My objective for this fifth Iron Butt ride was again to ride a Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in 24 hours) - following the same route as before, but in the opposite direction.

SpotWalla

Google Map: 1,506 miles

cap

I called this ride "BBG Wapiti" for two reasons:

1) As I was riding out our driveway, headed for the start in Quemado, NM, I encountered five Elk (Wapiti) at the bottom of our hill, a hundred yards from our house. We see elk almost every day, but this sighting was rare because we almost never see them in the afternoon, which it now was. The group comprised four young adult females (cows) and one calf. When I saw them, I stopped the motorcycle without turning off the engine, and just looked at them. They looked back, and for about a minute we shared interest in each other. Then one adult ran off and the others followed suit - but only for a short distance. They knew I was no threat, so they stopped and looked back at me again as I was riding off.

2) The next day, heading for the finish in Quemado, I passed by a herd of elk numbering about 30 animals. They were just out of town, grazing near the road less than 50 feet from road. I was going like blazes, headed for the finish line; so I didn't stop to look at them. But boy, they were a pretty sight!

Jenny packing my tail box.

My tail box contains everything I need to eat and drink during the entire ride. With an IBA Gold ride, there is no time to go into the gas station c-stores and buy food and drinks. For those 24 hours, all the available time is spent riding the bike or fueling it up. And while I'm fueling the bike, I'm eating and drinking. Then its back on the road.

Aiming the headlights with the dogs looking on. The Golden Retriever is our young dog; she's about a year old. I still call her "Puppy," but Jenny calls her "Chipper." Our Yellow Lab is about eleven years old. Her name is "Juniper" and I think she's "the best dog in the world."

Jenny signing my IBA (Iron butt Association) witness paperwork in the late afternoon of March 11th.

I barely managed this ride between snow storms. During the planning stages, I learned that the next storm along my route was forecast to start in Flagstaff. So using my spreadsheet I planned to begin the ride in the late afternoon, then ride all night and arrive in Flagstaff just before the storm hit at 11:00 AM. It barely worked; the snowfall began as I was leaving Flagstaff, and persisted for the next ten miles. The temps were very low, and in fact I had to use my home-made heated gear during the entire 24-hour ride.

Fuel Stop #1, Quemado, NM at 7:50 PM

An Iron Butt ride begins at the first gas station, with a Dated Business Receipt (DBR) showing the date, time and location. The rider photographs the DBR against the bike's odometer, as an indication of the running mileage.

Fuel Stop #2: Socorro, NM at 9:35 PM

Socorro

During an Iron Butt ride, there's no time to stop and take photos, other than at the Fuel Stops. I enjoy the scenery along the way, but the main focus is on making the miles. After getting gas, I return to the highway and set my cruise control for 7 mph above the speed limit. That means I'm barreling along usually at 82 mph most of the night and into the next day.

Fuel Stop #3: Las Cruces, NM at 11:50 PM

Five minute rest at the San Simon Rest Area to stretch the legs and drink some water.

Fuel Stop #4: Willcox, AZ at 1:55 AM

Willcox

Ten minute break at Eloy, AZ (Location)

Fuel Stop #5: Gila Bend, AZ at 4:57 AM

Gila Bend (Location)

Fuel Stop #6: Kingman, AZ at 8:34 AM
(The receipt was long, and the Date/Time was way down at the bottom.)

Kingman

Kingman

Fuel Stop #7: Flagstaff, AZ at 10:53 AM

Flagstaff

Fuel Stop #8: Gallup, NM at 2:41 PM

Gallup

Fuel Stop #9: Socorro, NM at 5:29 PM

Fuel Stop #10: Quemado NM at 7:09 PM

7:50 PM - 7:09 PM = 41 min

Quemado

Quemado

I was so pleased that I had made it to the finish. After taking the photo I moved the bike to the parking lot and then called Jenny. She said "Congratulations!" and I told her that, no, my finishing time was over the 24-hour limit. She argued that I had completed the ride with time to spare. I was in disbelief of that.

There is a joke among Iron Butt riders that they arrive at a gas station late in the ride, open the gas tank to fill it, then don't know what goes in: the fuel nozzle in one hand or the sandwich in the other.

I had taped a spreadsheet print-out to the inside of my tail box, so I would know what time I needed to be at the gas stops along the way. But now, for the last few hours I couldn't make any sense of the numbers. Also before the ride I had set a 24 hour timer on my phone. And now those numbers were also meaningless.

For the last two or three hours I thought I was over the time limit. Logic suggested that I should throttle down; that I was no longer in any rush. But no, I always try to finish what I started; so I resolved to do my best until reaching the final gas station.

I was relaxing with something to eat when Jenny said, "You better hurry on home. It will be dark soon, and it looks like it's about to start snowing."

Home at last.

I arrived home and took a good nap; and with my mind clear again, I realized Jenny was right. I had finished well under the 24-hour limit. The ride had been a big success, and I had "earned entry in the Bun Burner GOLD metal record book."

Total Elapsed Time: 23 hr 19 min

Jenny signing my IBA witness paperwork at the completion of the ride.

Navigator V, Zoleo Tracking, Garmin Zümo, Heated Gear Controller.