Alan Leduc's IBA Experiences

The Iron Butt Association is dedicated to safe, long-distance, endurance motorcycle riding.

Iron Butt Association Membership # 8613

50CC Quest
May 18-20, 2002

The Certificate

Certification Pending

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Rules for the ride are on Iron Butt Association Website

The Bike

The Trip

I began planning to do a 50CC Quest in the summer of 2001. I mentioned this on the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum and some other members suggested that they wanted to participate as well. A plan was formulated and we called the ride The Motorcycle Tourer's Forum Iron Butt Association 50CC Quest. During the next several months, riders signed up and dropped out. At the final tally, we had 14 riders committed to the ride.

The Plan

The goal was to make this ride attractive by doing a lot of pre-planning. We wanted to encourage riders that might not otherwise try such a ride to do it. 

The original ride was simply going to be a 50CC from Jax to SD. However, the other three options soon developed. The dates were established to tie each leg together around the original ride date of May 18-20 from Jax to SD. The first issue arose in establishing the starting times. The Jax to SD was set to start at 7:00 a.m. This meant that the SD to Jax ride had to start at 2:00 a.m. in order to tie in. Yogi who served as West to East coordinator rightfully had a rule that said you should leave at your normal waking time. Good rule, but it just going to work for every leg of an event like this because of the 50 not 48 hour time frame and because of the time changes. Yogi reluctantly agreed to a 2:00 a.m. start time, but commented after the ride that this was really tough.

The next major element was to establish witnesses. This is one of the elements that can be an issue particularly when you are riding some distance in order to start the ride. Through the approved witness list on the IBA web site and contacts though the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum we were able to obtain a fine group of witnesses that went out of their way to may our ride a success. 

A Big Thank You
to

The was no fee charged to any other participants in this ride except those required when the riders submit their documentation to the IBA. However, a call went out for a $10.00 donation to so that we could help out our witnesses with expenses. Several people sent extra. Thanks for helping out.

All of the riders felt that the ride should include collection of water and sand at each ocean. The MTF provided momentos' to hold the sand and water at the end of the trip.

My memento is proudly hanging on my wall. The sand from Jacksonville Beach is much whiter than the sand in San Diego. Makes for an interesting contrast. 

Getting There

Blood in my urine and my history of kidney cancer caused some question as to whether or not I would be able to do this ride. It was not until May 16, that I got the news that everything looked ok to go. I had planned on leaving right after my 10:30 a.m. appointment but decided to wait until the next day. My plan was to leave at 7:00 a.m. but woke up at 4:30 a.m. and decided to leave early, Thursday, May 16. 

I took local roads to I-70 for a few miles to Ind 1. This is my favorite route to pick up I-75 in the Cincinnati area. I saw a deer near Brookville. It ran across the road in front of the tractor trailer in front of me, so I had plenty of notice.

I took the I-75 all the way to Knoxville. I had been hearing on the CB about a serious accident near the TN 142 mile maker in the north bound lane. Just as I got there, they landed a lifeline helicopter on the interstate. Not really sure what happened but it must have been bad. Not sure this is the way I wanted to start out. Deer and now a serious accident.  From Knoxville I took US 129 down through Deals Gap. For a late spring week day, I was amazed at how much traffic was on the dragon. About 75% sport bikes. There were also several 4 wheelers and a couple of commercial trucks. The ride through the gap was mixed with slow traffic and sports bikes crossing the double yellow and even passing on the double yellow. Kind of takes the fun out of what has been a good ride in the past. I headed down North Carolina 28 from Deals Gap. There were several sport bikes on this section of roads as well. I have traveled this road many times and always find it enjoyable.  Around the Fontana Dam area there was some road construction with one lane traffic and the hand held stop sign at each end. It was my turn to go and I soon found myself at the Fontana Dam. What's up? I have never gone past the Fontana Dam before on this route. The road dead ended so I turn around and head back out. I ask the guy holding the stop sign. "Did I miss the turn off for 28 somewhere?" "Yeah its right here!" The construction equipment was blocking view of the turn. Looks like they would have realized most people wanted to continue on 28. I was told that Fontana Dam is the dam that was in the Fugitive.

In Franklin, NC 28 merges with US 64 to Highlands, NC. I continued on to Highlands, NC which is a quaint little town with lots of shops. This route is filled full of twisties, mountain views and some beautiful lakes and waterfalls.

From Highlands, NC, I continued south on 28 to Walhalla, SC. This takes you through a short stretch of Georgia and has lots of twisties and much less traffic than the Deals Gap area. This is the route that I took in the reverse order during the Palmetto Ramble. Imagine doing this at 34 degrees and rain. I continued south on 28/US 76 to Anderson, SC. The fun has pretty much ended at this point. The road is good but you are going to start hitting a lot of traffic. From Clemson to Anderson is simply traffic/traffic/traffic. I met a group of 4 riders in Anderson that were touring. They stopped so I stopped and gave them some MTF business cards. They were looking for alternate routes to get out of "this mess" as they described it. I told them that it was going to end soon but they weren't convinced. At Honea Path, SC I took US 178 south to US 25. My original plan was to take US178 all the way to Saluda, SC and then take 121 south to Trenton and pick up US 25 there. But I missed a turn somewhere and missed what I have been told is a nice ride. Another Day. US 25 is a nice road with very little traffic through rolling hills.

I came upon Augusta, GA and was surprised at how small it was; although, I did make a wrong turn. My GPS got me back on the right track. I ended up spending the night at a Days Inn in Millen, GA. I think I was the only customer. There wasn't even anybody at the counter the next day when I left and the advertised continental breakfast was unavailable. It was late when I got in so I settled for Popeye's Chicken. Chicken and Jalapeno peppers! My wife reports that Ken Dorcey, one of the SD witnesses had sent an email indicating that all five riders had left SD on the time. The next morning I ate at Judy's restaurant right next to the hotel. Let's just say it was country cooking and not very clean.

Having plenty of time, I continued south on US 25 all the way to Brunswick, GA before picking up the super slab at I-95 Exit 36. I got off of I-95 just after entering Florida and jumped over to A1A. The the smell and feel of the ocean breezes. I took the ferry from Fort George Island to Mayport which is just up AIA from Jacksonville Beach, the start point. This was about a two minute ferry ride, so don't go out of your way to do it.

The Night Before

Upon arrival at the Days Inn in Jacksonville Beach at about 2:45 p.m EDST. I see a rider near BMW K1200LT. I later learned that it was Howard Burcham who had rolled in from Alabama. He was the first one to finish the 50CC, so I am assuming that like me, he likes to be early to everything or maybe he just want to get a first floor room. Howard had failed to pack the lid to his camel back so while I was checking in he toured the bike cycle shops in the area for a replacement.

I'll probably get some of this out of order but it seems that Dave Hinks was the next to roll in on his Venture. Dave road from the Chicago area. The parking passes were large pieces of paper that they wanted us to tape to our bikes. NOT! As Howard, Dave, and I are getting to know each other this fellow rides in on a Kawasaki Vulcan. The first rider with a fuel cell. This was Bo Griffen. Bo is one laid back guy. Bo explains that his fuel cell which is kind of bungi strapped on, doesn't quite drain all the way. But that's ok it gives me a bit of extra reserve. Four middle (ok maybe past middle) aged guys hanging around the parking lot near the motorcycles. I bet everybody was thinking, "Hey, I bet those athletic looking guys are going to do some extreme riding or something."

Time passes on and early in the afternoon I get a call on my cell phone. "Hey Alan, this is Tom Maiden, Yogi. I'm in Pensacola, FL. Huh? I didn't expect anybody until around midnight. He reports that he has left the others and is by himself and he wants me to get in contact with Jules to witness. In shock, I say "Cool Yogi." I decided not to bother Jules and figured that I would just give him as escort to the police station. Not long, I get another call. Hey, Alan this is Yogi, I'll be there in a little over an hour. Great I will meet you at the gas station and give you an escort to the police station so we don't have to bother Jules.

I prepare to go down to the gas station to meet Yogi and a rider rides up with stickers all over his bike. I wanted to go by the police station and make sure I knew how to get there, so was in a rush. I later found out that the rider was PirateJohn. Don't ask his real name. He is PirateJohn of Team Confused. When I got back I ask who the guy was on the red bike with all the stickers. That was PirateJohn and in unison and man can he talk. I bet this is not the first time PirateJohn has heard this as I imagine PirateJohn and Russ Dickerson carrying on a conversation.

I had stopped by the police station during spring break to make sure they would do the witnessing and they had assured me that there would be no problem. I walk in and know from my previous visit that I have to go to a TV monitor and push a button to talk to the dispatcher. There is an officer in the outer hall and he says, "Can I help you?" No, I'll just talk to the dispatcher" as I have already pushed the button. "There's nobody back there" in no such a friendly voice. About that time the dispatcher says, "May I help you." and the officer looks the other way. I explained about being there earlier in the spring and that we would have riding coming in, one soon and other throughout the night for witnessing. As might be expected, they had no idea what I was talking about. After some explanation and the mention of Lt. Corbitt by name. They said, "Ok." I head down to the station to meet Yogi. 

As I wait at the service station for Yogi  it begins to rain. Ends up Yogi got lost so this is not a short wait. I see this guy on a blue cruiser in military garb and loaded down pretty go. I wave and wave and wave. He cruises by ignoring my presence.  I'm thinking that's got to be Randy (Kirgiss) and he must be in a zone already. After a pretty long wait, I decide to head back to the hotel to tell the gang that they need to go ahead with dinner. I see Randy outside, he says that he just rode through the hardest down pour that he had ever seen and bets that Yogi got caught in it. I head back to the service station to set out in the rain. The passer-bys are thinking, "What is that idiot doing setting out there in the rain?" Here comes Yogi, from the wrong direction! He explains that he has been lost. We head down to the beach to get his water and sand. I take a picture (it is now somewhere along the side of the road in Arizona). Yogi explains that we needed a pole to hold the container in the water. Whatever, it doesn't look that bad! We head back to the service station to get a receipt and then I give Yogi an escort to the police station. The witnessing went off without a hitch and I am now feeling pretty confident that the other riders won't have any problems. We head back to the hotel.

I am foggy on when I met Greg Martin and John Oravec. I am thinking that either shortly before or after Randy rode by, I waved down Greg Martin on his VTX and chatting with him a few moments at the station. I don't think I met John until I got back to the hotel. Why did I wait two weeks to write this report? Oh, yeah I had to get back from San Diego, take a trip around the Great Lakes, get back home, and catch up on some sleep.

Upon arrival at the hotel, Yogi and I found that the other riders had decided to eat in the Hotel restaurant. Everybody is there but PirateJohn, who I knew lived in the area and Chad Baird. Hmmm, wonder what happened to Chad? Yogi orders Prime Rib. Hey, the man has to celebrate. He just surprised us all with his time. Yogi is full of tips and pointers and is going a mile a minute. The adrenaline must really be cranking! I later found out, he must always be this way. Yogi and I eat our dinners without steak knifes and we were the only people in the restaurant. I had passed out the momentos' to the some of the riders earlier. I pass out the other momentos'. John says, I should have a three holer. John was planning the 100CC from Jax to SD to Jax. We do some sorting and get John the three holer and head to our rooms. 

The Start

I set a the alarm for 5:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18 and ask for a wake up call at the same time. I get a good nights rest and wake up just before the alarm goes off. This is really 4:00 a.m. my time, so it feels early. I had packed all my stuff the night before and had my clothes laying out. After a shower, I grab my bags and head out to load up the bike. Several other riders are already at it. Yes, Howard was there. I told you he likes to be early to everything. About 5:30 a.m. I head down to the gas station and there is Mike Vincent and Juli Davis (Jules) our witnesses. I had ask them to be there by 5:00 a.m. and I am sure they were. I'm not quite sure what I was thinking now. Bikes start to roll in. Hey there is Chad. Cool, every body is going to show. Ends up Chad spent the night with a friend. I decide to have a breakfast of miniature bananas. These things are about 3" long, so I had a half dozen or so.

The plan was to get a group picture of the guys from SD and the ones leaving Jax at the beach access at 6:30 a.m., we would then, have the witnesses sign off, get gas to start our time, get sand and water, and head on to SD. Everyone is getting a little antsy, including me. Some of the riders are worried about time and decide to get sand and water before their time starts. So we decide to get a group picture at the station. 

Left to Right: Randy Kirgiss, Kent Ailes, Howard Burcham, Tom "Yogi" Maiden, Greg Martin, Dave Hinks, Bo Griffen, Chad Baird
Kneeling: Alan Leduc John Oravec.
Missing: Marty Hamilton, Al Carey, and Dave Sheally who did not make it in from SD and PirateJohn who made it right at 7:00 a.m. after bikes were on the road. 

The plan to head out in small groups soon vanished and everybody just started preparing and heading out. I was near the rear close behind Howard Burcham.. 

This was both an exhilarating and sad time for me. Mike Vincent had original planned on doing the 50CC with us and a career change caused him to have to cancel. After the 50CC, Mike and I were going to spend a couple of weeks touring the west. I had asked Mike to serve as a backup witness and to take pictures at the beach access. He said he wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't speak for Mike. But I know I did not realize how hard this would be. I shook Mikes hand to thank you for being there and he said that he had thought about doing a BunBurner so he could ride with us a ways, but realized he was not into it mentally. He soon departed to the beach. My heart was heavy and I can only assume that Mike's was as well. I wanted to cry and am not so sure that I didn't. 

I had decided that I would get my water and sand after the receipt. I'm a purest that way. I get to the beach. Walking in sand with boots is tough. I pick up a handful of sand and put some of it in my holder. I then go to get water and I realize. Damn, Yogi is right. We need a pole! After fighting the waves coming in and then settling back I finally get my water. I head back to my bike and there is Mike taking my picture and smiling. 

I wanted so much to go up and give Mike a big hug. My heart is breaking. Maybe he is ok with it, but I am sure not. I better not, I will just carry him with me on the ride, which is what I did. I can't tell you how many times I relived that image of Mike standing on the beach, while we rode off. I can't tell me how many times I went through the trip post-50CC trip plan that Mike had generated and imaging how much fun it would have been to share it with him. This really helped me get through the ride. There will be another day, that I will have time to share with Mike.

The Ride

Soon after I left I passed Howard. He was lumbering along about the speed limit. I was thinking, darn Howard, this is going to be a long trip, as I was doing about 8 over. Nobody else in sight, except I think I saw Dave Hinks either soon right after I left. On my way to I-95 I come up on a Corvette that looked and sounded like a dragster. Why would somebody have a car like this on the street, particularly, a limited access road. 

The temperatures were moderate, 70's, and it was overcast. Great riding weather for me. I was using the 186 mile trip plan. At the first stop, I pull in and see PirateJohn with his bike torn apart. He was have having a problem with his cruise control and as he said "This is mission critical on a ride like this." It appeared that he had things under control, so I headed out. That was the last I saw of John until SD. Somewhere around the Florida mile marker, Chad Baird caught up and soon passed me. I decided to tag along and followed him to the next stop. I thought I would ride with him for awhile but his stop was not at my pit stop pace, so I left before he did. Not long, here comes Chad again. I rode with him until one of us had to pull off for gas. Howard and I passed each other several times. We were obviously using different gas stops. 

We got some rain just after the first stop, but I decided that with the warm temperatures, that I would not even bother to put on my rain suit. It actually felt pretty good. The winds across the bridge at Mobile, AL were pretty severe cross winds which created a little bit of a challenge. The ride through Mississippi, Louisiana, and western Texas were pretty non-descript. Just going through the regular routine of cranking out miles.

I have been through Houston a couple of times now. It seems that it is just a spaghetti of interstates. Being a Saturday, traffic was light, but you really have to watch the signs. I made a wrong turn here on my BB3000 ride and did want to make a mistake this time. Ben Askew who was originally going to ride with us but decided to do the 100CCC with another group lived in the area of San Antonio and insisted that we should take 1604 around the city. I hit San Antonio around 9:00 p.m.. Still not sure to go through the city or on 1604, I opted for 1604. Darn. This looks like a country road and is rougher than heck. Next thing you know I hit a stop light. Soon I get to Kitty Hawk Road and fuel up. I'm thinking maybe I should go back and go through the city. I have made a couple of choice comments about Ben's recommendation. In SD, I learned that other riders made similar comments with regards to me passing on Ben's recommendation. I decide to continue on 1604. It turns into a limited access highway and traffic is really flowing. I am now apologizing to Ben in my mind.

Around Van Horn, TX I am starting to get tired. I am trying to focus but find that focus is becoming a stare and inattentive. I don't have enough energy to push to the next gas stop, so I stop the bike and walk around it a few times. I get back on and make it to the next stop which is a truck stop at the TX 87 mile marker at around 4:39 a.m. EST, Sunday, 5/19. I am now 23 hours into the ride and just can't safely go on any farther. There is a restaurant at the Truck Stop and they allow me to go into a back room and lay down in a booth. I don't set an alarm. I wake up about 7:00 a.m. walk around a few minutes and head back out at 7:20 a.m., 2 hours and 41 minutes later. I had taken my camera off the handlebar mount and put in my bag when I stopped to rest. Evidently, I did not tighten the draw string and my camera fell out. I lost all of my pictures. Major bummer.

At the TX 121 mile marker, a tractor and trailer had caught on fire an burned completely right along side the interstate. Traffic is severely backed up in the east bound lane, but my west bound lane is moving along. That thing had to really get hot. It was hard to recognize that it was even a truck. In the dark of the night I felt like I missed something in western Texas. All I could see was an occasional rock wall and lots of eyes. The truckers constantly warned be about critters. I think this was also the area where I see 10's of red flashing lights. The truckers told me they were wind mills used to generate electricity. El Paso, TX to AZ. Hot, sandy, did I say Hot? How could anybody live in some of these places. 

I'm feeling good after the rest and with the increased speeds allowed in New Mexico am rolling right along.

At AZ I-10 Exit 304 I bought a sub sandwich fresh from the gas station cooler. Stick it inside my jacket and hit the road. The air is so dry that what was soggy bread is so dry that it is flaking away. I can't seem to get enough water to keep that dry bread from choking me. This was an interesting leg. Some where around Picacho Peak (Kent Ailes saw the ladder on the side of the road and told me where it was) I hear on the CB about a pickup truck had just dropped an aluminum ladder on the road. WAIT!!! A truck just passed me with an aluminum ladder. CB range is not that far. Could it be the same truck. I better be particularly observant. About that time, I see the ladder. It is in the left lane, I am in the right lane. Yeah but these things are light and with the wind anything could happen. Oh no! There is a car passing me in the left lane and does not seem to see the ladder. At the last minute, the car swings to the left to miss the ladder. I am swinging to the right onto the shoulder because I think the car that is now just right beside me is going to hit the ladder. The car catches the ladder at about one foot from the end and it flips up in the air between me and the car and then falls in the right lane right behind me. What is with these LD rides. Refrigerators, Ladders. How long can my luck hold out? That was just too darned close.

Arizona is about 104. I am wearing my Phoenix Jacket and Pants. It is hot, but I imagine that the sun without the jacket would be worse. I open the jacket and dump a bottle of water down the front of my shirt. That feels good. It is 104 degrees, but it is a dry heat. LOL. Kent and Yogi had said it could be 110-120 so I guess this is ok. I see a couple of Volkswagen beetles parked next to small travel trailers out in the middle of the desert. No apparent electricity. This appears to be a permanent home. How could anybody live out hear. I don't remember where it was but somewhere in AZ there were these rock formations that looked like GIANT river stones piled together. What weird rock formations. Why are these rocks rounded? How did they get in those piles?

I think it was at the Gila Bend, AZ rest stop that as I pulled to the gas pump I see a K1200LT. I immediately start through my routine and have not taken time to speak. What I observe, as I fill my tank, is a very petite gal reorganizing things on the bike. I had originally wanted to buy the K1200LT instead of the wing but was too short in the inseam. All I can think about is how can that little gal be riding a bike like that? About the time I was putting the pump back in its holder, I see a fella walk up to the bike. Oh, they are a couple. That explains it. As I write this, I now realize that I do not have the prejudice that the woman would only be passengers and not riders. Good for me. I introduced myself and the couple introduces themselves as Greg and Marsha Smith. Greg ask where I was coming from and I replied Jacksonville. Greg says, that where I came from. I left at 2:00 a.m. yesterday morning and then picked up my wife in Texas. I tell him that I left at 7:00 a.m. yesterday morning. We left only 5 hours apart. Greg says that he is doing a 4-corners ride and is including a 50CC within it. He said that he had actually used some of the stuff on the MTF 50CC web site and really appreciated it. What a small world. Greg and Marsha headed out while I searched for a restroom.

The last leg had been really hot and I had run out of water. This time, I put a 20 ounce bottle of water in my drink holder and another inside my jacket. Man this heat is getting to me. The next to the last stop is to be at US115 Exit. The California exits seem to be marked with cities and not roads as appears in MS S&T. This is confusing. I don't see a US115 Exit and I am getting very low on gas. I am in the middle of the sand dunes which are absolutely unbelievable and exits are pretty far apart. Finally, I see an Exit at Hwy 111. I don't see a station, but I have to find gas. I turn off and hit a detour. Right around the detour I spot a station. I start to fill up but it won't seem to take my credit card. I see a sign. You must pay inside, before you pump! Why have modern pumps? I go inside give them my credit card and walk back out to the pumps which are quite some distance from the store. Fill up. The receipt says 7.07 gallons. My tank only holds 6.6 gallons. Maybe there pump was off, but I know that I was way below E and just dodged a bullet. I was also dehydrated. I had drank 40 oz of water and was still dry. I drank a liter of Gatorade and loaded up with two more bottles of water.

As you enter San Diego on I-8 you will encounter a large mountain pass and will see warning signs "Severe Winds Next 80 miles). These are very severe winds and for the most part seemed to be cross winds that seemed to randomly hit you from both the right and left. A small green sports car pulls in front of me and looks like the rabbit that could take me home. I increase my speed to keep up with him. Next think I know this little black sports car pull around me and finds a spot between me and the green car. The green car is no longer visible but the black car is really getting it, going in and out of lanes at let's say very high speeds. I'm following along. This is not easy. The winds are severe and it seems that the Wing is just not designed to ride in those high cross winds. My bike feels like a sail in the curves. I remember at one point sticking my knee out and shifting my weight like a super bike. I actually had my elbow hooked under my knee and was pulling down on the bar to try to hold the bike into the curves. After some sixty miles of following this black car, it suddenly pulled to the left lane and slowed down. Oops. He must be running radar, as I pull in behind him. The car is now traveling about 10 mph below the speed limit. Ok, it is not necessary to do that, so I pull out to pass. I am going to give him a thumbs up as a pull beside him, but his windows are blacked out. He then starts to roll his window down and much to my surprise I see not a radar detector, but a radar mounted on the left dash. Holly $#*t this is an unmarked police car. I didn't notice if he was in uniform. I really didn't want to stare. I continued on at the speed limit and eventually lost site of my little black rabbit. More amazing, I look back at one time during this period and I see what I think is Greg and Marsha Smith traveling right behind me. I am riding my butt off and here he is with a passenger and pulling a Unigo trailer. Wow, he is one hell of a rider or that K1200LT is one hell of a bike.

As we enter San Diego, Greg and Marsha are right behind me. I tell Greg he can leas as I have the detail set too high on the GPS and I can't really tell much. Greg finds the Mobil station and turns in for gas. Being a purest, I wanted to get my sand and water first, so I turn toward the beach. I find what I think is the beach access. Park the bike and climb a bunker to learn that I am not in the right spot. Back down the bunker and onto the street. I see another beach access. Lots of cars, this must be it. I park near the entrance. This is Dog Beach. I need to walk quite a ways to get to Ocean Beach. Here I am in my Phoenix Jacket and Pants and my flip top helmet walking toward the water with this little bottle in my hand. I must have looked like an alien as I was getting a lot of stares. As I get to the waters edge I bend down to pick up a handful of sand and put some of it in the bottle. At this point, I don't really care about not getting wet. I walk straight into the water, just below the top of my boots and fill the bottle. I head back to the bike which is at the far end of the parking lot. I have now collected my sand and water at both oceans. The since of accomplishment is overwhelming. I get to my bike and I had been in such a hurry, that I had just shut it off with the kickstand and hadn't even bothered to turn it off. My key was in the ignition and the lights were burning. 

Wow, if I hurry, I can do this in 37 hours. The exit is one way and there is a policeman poking along in front of me. Once I get out of the exit, I rush toward the Mobil station. I will just do a splash and get the receipt. I had left Jacksonville Beach at 6:35 a.m. CDST = 5:35 a.m. EST (My time). The receipt at the Mobil station in San Diego read 16:35 PDST = 6:35 p.m. EST time which means that I did the ride in exactly 37 hours. What an experience. 

I was about to wet my pants so I find the restroom and then finish filling my bike. As I pull into the Motel 6, I see what I assume is Steve Hobart our ending witness just dismounting his bike. We chat for a few minutes and I notice that there is another K1200LT parked in the lot. That looks like Howard's bike. I go to the check in and I ask if they will ring Howard Burcham's room. They agree and give me the phone. Alan: This is your wake up call. Howard: There must be some mistake. I didn't ask for a wake up call. Alan: Well you wouldn't need one if you had stopped to sleep last night. Howard had finished the ride in 34 hours and change. Quite a ride for sure. Greg and Marsha pull into the lot and we chat for awhile. We decide to walk over to Hunter's Steakhouse for dinner. My gout is bothering me some as I had missed my medicine while on the ride, so while the others are eating steak, I'm eating potato skins and rice. That's ok, I had great company. 

Some more chat in the parking lot and then to the the room for some sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night I get a call. Alan, this is John Oravec, I just got in. I was asleep, but I think I said, "Great John, why don't you call the witness, Steve Hobart."  Believe me, that was not what I was thinking. LOL I wake up the next morning but can't seem to get out of bed. Finally, I get up and start working on my paperwork. I want to get it done while it is fresh and I am planning on leaving right after the banquet. I hear some noise in the parking lot and look out the window to see several of the participants chatting. Throw on some clothes and hit the parking lot. Hey everybody made it. Everybody is excited even though somewhat tired. Everybody has a story. I look forward to reading all of the trip reports. We have a bond that will last the rest of our lives. 

Eventually, I went back to my room took a shower, completed my documentation, packed my bags, and headed back to the parking lot for some more chat. Steve says that he has a lot to do and won't be able to attend the banquet. We walked over to the restaurant, except for PirateJohn who rode. PirateJohn had ridden in with Dave Hinks. Somehow, Dave knew how to get a hold of Steve to witness but John did not. Rick Brookes the San Diego starting witness attended the banquet and signed off PirateJohns paperwork. We also learned that Kent Ailes lost all of his receipts from the San Diego to Jacksonville Beach leg. Hopefully, this won't be an issue.

I am somewhat concerned because I am thinking that this is a weekend and I had told the participants that the banquet would be with entries starting at $6.95. The night before meals were more like $20.00. The restaurant had our reservation but advised that there would be a 17% gratuity and that they could not separate the checks. We receive the menus and it is a luncheon menu. Oh, this is Monday not Sunday. The banquet was really just the opportunity for us to all have a meal together. I have received so many compliments for putting this ride together. I reminded the riders that if they had not participated that there would not have been a ride and that it had been a pleasure to share this experience with them.

Starting from empty chair clockwise:
Tom "Yogi" Maiden, Kent Ailes, John Oravec, Greg Martin, Dave Hinks, Bo Griffen, Alan Leduc, Chad Baird, PirateJohn, Howard Burcham, Marsha Smith, Greg Smith

 The good looking guy in the forefront is Randy Kirgiss who had taken the previous picture. Missing is Greg Smith who is taking this picture.

A special thanks to all who participated in this ride.
We have a bond that will be shared for a lifetime.

Congratulations on your accomplishment,

 Trip Log

The stop times are estimated as 10 minutes + a five minute allowance for exiting and returning to the Interstate. Arrive time is 10 minutes before time stamp on gas receipt. Mileage Readings from GPS. Note: Odometer readings do not match mileage of GPS, due to odometer error. GPS Mileage used for all calculations