Iron Butt Saddle Sore

[mfarrington]

Well, I completed my first Iron Butt Saddle Sore yesterday, 6/29/2014. West from ATL on 20 to 65, North to 40, East to 24, then 20 back to ATL. Absolute worst weather conditions I have ever willingly road through. Downpours during heavy construction traffic through Nashville, Monsoon rain through the Smokies, and I blew off right side muffler coming down from the Smokies (weld didn't hold). I dried out four different times in four different states on the ride! Bike performed wonderfully.

That said, it was a challenging, memorable experience. And the tales of the adventure are getting longer already ...

[3Phase]

Way to go, Mike!

.

[Old Red]

Glad you made it. It's not an easy thing to do in good weather!!! The last time I went around Nashville I took 840, it's a nice loop south of town.

The Other Earl

[JeffH]

Mike,

That's a real adventure challenge. You must have perfected the gas stop! It is fun to plan and execute a challenge like that. Nasty rain and all, you prevailed. Its nice when the bike runs perfect. (when is Nashville road construction ever going to end?? I think its been 10 years so far as I can remember)

We need to get with Brent & Marty & Joe & Chris & Mike to take a ride. Maybe in August.

Jeff

[BA80]

Glad you made it. It's not an easy thing to do in good weather!!! The last time I went around Nashville I took 840, it's a nice loop south of town.

The Other Earl

Don't try 840 during rush hour.

[Brent]

Iba

Congradulations Mike!
Iron Butt Association takes a while for verification, certificate etc. Pres Michael Kneebone likes to see the old XS11 bikes still going and qualifying.

would like to get together & hear more about it.

Brent

[XJOK2PLAY]

Mike,
Congrats! That's cool.

I rode to Eureka Springs a couple of weeks ago, and met up with Bohn Frazer, who rode in on his BMW GS from KC.

About the time I rode through Tontitown and almost made it to 540 and turned north...I hit rain. But the real heavy stuff waited until I was on 540 north, and in bumper to bumper traffic. No place to pull over to put rain gear on.
Barely could see 50' ahead...

By the time I made Rogers, Arkansas...it slacked up. I figured since I was already wet, keep riding. About 20 more miles, I ran into road construction, and traffic slowed... and was heavy...2 lane...no passing.
Got just past Pea Ridge Military Park, and traffic came to a halt...and again, it poured heavy rain.

So, here I am...sitting...in the rain. Turned out... A semi had hit an old Olds Cutlass head-on in a construction zone. Ripped the front end out from under the semi. So you can imagine how bad the Olds looked...
There must have been 400 + cars jammed there. Took forever to get through, but finally did. By the time I made Eureka Springs...I was a drenched rat. Even the money in my wallet was wet. Miserable...

So, I understand what ya went through! Rain gear makes all the difference in the world. We hit rain a couple of times that week, but we were able to stop and gear up. No big deal, if you can do that.

I hate getting cold or wet when I'm riding. Just sux. But wet wallets, wet money, and wet leather gloves are worse, I think.

But, like Bohn wisely told me once... "If nothing bad or extraordinary happens on a ride, you tend to forget it. It's the "extra" stuff that happens along the way that makes it a memorable adventure."
I think his right.
Bob