1. Key West...'Iron Butt'

[Klattu]

Back in February/March
Key West to Lincoln, Alabama
Photos here....
http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.p ... =iron+butt (http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=59563&highlight=iron+butt)

[Klattu]

The Challange... 1000 miles in 24 hours.
Had to start somewhere... Key West or San Antonio?
Both are about 1000 miles away from home.
What a tough choice!
Coin toss...
Heads its Key West
Tails its not San Antonio...

Dang... Key West won out.
OK... have to ride down there to be able to start back, right?
Heres some photos to tell story.

http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265DSCF0081.JPGhttp://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265DSCF0082.JPG

http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265DSCF0098.JPG

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The 'Iron Butt' return trip starts here...

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Almost glad I did not know how cold it was Tuesday night.

No Tickets
No Radar
No Gun... I did plan to bring one, forgot.

Crused between 80 and 90 until turning off of 75 to go thru Everglades.
Started site seeing from then and enjoyed slow ride.

Lots of wind burn from Key Largo to Key West riding with helmet flipped up.
Dummy

Capri Suns, narly bars and vacuum fruit bowls packed everywhere.

Never needed fuel can, glad was there.

Had to plug tire upon arrival at camp site.
So lucky I saw it while taking photo.

Trip was great going down and even 'Iron Butt' return was not a problem with miles or hours.
Winter blast from Valdosta thru Atlanta and on to Talladega was insane!
Wind gust and freezing temps made that part an endurance test.
Jumped in the hot tub as soon as boots came off!

Next time I want to SWEAT!

Thanks for your advice on Highway 1...
You are reason I started out at 2am, to avoid traffic, and get thru Miami before rush hour.

Red is trip down...
Green is return 'Iron Butt'

http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265map1.gif

http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265map2.gif

With all of the time you spent stopping and taking pictures how did you get done in time?
The 1800 VTX has a built in time compressor.
http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265DSCF0118-med.JPG

How does the iron butt calculations work? Is it 24 hours actual riding time or 24 hours from start to finish?
You decide the start time by your first fuel ticket.
The 1000 miles must be completed within 24hours of that beginning time.
Witnesses are required at beginning and end.
They must also see your odometer.
Record mileage on each fuel ticket along the way also.
My side trips thru Cocoa Beach and Daytona did not take much time,
Probably 4 hours total.

What campground did you stay at in Key West?
Boyd's Key West Campground
6401 Maloney Ave (off McDonalds)
Key West, Fl 33040
(305) 294.1465
$60 water front tent
www.boydscampground.com (http://www.boydscampground.com)
Swimming pool, Tiki hut with TV, boat launch, concrete pads for motorhomes.

Everglades was...
Skunkape Campgrounds
$12 tent, $15 camper
Just south of Everglades City on 41

Kept camera around neck and most shots were on the run.
Took it off after Jacksonville, that is why lack of photos after that, plus dark set in.
This is a small sample of the over 200 photos taken.
My only complant whole trip was sore neck from camera strap.
Seat was not even in top 10 as a limit to ride distance.
Backrest was tried for first time on this 2300 mile run, I noticed main difference was the way it made me sit up.
Not just back support, it made me want to press back on it instead of hunching over.

There is another Key West campground...
Leo's
http://www.leoscampground.com/
They were full, so Boyd's won out.

Next time...
Ear plugs (for trip, not camp)
Maybe a taller windshield
SUNSCREAN!!!! (zinc) I have a very red clown face
Eye drops
PayDay candy bar, they do not melt
More empty space for souvenirs

Plan your ride a scenic one and you will be pumped enough to make many more miles than you think.
Early morning starts are the best when you see the sunrising!
And you have already put away a few hundred miles.

Be flexable on your route...
Traffic jam @mm25 on Georgia 75 cost about 45min of valuable sunshine, I used it to practice slow speed balance.

[Klattu]

To DevilDogger...

Great road...and fuel is available many places.
I brought a 1 gallon can with me, and never needed it.

You have choosen a great time of year to make your trip.

Camping or motels?
Everglades city has both.
Make reservations for motels.

I got off of 75 where it turns into a toll road.
Made good time to that point, as was what I wanted, and enjoyed the senic ride from then on.
Be sure to wear sunscreen.

Make a lot of sidetrips while in the Everglades and be sure to start early.
Stop off at the headquarters too.

This is Hwy 41... very good road.
http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/3265DSCF0125.JPG

[ironmorph]

Great trip! thanks for the photos. I am planning a BBG 1500 in April and I'm not sure if I can make good enough time through Key West and Back, therfore, I may just hike it North for that trip. 8)

[Klattu]

Good idea not to include Key West in a loop for IB.
I started there on a Tuesday at 2am to avoid the 100 miles of two lane traffic.
There is a streach that is 25 mph and they mean it!
Small deer of some kind.

If you use interstate for 75% of a 1000 mile Iron Butt, you can chose some nice 2 lanes for the other 25%.

But not for a 1500, probably all interstate.

Going thru the Everglades was nice, not too slow.

[ironmorph]

Thanks, that is what I figured. I have been down many times, but I never went timed , and the BBG is a get it type of run, so I guess it's to the highway north of here. 8)