Border to Border Insanity Iron Butt Ride

[dcarver]

Bah! Since I've yet to send in my paperwork from Ian's SSK and my subsequent BB, I'm out on this one (unless someone has some pull with Kneebone & Co. Wink, wink.)
Sniff.

Just for you TWN, I sent Mike Kneebone a request today for certificates for us to be handed out on site upon successful completion of the ride and he says no problem!! :yahoo:

I will need to organise a suitable end witness for this though and have just the person in mind.



Your not getting out of it that easy TWN.

UhRoh, TWN's just been called out on the carpet... and no 'Work is too busy' excuse will work either... Maybe the bike is ticking or something? Me, I'm just a Candy Butt Association wimp and admit it! Go TWN, Go TWN, Go TWN!!!!

 

[turbodave_98]

Hay Dave, I've been sitting here patiently waiting for you and Hal to get around to doing this ride. Count me in. :hyper:

Steve, You are counted as a player and that is great news!! :yahoo:

 

[twowheelnut]

Bah! Since I've yet to send in my paperwork from Ian's SSK and my subsequent BB, I'm out on this one (unless someone has some pull with Kneebone & Co. Wink, wink.)
Sniff.

Just for you TWN, I sent Mike Kneebone a request today for certificates for us to be handed out on site upon successful completion of the ride and he says no problem!! :yahoo:

I will need to organise a suitable end witness for this though and have just the person in mind.



Your not getting out of it that easy TWN.

You 'Da Man'! :good:

Blocking schedule in pencil...

 

[tcfjr]

Okay - I'm in too.

S&T has the shortest route from Calexico to Sweetgrass at 1420 miles. For those of us wanting to also do a BBG, we can: [a] use a longer route (via Barstow, maybe?); continue further on into Canada (but Lethbridge isn't far enough, and Calgary is too far); or [c] after checking in at Coutts, AB, turn back around and return to Great Falls.

 

[turbodave_98]

Okay - I'm in too.
S&T has the shortest route from Calexico to Sweetgrass at 1420 miles. For those of us wanting to also do a BBG, we can: [a] use a longer route (via Barstow, maybe?); continue further on into Canada (but Lethbridge isn't far enough, and Calgary is too far); or [c] after checking in at Coutts, AB, turn back around and return to Great Falls.

Brian, glad you want to join. FYI, I have looked at the way to get at 1500 while going for it in the last portion of the route. Check south of Sweetgrass on I 15 for Shelby. Highway 2 runs east& west and looks like a good option to buildup some miles before the border to equal more than 1500. This late option IMHO would only be used if there was sufficient time left to still rack up the 1500 and arrive at Sweetgrass with 24 hrs.


Please PM me if you want to share a few more things. Again, willl be good to have you along.

 

[kaitsdad]

Okay - I'm in too.
S&T has the shortest route from Calexico to Sweetgrass at 1420 miles. For those of us wanting to also do a BBG, we can: [a] use a longer route (via Barstow, maybe?); continue further on into Canada (but Lethbridge isn't far enough, and Calgary is too far); or [c] after checking in at Coutts, AB, turn back around and return to Great Falls.

Brian, glad you want to join. FYI, I have looked at the way to get at 1500 while going for it in the last portion of the route. Check south of Sweetgrass on I 15 for Shelby. Highway 2 runs east& west and looks like a good option to buildup some miles before the border to equal more than 1500. This late option IMHO would only be used if there was sufficient time left to still rack up the 1500 and arrive at Sweetgrass with 24 hrs.


Please PM me if you want to share a few more things. Again, willl be good to have you along.

 

 


Just a thought, gents, has anyone thought about doing JUST the B2BI on the way up, then doing the BBG on the way back?

 


Different days, different rides?

 


Might be kinda fun! Kinda like a root canal !! :blink:

 


I'm up for it - we could do a BBG to east Texas or Arkansas - and then flowersniff it back home from there ?

 


OR - (I'm gonna get in trouble for this, cause someone will want to do it) BBG to Ozone, Arkansas, then the next day, BBG back to Los Angeles. Back to Back BBG's? (Ozone, cause I've got three uncles that live there, and would put us all up - and they'd make real good witnesses.)

 

 

 


:evilsmiley03:

 


You have to admit - it would make for an interesting week ...

 

[kaitsdad]

OK - Here's the player list:

TurboDave_98

BlueStreak

Skyway

SkooterG

TcFJR

Kaitsdad

If this ain't correct, let me know- anyone else decides to do this, please let us know immediately.

(START, ride, ride, ride, ride, put in gas, ride, ride, ride, ride, put in gas, ride, ride, ride, ride, put in gas, repeat, repeat, repeat, FINISH)

 

[twowheelnut]

OK - Here's the player list:
TurboDave_98

BlueStreak

Skyway

SkooterG

TcFJR

Kaitsdad

If this ain't correct, let me know- anyone else decides to do this, please let us know immediately.

(START, ride, ride, ride, ride, put in gas, ride, ride, ride, ride, put in gas, ride, ride, ride, ride, put in gas, repeat, repeat, repeat, FINISH)

Tentative. I need to figger out my production schedule in that time frame...

 

[Minuteman]

B) Hey guys if I can get my passport in time . I would like to tag along. Am going to get the accelerated form for a additional $80, they say it takes 3 to 5 weeks for that and regular access is 6 to 8 weeks for $97. Have a appointment for tomorrow, will see what happens. Dave sent me the route time sheet. 6am start time in Calexico, hope traffic is okay. I have a friend that worked in Calexico and he says sometimes it took him 2 hours to get threw the traffic to the California side. ?

Hope everything works out.. Dan in Yucaipa.

 

[RenoJohn]

OK guys.

This has been in my head --as I've been wanting to get a B2B in this year and your plans perhaps tie in perfect with another ride that I'm doing.

Late this month heading down to Mexico for a large ride. This time going all the way down. Coming back, I will be hitting Mazatlan around March 10th (+/-). My buddies will be taking a boat over to Baja but I did this last year and If I'm to join this B2B ride I'll skip the time on the boat and just aim north toward Calexico. I'll try to put some good riding in on this stretch ...and there are a few pockets that I haven't hit in previous trips that I may be able to do if I go this way.

So, as you can see, this B2B ties in perfectly with my trip. That assumes you're still on for departure of the 13th?? That would work perfect for me.

As far as 24hours, I *might* be a bit challenged on that as me and the bike will be set up in "Adventure Touring Mode" and not "LD mode" (dualsport tires, tequilla, sombrero etc.....) However, if I was to bet, I think I'll knock this B2B out in 24hours irregardless. If not i'll be close behind.

I'm also not positive if I'll be OK on tires. The roads down there are not always easy on tires especially when I put on my "spirited" riding pace ...so I may not have the tread left to put on another 2K+miles when I hit the border. Other than the tire issue, I don't see any reason I can't knock this out and put a wonderful exlamation point at the end of this trip.

As I was thinking out loud, I put a very generic route map together. Doesn't show much of what I'll do in Mexico nor is it necessarily "the" route to Canada, ...but good enough for a rough idea of what I'll be doing:

First thing is to confirm date you guys are heading leaving Calexico ...and then I need to possibly put some thoughts in place -maybe send some fresh rubber and tire irons down south to have waiting for me -perhaps some cooler weather gear as well.

BTW: leaving Reno on March 29, will be averaging 500miles/day while south of the border. Perfect for seeing enough yet riding enough.

Please confirm the date out of Calexico. I WILL NOt cross the border until after the start of the B2B ....so if anyone wants to do a mexico style pre-ride kick-off party with me south of the border ............(we'll save those details for another thread LOL LOL)

...renojohn (ps: like the way I just invited myself?)

 

[turbodave_98]

OK guys.
Please confirm the date out of Calexico. I WILL NOt cross the border until after the start of the B2B ....so if anyone wants to do a mexico style pre-ride kick-off party with me south of the border ............(we'll save those details for another thread LOL LOL)

...renojohn (ps: like the way I just invited myself?)

The plan is to depart the Mexico side of the border on the morning of 13 April.

 

[RenoJohn]

The plan is to depart the Mexico side of the border on the morning of 13 April.

Dave, thanks much for confirming ...that date works great for me and is an important key to whether I'd be able to do this. Amazing the timing of this.
count me in at 80% and my plan is to have that to 95% in the next week or two. this is extremely exciting for me as it turns my trip into an awesome one and it allows me to get the BB(I?) in that I was hoping to do this season ...and i can do it more or less on the way home!

Been working on pushing up my route/schedule to accomodate this. I will plan on getting to Mexicali mid-day on Thursday the 12th. I'll be getting a descent motel so that I can have me and the bike fresh for early friday morning. If anyone wants to join me down there I will be making motel accomodations before I leave. Pretty much the only ones I'm making ahead of time for the whole trip, but I want to have everything in place that night and not be screwing around. IF anyone wants to share room or if anyone wants me to reserve more rooms I'll be glad to do it. I see only upside in being in Mexico that morning and heading north. Border town like that you shouldn't need anything to get across into mexico.

I'm working on, and think I have a plan in place to get fresh rear rubber near Guadalajara. this will be confirmed in the next day or two. ...so that means I don't have to baby tires during any part of the trip and gives me much higher confidence that I can do B2B in under 24 -as your route appears mostly easy slab with plenty of gas so I won't have to worry about MPG (no aux fuel this trip) and/or burning up an old tire. (in other words I can set brisk pace if need be)

Like I said, leaving reno early the 29th(march) ...if there is anything that I can do to help assist with the B2B fun between now and then, ...please let me know. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity. Thanks much ...renojohn

 

[kaitsdad]

Me, I'm just a Candy Butt Association wimp and admit it! Go TWN, Go TWN, Go TWN!!!!

We'll see if we can change that at WFO6 - .....

 

[sgoat]

I'm wishing all participants in this B2B attempt nothing but success, but don't you think the April 13th liftoff might be a bit early for the northern portion of the ride? There's still another 4 to 6 weeks of winter possible (don't ask me how I know) on upper 1/3 of that route. I've got a B2B planned from Juarez to points north via I-25 (mostly) the 2nd week of June. Not too hot in Wazoo and not too cold in Canada. At least that's the plan. Good luck on your ride!

 

[RenoJohn]

Well, I’m up to 93.1415% at this point on being able to do this. It seems that I’ve secured a rear tire that will be waiting for me in Guadalajara. I’m also pushing “up” my route a bit as I hadn’t initially planned to get to the border that soon. Also I had planned to cross in AZ not CA so extra mileage going west.

I’ve made reservations in Mexicali for Thursday the 12th at the Hotel Colonial Mexicali. I’ll stay there to avoid the hassle of having to cross the border three times (which I’d have to do if if I spent the night in Calexico). Got a room with two beds if anyone has any desire to get across the border the night before.

May seem like I’m overzealous in my planning, but I kind of have to get things lined up before I leave -and lots to do between now and then.

My next concern is traveling light, yet having enough gear for both the very warm climate of the Yucatan and likely real cold/foul weather in Montana. I’m not intimately familiar with that area but I’d bet that the previous poster is correct that we can expect some cold and we may need a tad bit of luck with Ms. Mother Nature.

I may see if one of you would want to bungee my ‘stich to your bike and carry it down to the border? I could send it to you ahead of time and it would work well for the B2B portion of my trip. That would save me having to lug it around for two weeks where I won’t be using it.

Curious how many are going for 24hours? I plan on *attempting* that. As far as making sure 1500miles for a BBG, no harm in that, but I’m less concerned about that than I am about the B2B.

Either way I’ll be sleeping Saturday in Sweetgrass or nearby …..wonder if anyone has suggestions on place to stay? I’ll start to Reno on Sunday and make a two-day ride out of it.

….renoJuan

 

[tcfjr]

I may see if one of you would want to bungee my 'stich to your bike and carry it down to the border? I could send it to you ahead of time and it would work well for the B2B portion of my trip. That would save me having to lug it around for two weeks where I won't be using it.

Seńor Juan:

A late change in my work schedule forced me to drop out of the actual B2Bi, but I will be in Calexico as one of the start witnesses. Since I'll be lightly loaded anyway, I can bring your Stitch down if you'd like.

 

[RenoJohn]

Seńor Juan:
A late change in my work schedule forced me to drop out of the actual B2Bi, but I will be in Calexico as one of the start witnesses. Since I'll be lightly loaded anyway, I can bring your Stitch down if you'd like.

Gosh, sorry to hear that you won't be heading north. How nice to have a solid start witness though! What a treat that will be ...I had already imagined securing ride-start signatures etc and what a calamity that could possibly be.So very nice of you to offer to bring cold-weather gear down. I think it likely that I'll take you up on that. Thanks

we'll work out the simple details in the next week or two.

Thanks again ...Juan('and only' LOL LOL)in reno

 

[FJRocket]

Seńor Juan:
A late change in my work schedule forced me to drop out of the actual B2Bi, but I will be in Calexico as one of the start witnesses. Since I'll be lightly loaded anyway, I can bring your Stitch down if you'd like.

Gosh, sorry to hear that you won't be heading north. How nice to have a solid start witness though! What a treat that will be ...I had already imagined securing ride-start signatures etc and what a calamity that could possibly be.So very nice of you to offer to bring cold-weather gear down. I think it likely that I'll take you up on that. Thanks

we'll work out the simple details in the next week or two.

Thanks again ...Juan('and only' LOL LOL)in reno

How hard would it be to ship the 'Stich to your Mexicali hotel? Muy Expensioso?

 

[RenoJohn]

How hard would it be to ship the 'Stich to your Mexicali hotel? Muy Expensioso?

I had thought of that, and perhaps others know better than I do ...but seems to be a PIA to ship accross the border. I'd have to do it before I leave on the trip, which leaves a few weeks for it to get there (I'd not know for sure when) and then I'd have to coordinate with the motel to hold it for me ..which they likey would. I'd have to assume that it would be waiting for me when I get there ..but what if it isn't?. Then I don't have it for the trip, and I'm curious if it got lost/stolen ...or will show up later and then I have to attempt to coordinate getting it shipped back. Just thoughts I've had ...all combined it just turns into a PIA. for that much trouble I could lug my cold weather gear around for a few weeks in Mexico. I may do this anyway, it depends on how much room I have ...trying to go really light last year. Last year I took waaay too much.