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Iron Butt Association SaddleSore 1000, May 8, 2009

My neighbor Dave and I have been riding quite a bit together and he had decided it was time he rode an IBA SaddleSore 1000, and I wanted to roll up some long miles prior to this summer's Utah 1088. So we planned a ride late enough in the spring to hopefully avoid poor weather, planned to ride on the prairie to avoid even worse weather and gravel covered roads in the mountains, and planned it to be near a full moon to aid night-time visibility.

We left on Friday morning at 0500 with 50 degree temps and headed for Wyoming. North of Fort Collins we encountered stiff side winds that kept us leaned well to the left all the way to Cheyenne. After a quick fuel stop to mark the NW corner of the route, we headed east on I-80.

Just east of town the temperature dropped to 41, a bit colder than expected, especially with the stiff side wind that was actually coming out of the northwest, so we pulled over at an exit to add more gear. I should have pulled out my camera to record the silly sight of Dave trying to get a liner put into his riding pants that were blowing in the wind. Folks in passing traffic probably thought we were crazy.

As we continued toward North Platte the temperature slowly warmed up and we took in the scenery, including a big views across the prairie, a stone teepee that was part of an old tourist stop, a huge American flag on the side of grain elevator, and the sculptures in front of Cabela's in Sidney, NE. And we certainly made better time than the tourists that used this route as part of the old Lincoln Highway.

At North Platte we refueled and got the receipt to record the NE corner of the route. Heading south on US-83 we traveled through rolling farm and ranch country. We saw lots of fields with green crops starting to grow, big blue skies, and valleys with lots of trees along the creeks. In McCook we made a quick stop to take off heated vests and to open jacket vents. Dave wished we had time to stop at one of the interesting little cafes along main street. Being in the area brought back family memories since my great-grandparents settled about 40 miles to the southeast way back in the 1880s and it was where my parents were born and raised.

We soon crossed the Kansas state line and traveled through miles of farm land and small towns as we continued south on US-83, another of Kansas' very well maintained highways, eventually stopping in Scott City for gas. Along the way we saw a farmers' Harvestore grain elevator that looked like it lost to a tornado, lots and lots of feed lots (can't push the "no ventilate" button on a bike), pump jacks pulling U.S. oil from the ground (drill here, drill now.), interesting old buildings in some of the towns, and a large sculpture of a hunter and buffalo in Oakley. Dave had asked if Kansas would be flat. A lot of it is.

We eventually turned southwest on US-56 and headed for Oklahoma, not far from where I went to first and second grade. More mostly flat land where honest livings are earned farming and ranching. We stopped in Boise City for water and gas, successfully negotiated the round-about that centers on the county courthouse, and set sail for New Mexico.

We arrived in Clayton, slowly motored past the LEO parked by the 25 MPH speed limit sign, tanked up at the SW corner of our route, swapped motorcycle stories with a local guy riding a red 600cc sport bike, and started downhill toward the barn. On the way to Raton the sunset skies were turning pink and purple, storm clouds were brewing off to the north, the land was rising toward the mountains, pronghorns (antelopes) were out across the fields, and small volcanic mountains like Capulin were on both sides of the highway.

After passing a New Mexico State trooper who had someone pulled over in one of the speed traps near Raton, we stopped to put cold weather gear back on, and headed north on I-25. As we climbed toward Raton Pass the black storm clouds were to our right with occasional flashes of lightning, the mountains to the west were silhouetted with sunset skies, the road was again turning right and left, we rode through a few sprinkles, and were soon in the dark.

North of Trinidad we came out from under the clouds and the moon was shining over our shoulders. We stopped for a quick break at Colorado City, then motored on to Pueblo for another gas stop, barely missing a mattress and flying foam rubber on a bridge over the Arkansas River. A bit exciting. React, aim for the open spots.

After filling up, we rode to Colorado Springs, avoided crazy drivers on Monument Hill, and arrived back in our neighborhood right after a rainfall. It was 39 degrees, a little chilly. We tanked up again at the local Shell station and parked the bikes in my garage, right at the expected time of midnight.

It was a great ride in spite of the low temperatures early and late in the day. There is always beauty in the prairie scenery but we're always glad to get back to the views of the Colorado mountains. And Dave is to be congratulated on easily earning his first Iron Butt Association certificate (subject to IBA verification).

-- Randy Bishop, Highlands Ranch, Colorado