Alan Leduc's IBA Experiences

The Bike

Steve O. posted on the Team Strange Discussion board: "The weather the riders faced--simply put--was far worse than ANY other competetive event in the LDR/IronButt commnity's history. Lows Saturday night ranged from 29 to 38 degrees. Hundreds (and in some cases THOUSANDS) of miles of rain for riders. Sleet, snow, freezing cold and rain, rain, rain all joined forces to take their shot at slowing these riders down (or stopping them altogether)."

I had to deal with the rain and low 30 degree temperatures but no snow or sleet. I had prepared for cold weather and had layered up and added the electrics. Upper body: T-shirt, Widder vest, insulated long sleeve underwear, leather jacket, rain jacket. Lower body: long johns, Widder chaps, sweat pants, Joe Rocket Phoenix pants, and rain pants. One of the riders that was complaining after the ride commented to me that he was freezing and that I was riding along with my jacket unzipped. If you read the report of my BB3000 ride, you might get a better perspective as to why I did not consider the weather conditions so severe. 

Loaded up the bike, installed the GPS, and headed down to the start point. I got there a little after 6:00 a.m. and watched as each rider rode up to the start line. One rider leaving minute after minute. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go as each rider left. You were allowed to pull into line 10 minutes prior to your start time. Getting there was a big advantage. I settled down as I watched each rider leave and I was able to observe their routine so I was not as nervous as I might have otherwise been. 

About 6:55, I trot out into the rain to my bike. I smile as I see Jake, Jr. I mount up and wait a few minutes for my window to drive to the start line. Eddie asks for my rider number and verifies my start time. I pull to the start line. 10, 9, 8, ...3, 2, 1, Go. I calmly push the reset on my GPS and head out.

This first leg is critical as it is the odometer check. Make a mistake and go back to the start.

I leave Right Mondovi Rd.

There was a tent set up and I was directed to ride under the tent where my odometer and trip meter were read. I pulled to the curb, dismounted and went to the maker to get the answer to question #1: $1.25.

The first leg was rather uneventful. Passed a few bikes and got passed by a few bikes. There is the first gas stop. Bikes are everywhere. I had to wait for two other bikes to gas up before it was my turn. 

There is a short wait at the Canadian Border. There are about 5 or 6 vehicles in front of me and several bikes are here. I had my driver's license out and my flip top helmet up so they could seem my face. They really didn't seem interested in my license. I was asked why I was entering Canada. I said that several of us were riding around the Great Lakes. Several bikes had passed in front of me, so I assume he had this figured out already. He then ask how much alcohol and tobacco products I was bringing in. I responded none to both questions and was told to have a good time in Canada.

This was the Saturday of memorial day weekend. I had saw posts on the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum that this was a popular day for getting the cabin ready for the summer. The posts were right on. RV's, pickups with trailers, pickups with camping trailers, pickups with boats, cars with trailers ... you get the picture. This section had a lot of double yellows and you had to pic your spots. Often times as you pulled out to pass, there would be 5 or 6 vehicles and not enough time to get around them all. There were five us riding together. The yellow VFR, two harleys, Rick (KowV12) of the MTF, and me. One of the harleys was leading most of the way and we were moving right along passing most of the traffic. If you were timid about passing, you were going to be losing some serious time here.

I don't remember where it was but there was a point where 61 split into a scenic route that ran along the river. The marking was for 61 scenic route. It was not clear whether the split to the left was for the non-scenic 61 or not. A couple of the bikes took the scenic route, which I understand from later discussions was pretty slow. I went to the left and soon saw a sign identifying the road to be 61 which was quite a relief. I soon found the group slowing down, so I took the lead back to our original pace. It seemed that one of the harley riders and I took turns during this leg. I can't remember his name, but the harley rider told me at the 50 hour and under breakfast that I was going to fast for him. I don't think we were really going that fast during this leg, we were just fighting a lot of traffic. I reminded him that he led most of the way as we both smiled.

The second gas stop was also at a mandatory station. Again, I had to wait to fill up. There was an older fellow outside writing down, how much gas you used and the price on a post-it note. Once I filled up, I pushed the bike out of the way. Oops this thing is getting away from be as I head downhill toward the ditch. A couple of riders see I'm in trouble and give me a hand. Maybe they were just doing a good deed or maybe they were afraid that I was going to crash into their bike. Either way, I needed and appreciated the help. One of the riders contacted me and said his name was Craig Severerson and that he was the one who had grabbed my handlebars. 

I head in to use the restroom. You guessed it. A one holer for the men and a one holer for the women and a line. I paid for my gas and squeezed my legs together. This was going to be close. Finally, the women's restroom opened up and there were no women in line. I'm a wuss, I'm using that one. A yellow VFR and a Harley pulled out right in front of me. I soon caught them and we rode together for most of the next leg.

Straight Hwy. 11/17 East (towards Sault St. Marie)

Although I am in good shape for gas, I figure I better stop for gas in Wawa. I know that I just left Canada 17 and that I am about to enter the remote part of the route. I thought that I remembered Eddie saying during the banquet that LeClair Fuel Stop would not sell gas to motorcycles, but that there was other gas in the area. This is only about 150 miles and would be a good point to fill up. I should then be able to make it out of the wilderness and into Sudbury, ON where there was a mandatory fuel stop and 24 hour gas.

Our group of 5, all had different fuel capacities and had disbanded as we approached this fuel stop. There were a lot of bikes as I pulled in for gas. I only had to wait for one bike. But he then left his bike parked at the pump while he unpacked some food. Finally, he moved out of the way and I was able to fill up. A young fella was watching the pumps. I asked if they took plastic and he said that he did. He took my credit card and disappeared. Some time passed and I went inside as it was raining. They had a hot dog machine so I decided that I might as well have some warm food (yes, I consider hot dogs food). I finish the dog and still don't see the guy with my credit card. I go back outside and see that there is actually a separate little room built on the outside of the main store for the gas attendant. Track him down, sign for gas and I am off. I have not real way to measure my progress, but I am feeling pretty good.

Hwy. 101 is a good road but this is out in nowhere land. You would occasionally see a lake but mostly what you saw were the trees which lined both sides of the road. I decided that there was no way I wanted to be stuck in this part of Canada at night and the sun was moving to the horizon way too fast. I really cranked it up on Hwy. 101. I couldn't imagine why there would be anybody policing this area so I wasn't too concerned about a speeding ticket.

I see Kathy's Kitchen and thought for a moment about stopping for gas. No, I am going to hold to my original plan and get gas near the LeClair Fuel Stop. Eddie said there would be gas available in the area and I should be able to make it easily.

I continue along 129 at a pretty good rate. My GPS is tracking exactly with the Team Strange mileage so I'm not too concerned about finding LeClair.

I arrive at the LeClair Fuel Stop and notice that there is no building. There is a house way back off the road. I'm wondering why someone out in the middle of nowhere will not sell gas to motorcycles. Oh well, I'll write down the price. Which price? The price for regular or premium? I better write down both: I think it was 65.9 and 77.9 per liter. I am thinking if this guy hates motorcycles that bad, I bet he is thrilled about all of them pulling in to read his pumps. What if he throws down some nails or something?

Eddie ask me upon my return if I noticed why I couldn't buy gas a LeClair's. No, not really. Didn't you notice that the building had burned down? Nobody can buy gas a LeClair's. As stated earlier I noticed that there was not building, but just figured the guy ran down from the house. I missed the whole joke.

I'm looking around for gas. Eddie said there would be gas in the area or at least I thought he did. Upon the finish, I ask Eddie about this and evidently, I imagined this. Here I am in the wilderness. Didn't take the opportunity to get gas at Kathy's Kitchen and there is no gas available that I can see.

I think it was during this part of the ride that we rode right along side the river. An absolutely beautiful section of the ride. At N46.4502 W83.3403 which I think was right after the river ride. I looked to my right and see a cow Moose. I remember Eddie saying, "Moose just don't care." Meaning that they are so large, they are not going to worry about you, so you better worry about them. This is one unbelievable large animal. I would hate to encounter a bull moose. After I recovered from the shock, I swing to the right and throttle up. Within the next mile there were two deer that crossed in front of me. I don't know whether it was before or after a saw the moose and deer but I found myself approaching a bridge. As I approached the bridge opening seemed to get increasingly smaller. As I am about to enter the bridge, I notice that it has a wood floor. I would hate to hit that in the rain at speed. 

Already proceeding at a much more conservative pace because I am really worried about gas, I am now very conservative. Three animals in a mile should be enough to make anyone nervous. It is getting dark and I really don't like the circumstance that I am in. Several trucks pulling boats pass. Maybe I could flag one down and they would sell me a couple of gallons of gas. This thought goes through my mind every time a see an oncoming vehicle. As I approach Empty. I am now observing every house. How far will I have to walk to get back to a house if I run out of gas? I keep seeing signs will kilometers to Thessalon. I do the math in my head. Look at the gas gauge. This is going to be very close. I am very anxious and figure that I am going to run out of gas for sure.

All of a sudden I see a dimly lit building and it has gas pumps out front. There is a sign in the window that says, OPEN. Am I hallucinating? I make a U-turn and pull up to the pump. They are dimly lit. I put down the kickstand and it sinks into the gravel drive. I upright the bike and dig for my kickstand pad. I put the kickstand pad in place, dismount and remove the pump. Can it be? Yes, it is working. I walk inside to pay and tell the proprietor that he has no idea how glad I am to see him. He said that the other guy that was just here said the same thing.

I relay to the proprietor how I had been thinking about waving down trucks and had been watching every house so I would know how far I needed to walk if I ran out of gas. It was now dark. I really wasn't in a big hurry. I just wanted to wind down. I asked when the tourist season started and he said that it was just beginning and that the trucks I had seen with boats were going out for night fishing. I saw three bananas and decided I would purchase them. I also purchased a small Moose figurine to remind me of my sighting. I was studying the directions and commented that I had to turn left on 554 East and then it appeared that it would run into 546 toward Ironbridge. 

I ask how far is it to Thessalon? He said about 20 miles but you won't be going there if you are turning on 554. Wow. I don't think I would have made it another 20 miles. How far is it to Ironbridge? About 20 miles. Man, I would have been walking for sure. Thank goodness you were open. As I left, I commented that he might want to stay open a little later tonight as there was a whole group of riders behind me. The proprietor said, you will hit 554 just at the bottom of the hill.

I'm glad the proprietor of the store had told me to expect this trun, I might have missed it in the dark otherwise. I was going pretty slow and still had to make a half u-turn to make the turn.

Upon my arrival into Ironbridge, I see a group of 4 bikes filling up. I was just glad to see somebody and to celebrate my departure of the wilderness. I knew there had to be people behind me and I knew they were going to have a tough ride and felt sure that someone would likely run out of gas.

I commented that I was envious of those guys that got early start times. One of the riders said, what time did you leave? 7:08, I replied. You are doing really well because I was out at 6:01. I ask if they had seen the guys on the harleys. I was not clear whether they had or had not but they said there was a group up ahead of them and they were pushing really hard. I ask how far they were going to ride. I received this email from Steve Steller upon my return which recounted the reply, "I have been telling my wife the whole week that I shouldn't have told Leduc that I was going to push straight through up at Ironbridge.  I remember you telling me that I know better that that.  It must have got you thinking that you could do it........"

Having done a BB3000 in January 2002 and an 50CC the weekend before this ride, I had never been able to push past the 22 hour mark. I couldn't imagine anybody being able to push all the way through. So I just figured Steve was pulling my leg. I'm not sure who the other three riders were but two of them were riding K1200LT's and had PromiseBreaker stickers.

They were off and I didn't have my helmet on. I get my helmet on, get mounted and catch up with them. We are going at a pretty conservative pace which is ok with me.

When we got to Espanola, I'm thinking why couldn't this 24 hour gas have been available out in the wilderness. Sudsbury is only50 miles and should only be at 140 miles or so from my fill up before hitting Ironbridge. I should be ok, but I have thought this before. 

I'm not sure whether it is before or after Espanola, but we came upon two tractor trailers we were chatting on Channel 19. They made some comment about the bikes. I told them that I was the back bike and that we were doing a ride around the Great Lakes. They said be careful because these roads are rough and there a couple of really bad bumps. The other four bikes had gotten around the trucks and were starting to pull away. There were double yellow lines and you couldn't tell visually, but the way my bike was moving, I new the roads were milled. I had taken advantage of the advisory status of the double yellow earlier in the day, but I didn't feel comfortable doing it with the current road conditions. The lead truck says, "if that last bike can hear me, you are safe to go around now. I make my swing and am soon around. I now have to push a bit to get caught up with the rest of the group. 

I'm flying! Bump. Man that jarred my teeth. They said there were a couple of bumps but that is ridiculous. Another trucker going west says to the other truckers, watch there is a big bump up here. I am now ahead of the eastbound trucks so I start searching for another bump. I'm flying again. As soon as I make contact, I hit the brake as I remember that last teeth jarring bump. This bump is one sided, no bang.

We enter Sudsbury. It is dark and I can't see my directions. The guys ahead seem to know where they are going so I am along for the ride. We pull into a station. I casually dismount and prepare to fill up. The pump is not working. What is going on? Why can't they make all of these pay at the pump things work the same way. Wait, the other guys are leaving! So much for riding with them. Voice from nowhere: "We just closed, there is a station across the street." Great, now the group will be out of site for sure.

I get remounted and ride across the street. Great, they didn't get gas either. I ask again how far they are going to push. The LT Riders and I think the guy on a sport tourer, says they are stopping in North Bay. I know that Northbay is at less than the halfway point and I don't want the kind of long ride the next day. The guy riding Eddie James' bike (I think this is Steve Steller), says that he is going to push through to the states but he is not going to be riding over 60.

I am trying to study the directions out of Sudsbury and the guy on the sport tourer comments, "I don't know how to get out of here." I'm thinking yeah, the instructions are kind of detailed and I don't have a way to read them in the dark without pulling off. The two guys on the LT's pull out and the sport tourer follows. I better get my helmet on and follow them. I rush and catch up. The guy on Eddie's bike is behind me.

Oh crap! They hit the light and I missed it. I still have them in sight. I rush to catch up but get caught by another light. I rush again and get them in sight. I don't know what happened to the bike behind me. But I am glad that I can follow and I hope they know what they are doing, because I would have been stopping several times to check the directions.

My GPS had been tracking exactly to the directions. I am at the stop light. My GPS is reading 1239.6. but this does not appear to be the right road. It must be as I turn right. I don't see any road signs. I see a service station but it isn't open. I decide to return back and go a little further. Soon I see another light. I will ride to there. Hwy 29. This must be one of the tricks that I have heard that might be played by TeamStrange. Just when I am tired they want to play with my mind. 

I try to figure out the difference in mileage and figure out where this is going to be. No light when the GPS read where I thought the turn should be. There is a stoplight several blocks ahead. Great. TeamStrange is really screwing with us now.

I find this turn with no problem.

Am I on the right track? I better pull in and ask if I am on the right road to Smith's Falls. Yes! Do you know anything about Mr. Muggs. You will see it. 

This is several miles and I am going really slow as I watch the signs very carefully. I still think TeamStrange has elected this point to play with us. That is why they reset the mileage for the return trip. %$*&

Soon I come upon Mr. Muggs. Well at least I made it.

I decide to stop here and get fuel. I'm not sure when I will be able to get gas as I enter the states and I don't want to push it. I take time to check the oil and the tire pressure. Still no oil usage and the tires are holding air. Restroom break and I am off. It is now daylight. Maybe rather than spending time in a hotel, I will just hit a picnic table at the IBA Hotel. 

What a great view as I pass over the bridge. 1000 Island huh, this should be a neat place to visit.

How long have you been in Canada. Just a day. Several of us are riding around the Great Lakes. Strange look. Well I came in early yesterday and decided to ride the night. Where are the others. I figure you have already seen some of them and the others are behind me. There are over a hundred of us. Ok, have a good trip. Do you mind if I pull aside here to write down some information. No, go right ahead.

I pull to the side and document my time, remove my instructions for the return route, and zero my GPS. Ok, Eddie no more games please. Eddie plead innocent when I asked about playing with the mileage. Maybe I just got slightly off track somewhere. Maybe.

Great Lakes Challenge Return Route

I really don't need gas as I filled up just before crossing the border. However, this is a mandatory fuel stop. Wow, I only have about 1000 miles to go. It is all Interstate. I should be making good time. I am going to push ahead until I get tired, which is sure to be soon and then sleep for a few hours at an IBA Hotel.

Somewhere along here I saw three very large black bird statues in a field on the north side of the road. A Roadside Monstrosity and but I don't want to take time to get a picture.

Next stop is a mandatory stop at Seneca Service Plaza and is well within my range. Nice not having to worry about gas.

I fill up with gas and pay at the pump. I leave the bike parked and walk to the Burger King to use the restroom. I decide that I will get a couple of burgers for the road, but there is a line so I decide to go on.

There is no way anybody was going to do a BunBurner Gold on this ride, at least not on the front side. Looks like Eddie was teasing.

Man the toll booths are a pain. No place to put the ticket. Oil in the middle of the lane where you need to put your right leg. Cars impatient as you search for change. Nothing good about this.

Ditto earlier comments about toll roads. How far is it to Ohio? A quick check of the instructions, good only 50 more miles.

I have never taken the toll way but I live in Indiana and there is some sort of gratification about being in Ohio. I know from crossing Ohio on I-70 many times that this is going to be a long stretch, but then Indiana, trip through Chicago, and a shot toward the end. I am feeling really good. I can't believe I haven't needed to stop for sleep. Wonder if I can push all the way through?

The number of police on the toll way is unbelievable. So much for making good time here. There are so many police that they are actually holding down the flow of traffic. 

The traffic at this exit is terrible. That food is starting to take its toll. I have to do the #2! I have never encountered this on an IBA ride before. #1 has been tough enough with all the layers that I have on. How am I going to deal with this. Fortunately, the restroom was reasonable clean. I manage to get all the layer below my knees and take care of business. The clean up was a challenge but I finally got it taken care of and was on my way. That was no fun.

I pull out into the traffic and seem to have to wait forever for the light. Why did we have to use this station? I look around, the others probably wouldn't be any better.

This toll stuff is getting expensive. I am still feeling pretty good and push on.

Eddie said during the banquet that you didn't have to worry about the small tolls in Indiana. I missed this one as I went through the automatic lanes. Hope this is not a problem. With the previous receipt from Indiana and the receipt at the Skyway, it should be obvious that I took the proper route.

After the trip many people complained about the traffic in Chicago. I had commuted this route almost weekly for three years in the 80's and still remember the traffic patterns. Traffic is flowing good and the challenge is keeping me attentive.

I don't see the Oasis. I am sitting on E. I have gone about 215 miles and I know I can't go much further. I get off at the Rosemont exit and fill up with gas. How do I get back onto the interstate? I talk to a cabbie. It is obvious that he has no clue. The policeman that was parked across the street as I pulled in is now gone. I will ride down to the Interstate and see what I can find. Nothing. I pull into another station. He tells me that I have to go back to the other side of 294 and return back through the toll booth. Having been around this area several times and gotten lost most all of them, this does not sound like a good option. He tells me that I can go another route and come back east toward the toll booth. Yeah, but then I would be going the wrong direction. 

I call Eddie. Explain my problem. He says you are making good time. You need to get that receipt. You don't want to blow it now. I explain that I have a receipt less than a mile away and that it says Des Plaines. Eddie repeats, "You need to get that receipt. " So much for that. I call my wife and tell her that I am through Chicago and only have about 300 miles to go. She asks where I stopped. Well I haven't yet, but I feel pretty good. My problem is that I have to get to this oasis and have no idea how to do it. I tell here that Eddie said, nobody had arrived yet but that I was sure that there were riders ahead of me. I had never seen the group that pushed way ahead, so they had to be way out in front because I had been taking it rather easy since getting into the states.

I decide to go check out the entrance coming back east and stumble upon a service entrance. Hey, that is the Oasis! The gate is open, wonder if I can get up there. The signs says authorized vehicles only. Wonder what the fine is. I can just tell them I'm lost and at least maybe I can get some decent directions. Hope there isn't a gate at the top. I wander up the service entrance and the next thing I know I'm at the pump at the Oasis. Wow, that was lucky.

Rick (KowV12 of the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum, related to me later that his alternate failed here. He called someone he new from the Kawasaki forum. He was aware of the access road and used it to get to the Oasis. Problem was that Rick had used the express lanes through Chicago and could not get to the Oasis and had to get to it going east. He was on the wrong side. Rick and his buddy, pushed his bike through the McDonalds which was on a bridge spanning the two sides.  Eddie told me part of the story when I rolled in . He said this guy called and had an alternator failure. Eddie said he told him he had plenty of time and that he just needed to find a way to get it fixed. Rick relayed, the alternator isn't a big problem, I have a spare one. I'll see what I can do. Can you imagine carrying a spare alternator?

I use the pay at the pump and record a whopping $0.09 cents of fuel on my mandatory receipt and that was getting up into the neck.

The sun is setting and bright. I reach into my fairing pocket and change into my sunglasses as I ride with no hands. There is road construction but that is not slowing anybody down. This is typical Chicago traffic. We are flying which is keeping me alert.

As it begins to get dark. I put my regular glasses back on. I am getting tired and starting to yawn. I find that by drinking water, I seem to feel better. I start making regular hits on my water bottle. Savoring every mouthful so I don't have to make an extra stop.

Traffic in Wisconsin has been moving like the Chicago traffic but there are a lot of blood spots. I'm not feeling really good a traveling those speeds so I decide to back it off a bit.

I pull to the side and the car pulls in behind me. Great. I reach into my front fairing pocket and remove my drivers license. I hope he doesn't want my registration because I don't really know where it is at. I have packed and unpacked too many times. I get off the bike and remove my helmet setting it in my seat. I move away from the bike so that I am in full view. The officer, gets out of the car and flashes his flashlight in my face as he asks, do you know how fast you are going? Not really, I am heading to Eau Claire and know that I just passed that car coming down the hill. I clocked you at %$ with laser. I am going to write you a citation for 80 mph. I replied that a warning ticket would be nice, to which he responded not today. 

Crud. 15 miles from being done. I deserved a few tickets, but not here. I was just following the flow of traffic and got caught in the passing lane. No matter. I was going to make a donation. 

After 20 minutes or so, I get back on the road and head into Eau Claire at or below the speed limit.

I see the tent and am amazed that I have made this trip with no sleep. I had never intended to do it that way. I pull up to the tent and Eddie shouts out 41 Hours 12 Minutes 44 Seconds.

There is a guy setting at the table who rides down the time. I tell Eddie, I'm rider #124. There are three gals there and they are congratulating me on a great ride. Someone takes my picture (It was the gal that had the bad wrist. If you read this, I please email the picture to me at amleduc@isightbb.com so I can add it to this report). I park the bike and mosey over to the table and begin to take off layers.

As I approach the table, the guy that is recording my time is saying to Eddie, "Do you know this guy." I responded, no body knows me I have only been riding for two years. Eddie said, "You have only been riding for two years?" Well, I rode for a year or so when I was a kid but just started riding again in May 2000. Eddie says, "That is amazing you beat my time by ??? and the conditions are worse than when I did it." Wow!

I asked who was the first person in. You are they all respond! Huh? There was a whole group of people in front of me. I knew I was doing pretty good because I met a group at Ironbridge that had left real early, but I had no idea that I would be the first one in. I described the guys that I had met at Ironbridge and that one of them was a big guy riding an LT and another was riding Eddie's bike. One gal said, yeah that big guy is my husband. He is 6'-8" and darned sexy too. No comment necessary. One of the other gals, said did one guy have a long pony tail. Yeah, he was the one that said he was going to push on to the states, but the others stopped at Northbay. Eddie says, that others still could have the fastest time and start to figure out in his head when no one can get in by shorter time.

I'm thinking that is amazing. Having just done a 50CC from Jacksonville to San Diego the weekend before in 37 hours, I felt that this ride had been much more difficult. Given the easy pace that I had taken from the border to the Chicago area, I was surprised that I had completed the ride this quickly. I had slept for 2-1/2 hours on the 50CC and had not slept at all on this ride but still was surprised at the time. Two great rides on back to back weekends.

I casually remove layer after layer, find that a room is available and hit the sack with an 8:00 a.m. wake up call.

Breakfast #1

Breakfast #2

I was sitting at the table in the right forefront. 

• The gal in the blue shirt is the one who took my picture at the finish.

• The guy in the white shirt. Was one of the Harley guys I rode with in the early part of the trip.

• The guy sipping coffee said he had visited the MTF and was the guy that stopped for a tire change because another rider told hem they could see the cords on his rear tire.

Breakfast #3

Eddie James stating that 49 riders had completed the ride under 50 hours and were eligible for the IBA 2003 Rally pass.

Wow, that is quite a number. This event was loaded with some great riders. I would never have expected that.

Breakfast #4

Eddie calling Bubba. Bubba really wants to the do the IBA Rally but decided that he was not going to do the GLC ride because it was raining. Eddie is giving him a hard time and reminds Bubba that we were laughing at him and not with him. 

Breakfast #5

Some of the bikes in the lot outside the restaurant. The guy in the white shirt is Rick (KowV12). He still has to go back and deal with an electrical problem. Has yet to go to bed, but did get in under 50 hours.

What is wrong with this picture?

No it is not that Jake, Jr. is tired and has laid down his head for the ride home.

• The bike is heading the wrong direction. It should be on the other side of the road.

• There is no Wisconsin Trooper parked behind it.

I won't say how many riders in the under 50 group made contributions to those that protect and serve, but let me just say that I was not alone.