myself, loud enough so I could hear my voice
over the sound of the wind. I repeated every nursery rhyme I had
ever heard, told stories and discussed the state of my own sanity for
attempting this ride. What fun!!! I am actually doing this after years of
thinking, dreaming and planning. I will soon be a bonafide member of
the worlds toughest motorcycle riders. A certified Iron Butt!! We know
what Iron does when it gets wet so maybe my award will be a rusty
butt certificate.

The next stop for gas at Waco Nebraska also served as breakfast
stop and while we ate the sky began to brighten. The night ride is
over and day light will bring some warming and better visibility. We
are on the downhill side of the challenge. Only one more stop for gas
at Odessa Nebraska will take us to our destination in West Central
Kansas.

A few miles west of Kearney Nebraska highway 183 heads south
about 50 miles into Kansas and another 70 miles to our destination.
Almost there!!!!

As we leave the interstate and begin the last leg of our journey the
rain begins again. This time just sprinkles. We hesitate to stop now to
put our rain suits back on. It is a good thing sine I left my rain suit
somewhere in Nebraska. The sprinkles increase after we enter
Kansas but we continue. We can almost smell victory now.

At 11:35 a.m., Michigan time we roll into the Total gas station in
Plainville, gas up and document the stop for the last time. Witnesses
at the gas station are willing to sign the required forms and our Iron
Butt ride is officially over.

Now we need to find a headlight bulb for my bike, clean up, change
clothes and visit our friends. We didn’t sleep till evening and spent the
day with our relatives getting caught up on family matters. A
wonderful steak barbeque for supper and to bed at 7:30 for a much
needed rest. Thirty six hours without sleep, NO PROBLEM!!

Now it is Friday, time to leave for home and another 1100 plus mile
ride. But it is raining again, hard! The longer we wait for the rain to let
up the later we will get home on Sunday. We have reserved the right
to stop to sleep on the way home since we will not be documenting
this ride. As it turns out we rode home in less time than the trip out.
Finally at 9:30 (10:30 Michigan time) we leave in light rain and head
north for Nebraska and the long ride east. This time the wind is in our
faces and our mileage suffers noticeable. A tank of gas now goes only
85 miles while on the way west yesterday 120 miles between gas
stops was our record.

We tried to avoid the rain in Kansas by taking an easterly route before
entering Nebraska. It didn’t work and thought we saw some
interesting Kansas farmlands and quaint small farming towns we still
got wet. Lucky for me my cousin had an extra rain suit so I was again
relatively dry and comfortable.

A few hours into out homeward ride the rain stopped and we rode in
ideal conditions to the Nebraska Iowa border. Near Council Bluffs
Iowa we encountered a severe Thunder storm. Quickly putting on our
rain suits again under cover of a highway overpass we rode thru
heavy, pounding rain, thunder and frequent lightening. After about 15
miles we drove into clear conditions that continued until we arrived
home. After the thunder storm, when we stopped to take off our rain
suits (for the last time) I asked Alec if he thought it was a good idea to
ride in thunder and lightening. He responded that it didn’t seem to
bother people in cars. "Yes", I said "but the don’t have their heads
stuck thru the roof as THEY drive". Enough said.

This time riding thru the Chicago area it is well after midnight and the
traffic is light and speeds fast. It is a nice way to go by the big city.
Tonight is clear and cold, very cold, about 40 degrees. With all the
clothes we have brought we are still chilled thru from the penetrating
cold. Sleep deprivation sets in again, as before, about 3:00 a.m. We
decide not to stop but to press on and go all the way home. Talking
aloud does the trick of keeping me awake. And soon the eastern sky
begin to lighten. Now we are only a few hundred miles from home. At
Holland Michigan Alec and I part. We say good bye and good luck, we
will talk soon.

Riding alone is not nearly as much fun. At least now I have a high
beam headligh of my own to light up the night. South of Ludington I
stop to rest and clear the cobwebs from my head. Then on to
Manistee for a coffee stop and gas. I share with the attendant that I
left western Kansas less that 17 hours ago and she looks at me like
she should call someone. Back on the bike for the last 30 miles, thru
Bear Lake, Benzonia and Home at 7:30 a.m. Sunday..

We are home safely after almost 24 hundred miles in 42 hours of
riding. A feeling of satisfaction, accomplishment and pride in the
completion of a goal that includes a very small percent of those who
claim to be motorcycle enthusiasts.

Now it is time to begin planning for the next challenge. Maybe 1500
miles next time and the next level of Iron Butt certification. Many
discussions will precede whatever lies ahead.

The final activity is to gather all the documentation, prepare maps,
copy all gas slips and witness forms to be forwarded to the officials of
the Iron Butt organization. Then we wait for the coveted certificate,
license plate frame and the title of Motorcyclists Toughest riders.

UPDATE The certificate arrived on time and the license
plate bracket is attached. What a great sense of accomplishment!!

For more information about the Iron Butt Asociation click HERE

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