Tim Yow's
100CCC Ride Report
April, 2005
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Tim Yow's
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Terry Watson & I decided late afternoom Friday April 1st [no joke]that even though it was starting to rain we just couldn't wait any longer-we were so anxious to get started on our quest. For a week or so I had checked the weather between J'Ville & S/D but had never checked one time any weather between Central Illinois & J'Ville, assuming going south it would get warmer. Not !!!! Andy Simons had gratiously invited anyone wanting to complete a 5 day/5000 miles in addition to the 100CCC to come to his hometown, Columbia,S.C. and he would witness us out of there early Sunday the 3rd to J'Ville which was 300 miles and change.But after riding in the rain to Nashville Tn. the first night with it getting colder & colder, I had fortunately brought my Widders vest, arm chaps, & gloves because the next day I needed them all. 34 degrees and snow East Of Nashville & heavy snow through North Carolina. Andy has his state under control-after entering South Carolina we raised 20 degrees in a few minutes at the State line. In Colunbia we met Andy, David Bjorn of Elgin, Il & Barry Zane from Boston [and soon moving to San Diego] for dinner and left early next morning after doing a few things to David's ST 1300 [ buy a little short pair of jumper cables at Cracker Barrel for $7.99 like David had done]. We had an easy trip to J'Ville and looked forward to seeing friends from last year's 50 CC and making new friends.I was especially looking forward to seeing Gery Marcelino and his friend Kent Saxton from Alaska in San Diego for the W to E leg. It was great seeing Alan, Jules, Jason & everyone the evening before blast-off. The first of the trip went very similar to the 50 CC last year, but slightly slower. Only the East bound at Pensacola was effected by Ivan & We hit the H.O.V. in Houston at the # 764 Milemarker just like last year & passed 7-9 miles of stalled traffic in the exclusive HOV at 60-65 MPH. Boy does that feel good. We hit the # 1604 Bypass around San Antonio but at that time of day [7:30-8 P.M.] it may not have been necessary. I kicked on my new PIAA running lights at dark and began the deer watch through Western Texas. They were't as bad this year but I kept the extra lights on as much as possible. The 1800 has great lights for a bike & with the additional lights I found I had to be careful of oncoming vehicles. They are rather blinding & probably need further adjustment. I lost one of the stock low beams the first day and the second one just as I got home. Terry Watson, David Bjorn and I were still riding together when we got to Junction,Tx [ near half-way] and David pealed off since he had reservations there. We met again in S/D. Terry & I had discussed that if we felt O.K. at Junction , that we would try to push on to Van Horn,Tx [ 1520 miles] in less than 24 hours. The year before we made it in 22 hours. It went well except for finding a station open at Fort Stockton at mid-night[same thing happened last year]. They're there but sometimes hard to find. Upon leaving there we immediately got into gosh awful cross winds and what seemed like a 20 mile one lane work site. Concrete wall on one side, drop off on the other and gusting side winds that could & would blow you either way, keeps one pretty puckered up along with the 18 wheelers hell bent for leather. When we got to Van Horn in 23 hours, I was running out of stuff. I slept 2 hours and was so anxious to get back on the road Terry & I agreed that I was going on while he made some business phone calls and some paperwork. While the rest of trip to S/D was rather uneventful there is always something interesting happening on a trip like this. At one gas stop somewhere in the middle of nowhere in New Mexico, I pulled up to a 4 pump station with 2 operational. Of course no pay at the pump so I went in and gave them my card. The attendant told me I had to move because he had promised that pump to another guy, so I went out and moved my bike to the other functioning pump, filled up, and after waiting what seemed like a lifetime, signed the receipt,took my card and shoved it in the top pocket of my "stitch" as I always do, wrote the mileage & time on the receipt and put it in my billfold. I started the bike and was pulling out of the lot when I saw the Attendant chasing me down the road, waving his arms. I stopped & he explained to me that I might have the wrong credit card. I looked and sure enough the card in my pocket not only wasn't mine but was bright red & I hadn't noticed. I had signed for a pick-up full of Diesel & he had signed for 5-6 gallons of gas for my bike.It took 20 minutes to supposedly correct that mischarge and you can bet I'll be looking closely at my bill to be sure it's correct. Now I'm thinking, I'm so fortunate that he caught me in time & then I also realized that that should never have gotten past me. I begin to realize that I may be pushing a bit too hard even though I thought I felt fine. I was making an attempt to keep hydrated with my camelback, but realize that it doesn't take much dehydration when accompanyed with sleep deprivation, especially in winds like I was riding in. I tried to add water intake when possible, but still had symptoms of what I now call "Buttland". I've decided that one should avoid " Buttland" if at all possible, but if in spite of your best efforts you find yourself there, you need to be aware that you need to be more cautious and at that point should pull over and check into the "Ironbutt Motel". I'll get back to this subject in a minute. The rest of the trip was uneventful and one of my deepest fears never happened-last year the cross winds in the mountain range just East of S/D nearly blew me off the face of the Earth for 67 miles & I dreaded it but was better prepared then last year when we lost 20 degrees in 15 minutes. I kept my gloves handy and my "stitch" flaps zipped up. And surprise-surprise- hardly any wind. I coasted into S/D in about 39 3/4 hours according to my timekeeping, and all in all felt pretty good. After visiting with the gang and meeting the new riders and climbing 3 flights of stairs at the "Premier Hotel"[ elevator was broken, but no discount]. I got to visit with Gery & meet Kent, but now that I was aware of some of the signs, I realized that I was still somewhat in "Buttland". That was confirmed when I unzipped the legs of my "stitch" to find that early that morning in Van Horn, Tx, while robotically putting on my boots, and having a hell of an argument with my 62 year old body after only allowing it 2 hours sleep, I had not even fastened the straps on my boots and had ridden all day without knowing it. The return trip went relatively well, but I think "Buttland" is somewhat accumulative. On the return 50 CC I decided to lean on the fuel cell to the max and never stopped any less than 290 miles for gas and a couple times went over 340 miles when stations were not where I wished them to be. IBA allows 350 and I once went 346 looking anxiously for a station. My point is this. One pays for extended runs like that. While I only had about 1/2 the gas stops on the return trip, there may be a point for some folks that the more frequent stops serve a purpose. I still recommend a fuel cell for this type of run for the security that it gives one when traveling where there are not many stations . I slept 3 1/2 hours in San Antonio on the way back and still made it in about 39 1/2. I lost 1 hour exactly at the Pensacola Bridge by hitting it at rush hour and forced to go around a 10 mile bypass I didn't want to go on. Otherwise it would have been 38 1/2 hours. Now back to "Buttland". I know I stand the risk of some more seasoned riders finding fault with what I'm about to discuss, some may advise me that I shouldn't push so hard, I should realize my limitations , hydrate more often, pull over sooner, get in better shape etc. All of these are true observations, butttttttt I 've found that "Buttland" sneaks up on me unaware. I'm in it long before I'm aware of it, So I think that by sharing a few signs of entering "Buttland" others might identify it sooner and take corrective measures. So I'm going to share a couple signs that I finally noticed. I don't mean to trivilize but sometime the signs are somewhat funny if they were'nt so serious.For example: After being on the road for a few days, even though I normally know better, I pulled into a parking spot facing downhill without a thought. Upon my return realize my mistake but immediately I assure myself it's no problem. Even though I have maybe only used my reverse feature on my GoldWing a handful of times this is certainly going to be helpful now. I pushed the button on the right handlebar to activate reverse and made sure I was in neutral and pushed the start button to engage it. Nothing. I mumbled a little and managed to manhandle the big bike out of that spot manually. When I arrived in S/D I pulled in the same way [ I always back in ]. Now next morning in the dark as I go to leave I realize that I have made the same mistake. Surely it won't fail me again. Wrong. I remind the bike that I've only asked it to perform this function a few times and I'm really disappointed. When I got safely back to J'Ville and got a full nights sleep and went out to load my gear on the bike next morning, I'm standing there and to my total astonishment I now realize I was pushing on the cruise control both times, not the Reverse Button. Now folks I've been riding this bike since 2001, and when you push the Reverse button a big bright yellow light with a big "R" in the middle of it lights up, and the cruise control light is green. When you get into "Buttland" buttons move, pegs move, lights appear in wrong places, and you make forget the sequence of simple functions. By now you are thinking I've lost it. My point is the importance of staying hydrated,sleep a little more,and watch for the signs of "Buttland" Maybe if we started a list of signs : "You might be in "Buttland" if ..." might enable us to identify it sooner and take corrective action. Now if you all start avoiding me at the next function, I'll know that I've crossed the line, and that I should no longer bring up this subject. At the post ride dinner I decided to take a chance and describe something that I experienced on this ride to a table full of fellow & fellowette riders. After telling them that late last night while totally alert and not sleepy, that I had ridden over 250 miles- uphill the whole way- in what appeared to be a shear cliff rock canyon on each side of my 2 lane. I was assured by a fellow rider nodding his head across from me that he too had been in that same canyon although not uphill. I asked him if he passed through a couple tunnels and with wide eyes he admitted 'yes'. Now all this took place in Florida mind you. So if you write me off you have to write him off too. Now that I have 'fessed up, I'm changing my name, moving to the tropics, & growing a beard. Like "Diogenes" I'm looking for an honest biker Does anyone out there have the guts to admit that they have at times been to Buttland",and are willing to share that experience? Even with all that I wouldn't trade that ride for anything. We are so fortunate that we have people with the organizational skills and willingness to serve like Jason Jonas,that it makes it so easy for the rest of us to just ride until our eyes slit. Thanks Alan, Jason et.al. Tim Yow #12063 Charleston,Illinois '01 GW 1800
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