100 Days 48 States - The Journey

"Is This Heaven?"
"No, it's Iowa."
- Shoeless Joe Jackson and Ray Kinsella in W.P. Kinsella's Field of Dreams

TODAY’S ROUTE:
St. Louis, MO to Hammond, IN: I-70 West to SR-79 North to Hannibal, I-172 North to US-24 West to SR-96 North through Nauvoo to US-61 North past Burlington to SR-22 West to SR-70 North to US-6 West to X30 North to West Branch, I-80 East to Hammond. (MAP)

THE DETAILS:
Today was a big day. I mean BIG. 520 miles. 4 States. 1 Stamp. Crossed the Mississippi three times. I’m tired. And my ass is killing me. This is not exactly the kind of riding I enjoy but it was necessary to get where I want to go and do what I want to do. I shouldn’t have a day like this for the rest of the trip.

But these are the kind of days that real Iron Butt riders live on. For most of them, my day would be no big deal. Actually the most common way to become an Iron Butt Association member is to ride 1,000 miles in 24 hours or less. It’s called a Saddlesore 1,000. I’ve got quite a bit of conditioning before I’ll be able to do that, if I ever even want to.

Speaking of the Iron Butt, the semi-annual Iron Butt Rally is starting on Monday at 10:00 AM in Ojai, California. Every two years a select few riders compete in the most grueling motorcycle competition known to man. For 11 days these riders travel over 1,000 miles each day. And it is not simply a race from point A to point B. Riders must go hundreds of extra miles to gain bonus points and then reach four different checkpoints within two hour windows. Miss more than one window and you're finished. It’s hard to even imagine. Why would anyone want to do that you ask? Because it’s there and these motorcyclists just love to ride and ride and ride. These are people who like to push themselves to the limit, and then beyond. To do what people say can't be done. It's easy to compare the attitude to those who climb mountains or run marathons. Easy to compare, but hard to understand unless you do it yourself.

The last time the rally was held, in 1997, over 600 people applied for the 80 spots. 61 riders completed the rally. If you are interested in reading more about the Iron Butt, check out Ron Ayres book "Against The Wind" from Whitehorse Press. It’s a great account of the 1995 rally. Ron finished sixth that year, and last year he successfully broke the World Record for visiting the lower 48-states in the shortest time possible. The ten-year-old record set by Michael Kneebone and Fran Crane had been six days, twelve hours and twenty-one minutes. Ron did it in 6 days and 12 minutes. Just a bit faster than my pace!

When Ron Ayres finished the ride, he kept going and set a brand new record. He crossed British Columbia and reached Hyder, Alaska, a little less than 24 hours later and created the 49 States in 7 days record. His bike? A BMW K1100LT, of course. In order to accomplish a task such as this, Ron planned for many months and he had to enlist the help of hundreds of fellow riders who would witness his stop in each state. After all the planning I did for this trip, I can really appreciate Ron's dedication. Ron's written a new book about his record breaking ride and all the people who came out to support him. The book is titled "Against The Clock." I can't wait to read it when I get home. .

My ride today was a little simpler than an Iron Butt day. I leave St. Louis by mid morning and head up the Mississippi along route 79, the Great River Road. By 11 AM it is already 90 degrees. I cross the river in Hannibal and stop for lunch at Grandpa John’s Café in Nauvoo, Illinois. It’s good to get out of the heat for a while.

The roads are straight and the scenery is just as boring. Farmland stretches out as far as you can see. The land is so flat you can see the next two town’s water towers, miles off in the distance. The pavement goes on and on, disappearing into a reflective haze of heat.

After I spend about an hour at the Herbert Hoover Historic Site and Presidential Library, I fill up the tank in West Branch and head east across the Interstate. My destination is still over 200 miles down the road. So I decide to have some fun with it and do something I’ve never done before. I ride 205 miles without stopping the bike. It’s called toasting a tank and for long distance riders it's kind of like breathing. I watch my shadow grow longer and longer as the sun sets behind me. By dusk, I’m done. I’ve ridden further than ever before. Maybe, just maybe, I could be an Iron Butt guy someday.

THE DAILY TAKE:
Miles Today: 519.9
Total Miles: 4,147
Time on Motorcycle: 7 Hours 44 Minutes
States Visited today: 4 (MO, IL, IA, IN)
Total States Visited: 15
National Park Service Passport Stamps: 1
NPS Stamp totals: 41 Stamps, 12 States
Weather: Hot and Nasty

SEEN ON THE ROAD:
"Good News. God Loves You." – road sign near Elsberry, Missouri
"Don’t let weeds grow around your dreams." – Roy-El Motel sign in Wapello, Iowa

RANDOM PASSINGS:
The weather today was probably the hottest I’ll encounter during my 100 days. As I passed Burlington, Iowa, the thermometer was reading 98 in the sun. The most important thing to do during heat like today is to stay hydrated. On a bike you sweat but the wind keeps you dry. If you don’t keep drinking liquids you’ll get dehydrated rather quickly. The results can range from a headache at the end of the day to an IV in the hospital. The solution is a simple device called a CamelBak. Basically it’s a liquid reservoir you fill up with your favorite refreshment. A neoprene cover and some ice help keep the goods cool. A five-foot long tube runs from the CamerlBak bladder, up your back, under your helmet and into your mouth. And what a difference it makes on a day like today. As the CamelBak logo says: "Hydrate or Die."