My Mother’s Day Iron Butt Ride – Is 1500 Miles In 24 Hours Even Possible?

I got "the itch" last week to again test what I was made of and I think I found out.  I mean, is riding 1500 miles in 24 hours even possible?  The "Iron Butt Association" considers this ride one of a handful that are labeled as "extreme" even by their standards.  But it was obviously possible because it's been done, but, not by many.  So, how deep would I have to dig down to achieve this goal and could I even do it...because to be honest, I wasn't entirely sure but there was only one way to find out.

I wanted to leave from Windsor when I got off work Saturday but first I had to get a new back tire and then put it back on which takes time I really didn't have and geesh, I just put a rear tire on 5 months ago.  So I took the wheel off earl Saturday and dropped it off at A Righteous Ride on my way to work to get the tire changed out and was going to put it on when I got off at 2 and then ride out but putting a rear tire on by yourself and then adjusting it is very time consuming so my friend Kenny {Bagger} helped me out and came from Loveland while I was on the air to pick up my tire and slam it back on my bike so I could roll after adjusting it when I got home.  THANKS BAGGER

I left about 3:07pm with Bagger escorting me to I-25 where I headed south on yet another adventure: The goal, ride outside Las Vegas and then turn around and come home.

1500 miles in 24 hours...how hard could it be?

The ride was off to a good start and before I knew it Vail, Grand Junction and Green River had come and gone and things were right on schedule and I figured I would have an hour or more to spare when this ride was over.   I even had some fun on the CB with two big rig tow trucks who started chattering "old man vs. kid" smack;  the old guy was in the lead with the old truck and the kid was behind him in a brand new one.  So I jumped on the mic after listening and laughing to their conversation because I wanted to know about gas stops west of Green River {none for 110 miles...glad I asked}  Here is how the conversation went:

{Were going up a hill and they are getting passed by a mini van at this point after running 85 when I caught up to them}

Young Guy:  You need me to give you a push old man?

Old Man:  Might have to Fred Flintstone it here.  She ain't got much left.

Young Guy:  Ya, but a mini van?  I mean come on.  {Hahaha, cackle, hehehehe}

Old Man:  {Can't repeat it}

Me:  Who cares what it is as long as he's doing 90.  I refer to him as bear bait, over

Old Guy: Who the hell is that?

Young Guy:  Gotta be that biker behind me and 10-4 on that bait!

Me:  Roger that

Old Guy:  First damn time I talked to a biker on the radio.

Young Guy:  Hahaha, chuckle, heheheh  {Why do people crack a mic to laugh?}

Me:  Well, you can check that off your bucket list, c'mon

Young Guy:  Hell, he don't even know what one is  {hahahha, cackle dackle, hehehe}

Old Guy:  {Can't repeat it but it was the same sentiment as the previous one}

{We are over the hill now and back to running at a reaaaal good clip}

Me:  You guys mind if I run with you,  I like your pace

Young Guy:  Copy that.

Old Guy:  Jump on here two wheeler and let's move.

Me: {In my best Hank Hill voice} By golly it looks like we got us a convoy...I'll you what

Young Guy:  Hahahaha, cackle cackle, giggle, hehehehe

And that was that for the next 50+ miles into Green River.  Then the sun went down...

Let me state that I wear thermals everyday of the week during the cold months but after seeing the forecast along the route I figured I wouldn't need them, I can pack them away for the year; wrong decision.  Someone forgot to tell Utah it was summer...

Once I got to Salina UT from Green River UT {110 miles of nothing, literally and not for the faint hearted} it started to get really cold so I put on everything I had and I realized I was in trouble because it was plainly not going to be enough and this ride was in jeopardy.  It was getting much colder and I knew in a few hours I would have to ride back through with even colder temps in the early morning hours.

So it finally dawned on me that I had my rain gear with me and it's not cool biker gear, it's hardcore, thick, green vinyl that would stop acid rain but I knew it was just the ticket! So somewhere between Salina UT and New Harmony UT I pulled over to the side of the road and pulled it on right over my leathers.

Did I care what I looked like?   No, and that will come into play later.

Life was good at this point and I was actually warm.  I felt good, motor humming along and tunes coming from the iPod that brought back all the good memories.  Once I rolled through St George UT and into Arizona you could tell how much warmer it was getting but taking off the rain pants is a major ordeal and also time consuming and time was one thing not on my side! So I elected to take off my head gear etc so I didn't have to stop and keep rolling all the way into Nevada knowing I would have to put it all back on again.

So I rolled into Mesquite Nevada about 2:30AM it was like 70...people at the store walking around in flops, shorts and t-shirts if that.  I can't imagine what I looked like with a million stars in the sky, 190 degrees and I am in full leather AND a goofy {non-cool-biker} rainsuit.

Well, "tool" comes to mind and I wanted to explain to everyone staring what I was doing and there was a reason for it but like I said earlier, I just didn't have the time so I would have to let the snickers go on.  After all, no one knew who I was so what did I care!

That was where I made the mistake and was wrong...

Since this was the half way point in my ride I wanted to get a "witness" to state that I was actually there {in addition to my gas receipt} so the store clerk inside was the obvious choice.  I explained what I was doing and if would fill out my form with his address and phone number.  After I assured him this was no scam he filled out my form and it dawned on me that I had a business card with me so I put it on the counter so he could see I was someone who couldn't hide easily and he could even check on me to make sure I was who I was.

He looked at the card and said "No Way," your Charley Barnes?  It was at this point the tables had turned and I was looking at him like he was the freak and/or mocking me but he was dead serious. Come to find out he and his wife have relatives/friends in Fort Collins and they love country so they listen to K99 every time they are here and knew of us well.

WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

So we shook hands, he signed my forms, bought my coffee and I was on my way.  All this taking place in 7 minutes.  Remember when I said earlier about "no one knowing me."  I rode out of town and it dawned on me that I left a little "coolness" behind in Mesquite when off ALL places, someone did know me and "the geek" who stopped in early Sunday morning.

It was indeed another great ride and gave me a really good indication of what my limitations were and are. Would I do this particular ride again?  Yes, but not solo...haha

I got back into Greeley and officially logged out of the ride at 2:27pm leaving only 40 minutes to spare.  {If I knew I had that much spare time I would have ditched the geeky rain gear in Arizona somewhere}  I took a nice long shower and them took my beautiful Mother out for a nice Mother's Day dinner.

Finally hit the living room about 6pm and I'm not sure if it was because I spent the last 22.5 hours sitting on my motorcycle or the fact that Rambo III just started but one thing was for sure: It was "lights out" on another great adventure!

• Greeley - 3:07pm
• Vail - 5:25pm
• Grand Junction - 7:52pm
• Green River UT - 9:20pm
• Salina UT - 11:00pm
• New Harmony UT - 1:30am
• Mesquite NV - 2:34am {Half Way Point}
• Cedar City UT - 4:20am
• Salina UT - 6:22am
• Crescent Junction UT - 8:15am
• Palisade - 9:44am
• Frisco - 12:16pm
• Greeley - 2:28pm