RFP #SE: Key West Iron Butt, April 13-17

[Nice Goat]

Ride For Pie, Special Edition!!!



Synopsis:

• Iron Butt
• Florida Keys
• Gypsy Chickens
• Southern-Most Point
• Seafood Dinner
• Key Lime Pie

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Meeting Place: Waffle House/Shell Gas Station, Walker Chapel Road, I-65 Exit 267, Fultondale, Alabama
Meeting Time: 4:15AM, get gas, receipts, photos, quick breakfast
Depart Time: Kickstands up at 5:00AM Central

Goal is to get 1,000 miles while maximizing interstates and avoiding Atlanta.  Map and links below.  Plan on 18 hours total, including gas stops and breaks.  This will be a documented SaddleSore 1000 ride with gas receipts, GPS tracks, etc.  If you are not a member of the Iron Butt Association and would like to become a member, the SaddleSore 1000 is the minimum requirement for membership.  If you are already an IBA member, you can get another certificate.

Again, this is an endurance ride.  If you have never done at least 500 miles on a motorcycle in one day, you may not be ready for this ride.  You have plenty of time in the next four months to work on your stamina, so please get ready.

The Iron Butt ride finishes in Key Largo around midnight Eastern time.  We will fill up on gas, get our receipts, then go check into the hotel.  Hotels and tent camping are both ridiculously expensive in Key West, so I have reserved two rooms in Key Largo for $161 per night.  That is the cheapest that I could find without going into one-star territory.  Each room has two queen beds, and I've reserved both rooms for two nights, April 13th and April 14th.  I don't care how many people we jam into the rooms.  More people equals less cost per person.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

After breakfast, we will ride the Keys Overseas Highway for 100 miles to Key West, where we will spend the day doing the tourist thing, including the southern-most point monument, walking around Duval Street, and eating some seafood and Key Lime pie.  When we are done, we will ride back to the hotel in Key Largo for the night.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Check out of Key Largo hotel, ride US 41 (Tamiami Trail National Scenic Byway) west through the Everglades wilderness, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Everglades National Park.  Alligators are a common sight along the scenic Tamiami Trail from Miami to Naples.  Unlike Alligator Alley (I-75), the Tamiami Trail is two-lane, and it has no fences to keep wildlife from crossing it.  We will also visit the ValueJet Flight 592 Memorial.  We will end the day in Steinhatchie, FL, and spend the evening at Good Times Motel & Marina.  http://goodtimesmotelandmarina.com/

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Return home.

Maps:

Google (Wednesday): https://goo.gl/maps/S8EB9KckL5y



Google (Thursday): https://goo.gl/maps/LnxHuDhGtJE2



Google (Friday): https://goo.gl/maps/8WQeFVNwmiP2



Schedule:



List of Participants:

1. GHarshman
2. BrianA
3. JohnnyR & Sandy
4. KevinB
5. JBMFT
6. Catang5oh
7. TFancher
8. Smiley
9. Chelin

Ride Briefing:

• As the ride leader, I will make every effort to ride safely and keep the group out of harm.  If that means asking somebody to leave the group, I will do that, if it increases the safety of the group as a whole.  As ride participants, it is your responsibility to also ride safely and not encourage reckless behavior in others.


• This is not a high-speed race or a chain-stretcher ride.  We will spend the majority of our time with cruise control set near the speed limit or the pace of surrounding traffic.  There will be no aggressive riding or passing.  A steady rider books more miles, choosing to focus instead on calmness, relaxation, and getting better fuel efficiency.  Excess speed causes faster fatigue, more gas stops, and the possibility of a speeding ticket.


• This is an endurance ride.  To have the best chance for success, start working on your health and stamina now.  Get more exercise, go to bed early, get a good night's sleep, drink more plain water, reduce your stress, eat balanced, nutritious meals, etc.  In the last four days before the trip, this will be double important.


• Watch for symptoms of fatigue, and listen to your body.  As soon as you are tempted to close an eye, even "for just a second", find the nearest safe place to pull over and take nap.  If you find yourself unable to maintain a constant speed, or forgetting to turn high beams down for oncoming traffic, or generally being indecisive, then you are probably fatigued and need to stop.  Do not wait for the group to stop --- get another rider's attention, let them know that you are breaking off (point to your chest three times, then point to the side of the road three times), then take the next exit and get some rest.


• Do not bring or use any artificial stimulants to stay awake.  Anybody caught nodding off, riding erratically, or taking No-Doz, will be asked to drop out of the ride.  You can drink coffee, sodas, etc., because you like them, but not to stay awake.


• Eliminate all distractions and irritants before the ride, no matter how minor they may seem.  These things cause stress during the ride and cost you stamina and energy.  Even minor aggravations are magnified during a long-distance ride, robbing you of precious energy.  Make sure that your bike is well-prepared, comfortable, and set up properly with excellent ergonomics.  Long-term rider comfort is the true secret to endurance riding.


• Maintain a good mental attitude.  If you really hate rain/heat/cold/night/cagers, and you focus on those things too much, you will not be concentrating on the road, and you will get tired faster.  You need to cultivate a feeling of Zen-like peace, or what psychologists call "flow".  "Flow" is that point where you are very focused and concentrated on a task, but that focus and concentration is actually energizing you, not sapping energy from you.  You might also call it "being in the zone."  Figure out how to block negative thoughts and get in the zone.


• Prepare your motorcycle before the trip.  We have many miles to cover in a short time.  It will not be fair to others if you have not done basic maintenance on your bike and then you break down.  Make sure that you have good tires and adequate brake pads.  Do an oil and filter change before the trip.  Check your cables and hoses.  Bring your own tool kit and flat tire repair kit, and bring your cell phone and your credit card also.  Accept the fact that you might have to rent a U-Haul truck to get home if you have a serious breakdown.


• Avoid doing major maintenance or installing electrical accessories just before the trip.  A long trip is not the time to find out that you made a mistake or installed something incorrectly.  Leave time to thoroughly exercise your motorcycle and check for proper behavior before leaving on this trip.  This goes for home mechanics and shop work.  Even the best mechanic can make a mistake.  Try and avoid picking up your motorcycle and heading out directly on this trip.  Same goes for gear --- new rainsuits, new helmets, new packing techniques, etc., might not work out the way you hope.  Use tried and proven gear.


• Use the gas/rest stops efficiently.  Get your gas and receipt, note the odometer, fill out your log, clean your visor/screen, use the restroom, stretch your legs, adjust your gear, and be ready to go, all within 20 minutes.  You can drink water and smoke cigarettes while we are riding.  Before the trip, get a hydration pack which holds at least 1/2 gallon (or 2 liters) of water.  Stay hydrated!  Dehydration impacts mental and physical performance, causes soreness, cramping, headaches, fatigue, and can be a direct cause of injury and illness.  Whether you are thirsty or not, drink water on a regular schedule.


• Stay away from tractor trailers.  They are often poorly maintained, have parts falling off of them or fluids leaking out of them.  Also, they block your visibility, cause massive air turbulence, often have tires blow out, etc.  Do not follow them, do not ride beside them, and when you have to pass them, do it quickly.


• Learn how to conquer boredom.  For me, I like audiobooks and Sour Patch Kids candy.


• Make sure you bring the following items, at a minimum: wallet, money, driver license, debit/ATM card, credit card, keys, cell phone, moto registration, moto insurance card, health insurance card, emergency contact info card, vitamins, aspirin/ibuprofen, sunscreen.


• In order to prevent fraudulent transactions, banks sometimes deactivate your card when they see it being used in unusual locations.  Let the bank know that you are going to Florida that weekend.  Take plenty of cash from the ATM machine before the trip.  I am budgeting about $550 for hotels, food, gas, tolls, and parking.

**** Updated route down due to weather forecast ****

[Brian A]

Sounds like a good ride. I have done the SS 1000/24 but never been to Key West.

Pencil me in. I will confirm after the first of the year when I know I can schedule vacation OK.

[Nice Goat]

Sounds like a good ride. I have done the SS 1000/24 but never been to Key West.

Pencil me in. I will confirm after the first of the year when I know I can schedule vacation OK.

Cool.  There is a pretty good chance that JBMFT will be joining us also.

[Brian A]

It clearly ain't after the first of the year already, but....  Vacation is on the books.

Barring some unforeseen impediment, I will be rolling with you.   8)

[JBMFT]

It clearly ain't after the first of the year already, but....  Vacation is on the books.

Barring some unforeseen impediment, I will be rolling with you.   8)

What he said!  :)

[jrobinson]

I may be able to do this. How many miles between fuel stops? At 70-80 mph I'm only good for 170-180 miles.

I may start from my house and meet up with you at 331 and I-10.

I can probably get a good rate for us at a motel/marina in Steinhatchie, Fl. about 450 miles from Key Largo.

They have a bar & grill on the property, along with cabins. Here's a link to the website.  http://goodtimesmotelandmarina.com/

[Brian A]

From experience, no need to try to do 175 miles between stops. It can be easily accomplished with ~125 miles between stops, with decent breaks (10 mins or so) and a decent break (30 mins or so) for a rest and a meal.

Different strokes for different folks but I much prefer slightly shorter intervals with a few more breaks along the way.

The posterior appreciates it long about mile 800 thru completion.

But I do acknowledge, this ain't my ride so I go with the flow.  ;)

[Nice Goat]

I'm with you fellers.  125 miles between stops is about right for me also.

I've updated the map/link above for the planned fuel stops.  Once we get on the Florida Turnpike, we will not get off until Homestead, where we connect with US 1.

Plan on $20 of tolls on the way down.  Some of that will be cash, but Florida also uses a Toll-By-Plate system where they simply send you a bill in the mail.

[Brian A]

/\  dripping with Awesome Sauce /\

[bergman32]

I've been wanting to do this trip and will let you know by middle  of January. Wife is having knee replacement on January 12, 2016. Is there a hotel close to where your leaving. Would be leaving from Scottsboro, Al so would be better to stay night before, close to where we leave.

[Nice Goat]

I've been wanting to do this trip and will let you know by middle  of January. Wife is having knee replacement on January 12, 2016. Is there a hotel close to where your leaving. Would be leaving from Scottsboro, Al so would be better to stay night before, close to where we leave.

There are a couple of inexpensive hotel options in Fultondale on Walker Chapel Road.  I'll be staying in one of them Tuesday night, since it is 50 miles from my home to the starting point, and I don't want to wake my family that early in the morning.  I've offered the other bed to Johnny, so he can ride with us for the whole trip.

[bergman32]

That's  know  problem. What hotel are you staying at and I'll plan on getting a room there too?

[Nice Goat]

I can probably get a good rate for us at a motel/marina in Steinhatchie, Fl. about 450 miles from Key Largo.
They have a bar & grill on the property, along with cabins. Here's a link to the website.  http://goodtimesmotelandmarina.com/

"...you can enjoy your meal in our open air dining while watching the boats return from their fishing trip."


That looks like a perfect place to spend Friday night!

[Nice Goat]

That's  know  problem. What hotel are you staying at and I'll plan on getting a room there too?

Sent you a PM

[KevinB]

Very interested...I'll see how off-days and comp time accrual works out in the next couple of months.