Happy Thanksgiving! On the road...again!

Seems being back in retail has put a crimp in the holiday spirit. Off to Miami again. A nice 300 mile ride is in the works. For once arrival time doesn't matter as long as it's today!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who read this and ride safe!

Florida Coast 2 Coast - 2009

2009 was to be the year off. Cruz'n Al had been planning these for a couple of years and wanted a much needed and deserved break. But three weeks ago, and at the urging of many riders, Al decided to resurrect the 2007 ride as a "re-do". Not much participation was expected with so little notice.

The 2007 ride was a no-go for me. My right leg was in a cast and my "wheels" were attached to a chair! Not much fun. I did attend the start and wished the riders a safe ride. This time, James and I would participate.

An early morning arrival and temps in the high 50's! A bit cool for us Florida folks but the forecast was for temperatures in the mid-eighties and no chance of rain!! Ker's Winghouse was again the launch point.


When we arrived, a few bikes were there... most of the manufacturers were proudly represented. We saw Gold Wings and ST's; BMW GS and RT models, the Vstrom crowd was in force; and there was a nice mix of FJR's, Kawasaki's, and Harley Davidson.

Lots of new faces were present but many of the veterans were back again....we don't seem to learn! :-)

David Gillispee was there for his first go round with Al's scenic routes. Here is his getting briefed by Joe! Plotting the route in the GPS is a worthwhile exercise. Of course, many of the roads are on in Al's database!!!
Richard Buber came on "Old Wing" this year. Many of the bikes that he usually brings to the back roads challenge were just not ready for a 300 mile round trip from the east coast on such short notice.

However, keeping with tradition, it was still Richard who walked away with the "oldest" bike award.

I wonder if he was screening the entries? Hmmmm... is that why he volunteered for the sign in duties?

We were off at 8:30am and found our way along the roads of Central Florida. Lunch was at the Lake Harris Hideaway. As usual, the food was excellent.

The camera was left in the saddlebag but I've already seen postings. I bet I can "borrow" a pic or two!

The second leg started off well. We followed Joe and Larry. When James discovered that they had missed a turn, we found ourselves in front and James was again navigating!

A few miles down the road and the "happening" occurred once again. For the third consecutive time (in other words...every ride so far), James had to report that the route list had blown out of his hands!! Oops. Thankfully Joe had another copy.

We led for some time and were doing fine. Then "we" missed a turn. Hmmm...no one behind us. What happened? Then the phone rang. And it rang again. Two locations needed assistance. One was a phone call; the other needed in person help. How convenient... the store I needed to visit was in Daytona, a short 25 miles away.

We changed out route to a direct shot to the Volusia Mall. I dealt with the issues and then we headed to the Best Western in Ormand Beach for the evening festivities. Dinner found us at the "European Cafe"; a German cuisine. James is not one for meat in any form but he ate some of the chicken. I convinced him to try the Schnitzel. Mine was cooked and wrapped in a potato pancake. I got away with the experiment until he found some "chewy" potato.

Back to poolside for a short nap and awards. I was asked to speak to the ride and how much enjoyment we had over the previous years. James won the "Youngest" participant for the second time!

At the completion of the ceremony, we were supposed to head back to Riverview. James had not worn his overpants and was cold.... result? A night at the Best Western!

We saw Barb off to Texas and we mounted the VTX for the short 150 mile ride home. The weather was nice and warm. Arriving at 12:30pm, I headed for the shower....an unplanned stop the evening before.... you get the idea.

It was then that I realized...no pics other than the start. Geez! Next time!!!

Daytona preparation

It's but a week away... Biketoberfest and the MTF Ride to Eat in Daytona. As chance would have it, I need to do a store visit in Daytona on Friday; how convenient!

Scheduled maintenance was just completed and I am good to go for another 4000 mile... about a month. This week will find me in Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater, Port Richey, and finally Daytona.

Pictures and the story are coming on Friday!

A day of reflections...

Friday evening - September 18 - 9:00pm. At that very moment it was 11:00am, September 19 in Cooroy, Australia. The funeral service for David "Davo" Jones was scheduled to begin.

I'm sure that the FarRiders were there in force to bid farewell to their fallen founder/leader. Many of Davo's friends from the U.S. were riding or finding other ways to pay tribute to our friend.

I chose to find a quiet place and reflect. The first connection... the IBA forum. Davo is congratulating me for my Saddlesore 1000 and a promise of a beer.

Many times we exchanged commentary through the various forums, IBA,, Motorcycle Tourers Forum (MTF), and eventually Facebook! I read through a few and had a few laughs! Especially while reading those that asked "why are you on the computer and not riding!" Good question!!!

I got that beer in Spartanburg. I heard something about the promise for the beer being IN Australia. Nonetheless, I collected in spite ot the minimal, laugh filled protest!!!!

We had a couple of nice conversations over the two days before the IBR start. Davo loved to talk motorcycles...he loved talking of his home and family even more.

The FarRider forum has had some postings pertaining to the funeral but it was to early to expect other than a quick note. I'm sure that once everyone gets back to their homes, more will follow. There was one picture of the hearse with the casket in the back. It is still hard to believe that the friend we all met in Spartanburg was now on his final trip on this earth.

FarRiders will continue because Davo created an organization that would outlive him. HE never intended to turn over the reigns this early but many have stepped up to ensure that his vision continued.

Davo will also always be a part of the MTF, the IBA, and many other groups that he touched. He is in a better place and can ride where we could only dream.

Iron Butt Rally - the finish

While I was not there and did not get to experience the ride, it was fun to follow the postings and some of the SPOT trackers as the riders chased the bonus locations throughout the US and Canada. Jim Owen finally captured the win after two previous attempts that left him oh so close.

Kevin Lechner, Richard Buber, Greg Rice, Art Garvin, Bo Griffin, Sal Terranova, and Davo Jones represented the MTF (as did other MTF riders) very well. Kevin, Richard, Greg, Bo, and Art were finishers. Sal came up a bit short on points but completed his ride. Completing this ride is in and of itself worth commending.

Unfortunately, Davo didn't finish the ride. But 75 miles short of completion, he struck a deer in Idaho. His injuries were severe and he was airlifted to a trauma center. Sadly, he did not survive. He leaves his wife, Willow, three daughters and a son, a grandchild, and many friends from the long distance motorcycle community.
"...it's just a road."
We are all destined to die; some choose to live while alive"...Davo

In just a couple of hours of conversation, Davo lived up to his online reputation. Honest, sincere, and a gentleman.

You will be missed my friend. Godspeed Davo.


We will ride in your memory!

IronButt Rally 2009 - The start!

It was time for a ride. The IronButt Rally was starting in Spartanburg, SC and many of the MTF crowd was either in the rally or attending the start on Monday. Sounds like a plan.

Departing at 5:30am on Saturday, I made a leisurely trip to South Carolina. Obviously not a timed ride as I stopped EVERYWHERE!!! All I had to do was arrive before the 6:00pm dinner bell was rung. No problem.

The rally headquarters for the start was the Marriott-Spartanburg. Centrally located in the downtown area, it was an easy find. Of course I had to find a place to park...


I rode in... seems that I found the place to park...NOT. Guess they intended the parking for rally riders!










After finding my way to the parking garage, I headed back to the lobby to see who was there and what was going on. The riders were all there. Many of the MTF, who can never pass up a dinner invite, were also milling around the hotel.

Tom Loudermilk, host of the Side Stand Up Motorcycle Radio Road Show had dropped by. He found himself in great company... David "Davo" Jones, all the way from Australia was a popular person!!!

After dinner, we all went our own ways, only to arrive back in the morning for the MTF breakfast. It was well attended and conversation was where ever you looked for it.

A few hours later... dinner. Can you say "FOOD". That was the goal for the day... eat...talk...east...talk....eat some more!

Monday was the reason for being there. 10:00am was the official starting time and the parking lot was organized for the start. The riders were all waiting for the word to go...

Jim Owen, one of the favorites to win the rally was very relaxed and ready to go. Would the third time be the charm?

The start was over before you knew it... a total of 4 minutes to get 100 bikes on their way!!!


Kevin Lechner was on his way, followed by Greg Rice, Richard Buber, Jim Bain, Davo Jones, Chuck Gittner, Art Garvin, Dave Nelson, and many more.


It was a very interesting and exciting start. Check out the photo tab for more pictures of the event.

A trip well worth it... maybe next time I will be in it!!!

It's been quiet here!

I've been riding a lot lately.... back and forth to Melbourne two to three times a week. The job has definitely put a crimp in the "fun" riding. On the other hand, I'm putting 1200 miles a week on the scoot.

I had the opportunity to experience severe thunderstorms and hail last week. Not exactly the place to be when in a car, much less in the open on two wheels.

This week is set for finalizing the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum (MTF) SS1K ride. I am the host and coordinator for the Tampa ride. I planned the route, verified the gas stations, and will be the starting / ending witness. I'll cheer everyone on as they complete their first Iron Butt ride. This time, I get to watch from the sidelines.

The IBA Pizza Party and a RTE too

Friday was going to be a good day. With an early departure, I would ride to Daytona Beach for a stop at Caribbean Jack's for a RTE. This was bike week in Daytona and the crowds were expected to be fairly large.
The trip was uneventful with the exception of the 40 mile detour resulting from a overturned tractor trailer on I-4. Not a huge concern as I still arrived at 11:30am. Of course, I was the last one to arrive. At least they kept a seat for me! It had been a long time since my last meal sooooo.. while everyone else was chatting, I was eating. Ray couldn't pass up the opportunity to supply photographic evidence of my eating prowess. That's Bob Moore sitting to my right.

After lunch, we headed to Jacksonville for the IBA "Pizza Party". While the annual event has outgrown it's "Pizza" heritage, the get together is still lots of fun and done in a welcoming and very informal way. Lots of MTF riders were in attendance, including Kevin Lechner, Greg Rice, Richard Buber, Barb Smith, Gregg Burger, Pat McGhie, Dan Ross, Claye Curtis, and many more. We had quite the turnout.

The dinner was a festive event and many of those attending chose to do a IB ride to the event. All were given their certificate that evening by none other than Mr. Ironbutt himself, Michael Kneebone.

After dinner, we spent some time chatting before I headed off to my hotel for some sleep. Saturday morning's departure was 8am and the ride home, about 195 miles, was quick and uneventful. Another great event and I'm looking forward to next year's get together.

Wizard's RTE @ Flora and Ella's - Labelle, FL

The Grand Wizard, aka Kevin Healey, has invited everyone to join him for PIE on Saturday! Rumor has it that Flora and Ella's little establishment in Labelle has the best pie that Florida has to offer. How can anyone not attend!

It's a short 135 mile ride from Riverview to Labelle and I departed at 9:30am; I wanted to make sure that I got there before the pie ran out. This group has a reputation of setting a time, in this case 12:00noon, arriving early, and eating all the food. I wasn't taking any chances.

The ride south was uneventful until I reached Port Charlotte. An accident on I-75 North had traffic backed up about 12 miles. Fortunately I was headed South!! All of a sudden, we were creeping along. No one could see the accident so rubbernecking was not causing the delay. Another accident?? After about three miles, the culprits were visible. Three pickup trucks towing floats were finally pulling into the weigh station. What's up with all this parade BS. Earlier in the week, it cost me the time needed to complete the Lap of Florida. This time, it was potentially impacting lunch. Argghhhhh...

Arrived at the restaurant to a parking lot full of bikes. Great turnout!!! Some of the regulars were there including Cruz'n Al, Roy, Richard, Clem and Patricia, Bill, Randy, Don, and many other MTF'rs! Chuck Gittner came too and didn't take the opportunity to remind me that he was the only one to successfully complete the Lap of Florida. Thanks Chuck!

Great food, espeicially the pie. We filled the back room with 40+ riders and passengers. Kevin had the insight to reserve the back room... it was needed!!!

After dinner, we all posed for a group picture. My little VTX became one of the highlights of the photo!!! It was then time to head out.
Two hours later, I was back in Riverview, ready for the next little excursion.

The scoot was ready to go anyway. It had been enjoying some quiet time before the crowd all ruched in!!!

BunBurner GOLD and the Lap of Florida

Here is the ride report...

One success and one miss as this was a combo ride (BBG and Lap of Florida). I was out the door and my starting receipt was 4:36am. I had made the decision to head to Perdido Key first. The plan was to bank time all the way around to Homestead and then "spend it" getting to Key West and returning to Marathon for the 1500 mile receipt.

I made great time, at the expense of a little lower fuel mileage, and actually arrived in Pensacola 90 minutes ahead of my schedule. The first fuel stop was 5 minutes total. Getting from I-110 to Perdido Key is a 24 mile "city" ride. I gave back 20 minutes of the time and crossed the bridge to Perdido still ahead by over an hour. The bridge to the Flora-Bama Lounge (or the Shell station across the street) is 4 miles distance. It should take no more than 5-6 minutes and it would have. Except that Flora-Bama decided to have a parade, floats and all. On a Tuesday??? I spent 35 minutes "in the parade". I stopped for a picture and a bit of sand and water, fueled, and was on my way. The 90 minute reserve was down to 30! First leg of 515 miles complete.

The next leg was to Fernandina Beach and I planned to arrive no later than 5:30pm. I was able to keep up the pace across I-10 and there was not much traffic on the I-295 loop. Heading north on I-95 was a different story. The construction south of the airport is a mess and the LEO's seem intent on stopping anyone and everyone that exceeds the 60mph limit. Add heavy traffic to the mix and I'm into my bank again. While the "city" ride here is shorter, only 12 miles, the traffic is heavier. End result was that I was an hour behind. Still well ahead of the 24 hour pace for the BBG.

The sun was going down. My night vision isn't the best but I can still crank it out when necessary. Heading south, I went through the construction near the airport and again in downtown JAX. It slowed me down but didn't have a big impact on my time. I was still doing well through Vero Beach. The construction on I-95 was forcing me to slow down. That night vision thingy!! At the next fuel stop, I discover that I'm still about an hour behind. Having learned a lesson from the rally at the Founder's Feast, I stopped the GPS route and selected Key West..."calculate"..... arrival 3:38am! ??? That can't be right. Time to crank it up. I hit Ft Pierce and finally got on the Turnpike. I was makig up time BUT Key West was a stop. I still had to reverse route and get back to Marathon by 4:36am. Addiing in a fuel stop (now up to 10 minutes...getting tired!), I had to get from Key West to Marathon in 30 minutes.... oops.

I fueled in Pompano and spent a couple of extra minutes looking at the route (not that there is a choice to the Keys), the time, and the reality that I would not complete the BBG. Missing by 30 minutes is no different than missing by a year. I had to determine which I wanted more... the BBG or the Lap of Florida? With 10+ hours of time remaining, the ride to Key West and Marco Island was easy to accomplish and get the ride in under the 32 hour mark. But the BBG opens up more rides...sooooo...

I made the decision to continue to Ft Lauderdale and then head across Alligator Alley (getting a "corner" receipt in Naples) and finish the BBG. I knew the mileage from the Turnpike exit to my hourse is 243 miles and I was over 1265 at the fuel stop. 1510-1512 would do it. And I had 4.5 hours to do it. I made great time across the Alley. Considering that I was admittedly tired at this point, I was quite happy to be able to ride that hard. GPS is telling me arrival time is 3:53am, a 45 minute reserve.

The construction between Naples and Ft Myers has gotten worse but I knew about it and planned on a slow 60mph ride over the 31 mile construction area. It was slower than that but I found myself north of the construction and the GPS telling me 4:08am arrival. Still 28 minutes to spare. I'm on cruise and just along for the ride, counting off the miles when.... LEO's all over. I-75 North is closed due to an accident. All of a sudden, this isn't amusing. I HAVE to be at the gas station before 4:30am! The detour was 12 miles total and when I got back on I-75, the time was still showing 4:08am. I made one final push and hung on!!! Pulled into the final receipt stop at 4:02am. Put gas in the bike and ... "clerk has receipt". Not a biggie. Except that the clerk wasn't there. It is 24 hour fuel but not 24 hour manned. So I went to a second pump (actually the one I used at the beginning of the ride) and added a splash. A receipt!!!! It was over.

I'm disappointed that I didn't get to add my name to "Chuck's" very exclusive list BUT am very happy that the BBG is in the books. The last two tries were interupted by a crash (broken leg) and frozen buns. Third time is a charm!!!! I think April is a good time to knock off the Lap of Florida and use what I learned from this ride to accomplish the next...

1. I may consider changing the route and doing Marco Island and Key West first (counter clockwiser from Tampa). Marco is a short ride and a fast ride down I-75. Cutting across US 41 is another place to make time... no one travels that road anymore, especially at night). Getting Key West out of the mix early (BBG or not) allows lots of slab time to pick up whatever time is lost.
2. Don't enjoy the time bank too much... it disappears quickly. For whatever reason, I pushed hard (very hard) until I got to Amelia Island and then slowed the pace, by over 10mph....???
3. Don't second guess your decisions. All the way across I-75, I kept saying to myself..."you should have pushed for the Keys".



The Lap of Florida is a fun ride and mixes slab and scenic roads. 32 hours is a challenge but can be done without a BBG included. I had assumed that one was necessarily for the other to happen but my ride told me otherwise.

It was fun. I got to use my heated gear (28 degrees in Live Oak). And I knew I had a cheering section watching me gobble up the miles. Hopefully it added some fun for everyone even though SPOT couldn't find the Keys. :-)

Preparation continues....

To say that I have little mechanical aptitude would be kind. However, the Lap Of Florida requires that I step up to the challenge and install a voltmeter. I'm quite handy with electrical repairs in the home but I don't have to dismantle the house to change a light bulb or install a ceiling fan!

First things first...read the instructions (novel idea). Ok, got it. Off comes the seat (easy) and the fuel tank (last time I tried that...never mind). It's all off and I route the cables from the meter down through the neck cover and under the tank.

I selected a Kisan chargeGuard meter (it reads volts, amps, and temperature in F and C). THe temperature probe is above the rear fender (just under the seat). I pull the battery cover off and attach the wiring harness as instructed. I turn on the key and... it works! I reinstall the fuel tank and... it starts! Wow, two for two. Granted, the time it took me to do this simple install would have been enough time for an experienced tech to rebuild the bike but who cares. It's done.

I route the plug for the heated gear to the same area as the shutoff valve for the aux fuel tank. Everything is ready for the real test. I start the bike, turn on all the accessories, plug in the heated gear and... the alternator can keep up!!! It's going to be a good day.

Now all I have to do it wait for the weather reports and climb on board... four days to go....

Lap of Florida and maybe a BBG...

I started planning the ride a week ago. The route is easy enough as there are only four checkpoints, Amelia Island, Perdido Key, Marco Island, and Key West. Timing is the challenge. How do I arrive at Perdido Key to get a receipt (they open at 11am) and avoid the traffic riding US 1 to Key West? And how do I get this all accomplished in 32 hours?

It looks like I'm going to head north and if timing is correct, ride the keys at 11pm. Hopefully there won;t be much traffic then. I will need to make up lots of time before I get to Florida City as the ride through the keys, regardless of the time, will be slow. The local law enforcement is very strict and seems to enjoy passing out invites to the court (tickets). Hopefully, I can average 55mph overall on US 1.

The BBG will actually end on the way back. There are three 24 hour gas stations in Marathon and the mileage is about 1510 to those locations. Just enough!!!

I'm planning a rest stop on the Florida Turnpike (mm19) on the return. That 2 hours will be needed and well deserved.

Here is the map of the route. Overall mileage is just about 1875!

Planned departure date is February 24 and right now I'm looking at 4am as the time. The go/no go decision will primarily be based on weather. No way I'll be able to run a BBG if the weather is bad, i.e. rain and/or reduced visibility.

The aux tank is ready and I have a range of 250 miles plus. The electrics are installed and I will not have to deal with the cold. A few more reviews of the route will follow but for now....T-minus 8 days and counting.....

Escape to the Conch Republic

42 degree temps greeted my 2:30am departure from Riverview. Destination... Florida City and then Key West. I met another member of the Motorcycle Tourers Forum in Bradenton and then began the journey to our destination. We made a stop in Punta Gorda to add some additional clothing and another stop in Naples to fuel the bikes and warm up a bit.

It was still cold but we "felt" warner as the sun rose as we were crossing Alligator Alley. Our first leg was complete upon our arrival at the departue point in Florida City. There were twenty plus bikes ready for lunch in Key West and at 8:30am our small group of four headed south.

The Overseas Highway (US 1) is primarily a two lane road that connects mainland Florida to Key West. Traffic is typically heavy and the speeds slow. Today would be no exception. Key Largo, Islamorada, and Marathon were some of the major locales on our route. Three hours after our departure, we arrived at the Half Shell Raw Bar. We chose to sit inside due to the cool temps. 60 degrees is as warm as it got in Key West and that is COLD for the lower keys.

After lunch, we headed over to the Southernmost Point for the obligatory picture and then rode the south shore until we again came upon Route 1 and headed north. It was another three hour trip before we arrived back in Florida City.

A few of us decided to stay overnight at the Everglades Hostel. While I had read about hostels and had a good idea of what to expect, it was still a shock. Nothing like the Hilton! After dinner and a movie (about the 2007 Iron Butt Rally), it was off to bed. The 2:00am wake up call was catching up to me.









I got an early start on the return and had made the decision to ride US 41 back to Naples. This route is rarely used now that Alligator Alley is available. No services, little traffic, smack dab in the middle of the Everglades and the Miccosukee Tribe of the Seminole Indians reservation. Many small Indian villages dot the landscape.


After a short break in Naples, I continued north to Riverview. It was a fun trip and I look forward to heading back to the Keys again.

Stumpknocker's RTE - Inverness

The RTE's are becoming a weekly thing nowadays. Stumpknocker's on Old Main Street in Inverness is today's destination. Cruz'n Al again is the organizer.

James and I decided to leave a bit later and meet Al and the other hungry folks right at the restaurant. The slab is the slab so not much scenery to ponder over the first 63 miles. Leaving the interstate in Bushnell, we found a more scenic ride through the back roads to Floral City before heading north to Inverness.




Arriving at slightly after 11am, we found a greeting committee which included Tim Yow, a visitor from the snowy north. Last time Tim and I crossed paths was at the Founder's Feast in Clarksdale, MS. Shortly after our arrival, Joe and Ray rode in, beating the famous Richard Buber by just a few minutes. Cruz'n Al led his band of Gold Wing riders to the parking area and we all went inside for the festivities... time to eat!






Me, Joe, Ray, and Tim all waiting for our grub!!!

A nice meal and some tire kickin' took place before we took to our scoots and returned to our destinations. Seems we are a hungry bunch as we were planning the next one before we left!