Border to Border Insanity run - One DNF

[kaitsdad]

Hey, everyone !!

I just spoke with Turbo and Blue - and they did it !!

Border was at 20 hours - then west to Cardston and east to Lethbridge for 1520 miles - BBG.

They're in really good spirits - tired and beat up - but in good shape. Ya hafta keep in mind that this started at 8:00 PM - so they'd been up all day prior to starting.

They're a bit cooked.

I'll do a formal ride report later on once everyone's back home - and I get all the pics together.

Way To Go dudes !!!

And to everyone out there wishing me well -

Thanks. This forum is amazing. You're all good peeps. :yahoo:

 

[dcarver]

Pretty cool! Congrats to all three of you! Hal, you had some bad luck, but you tried. And to stay with the team, reporting back to all us.. very cool.

 

[twowheelnut]

Sweet!

 

[GunMD]

Just another example of the wonderful folks you meet here on "the" forum.

Congrats to ya'll. Glad you made it.

Wow...WFO is gonna ROCK!

 

[turbodave_98]

Hey, everyone !!
I just spoke with Turbo and Blue - and they did it !!

Border was at 20 hours - then west to Cardston and east to Lethbride for 1520 miles - BBG.

They're in really good spirits - tired and beat up - but in good shape. Ya hafta keep in mind that this started at 8:00 PM - so they'd been up all day prior to starting.

They're a bit cooked.

I'll do a formal ride report later on once everyone's back home - and I get all the pics together.

Way To Go dudes !!!

And to everyone out there wishing me well -

Thanks. This forum is amazing. You're all good peeps. :yahoo:

Dateline: Lethbridge Alberta Canada

First, I must honestly say that the FJR Forum folks are the best biking people I have ever known in all my riding years since 1955.

When BlueStreek and I crossed at Sweetgrass Mt into Alberta, we were met by BarelyFlying, great to see an old friend from the forum there to witness the completion of the 1425 mile B2B Insanity ride. We then got our receipt for the B2B and began the last 100 miles to complete the BBG Insanity run that we completed at Lethbridge Alberta. While in the last 40 miles of the BBG run, Kasey joined us on here mint faster 03 silver bike. After getting our receipt to close out the BBG and to get some ride weary legs able to standup, we returned to the Comfort Inn in Lethbride. What a fantastic surprise we had upon stopping there. FastJoyRide(Dave) and his pillion, Sylvia were also there to greet us and congratulate Blue & I on the ride. Dave also certified as the second witness. It is impossible for me to express how humbled Blue and I were to see those folks at the end. We finished cleaning up and then all had drinks/dinner together and those great folks picked up the tab. What a great gift from them. Bareflying and FastJoyRides rode several hundred miles from their respective homes to assist us in the signoffs.

As Hal had said, Bob & Heidi Still were gracious enough to come to the Mexican border at Yuma and certify our departure. It was a pleasure to meet both of those 2005 IBR finishers. Thanks to both of them.

Also, Beeroux was very helpful in guiding us to the use of the Algodones Border crossing near Yuma. Thanks Brother George!!

The ride had its ups and downs. The biggest disappointment is that Hal got struck by the bug which made it impossible for him to continue. IMHO, Hal being a smart man and a great friend, made the right decision to abort. Safety and personal care is paramount always. But with all the prep for the ride, its a HUGE BUMMER that Hal could not finish. But there is always tomorrow for another ride.

The prime upper on the ride is that it was done without any machine problems and safely. We rode hard and planned thoroughly but fate hit Hal, sXit!!

Our route was north on US 95 north from Algodones Mexico to Las Vegas(nice secondary roads but in 100+ temps before midnight). We got to Vegas in about 5 hrs then hit I 5 North to the Canada/US border at Sweetgrass. We then really starting eating up the miles but not the clock. Our S&T flight plan for the border was 21+45mins or so. Blue and I made it in 19hours +50 or so minutes(GPS average speed for the B2B almost 69mph). Needless to say the slab, legal 75mph speedlimit(with a 10mph bump) and radar made for a fast ride.Due to Hal's situation he pulled out at Cedar City UT and went to Beaver for R&R, smart move!!

As Hal said, we made the ride and are resting today, at least I am. Steve is outriding some more with Barely Flying. My ole Vintage body is in recoup mode from being up 36 straight hours prior and doing the ride.

Blue and I will leave on Sunday to go back to our homes. We will take some fun roads and take it easy. Picutres were taken and will be posted.

Enough for now, gona go take a nap. :yahoo:

 

[madmike2]

Congratulations, Dave & Steve!!! :yahoo: :clapping:

 

[TheAxeman]

Excellent job guys! Congratulations on a job well done. Its good to hear you made it safely without to many bumps in the road.... :clapping:

 

[turbodave_98]

Congratulations, Dave & Steve!!! :yahoo: :clapping:

MM2 & Axeman, thanks for the congrats. Hope to see you in Park City end of July.

 

[Indian Scout]

Congratulations,

Have a safe enjoyable ride home.

Scout

 

[Bearly Flying]

I headed down to Coutts to meet TurboDave and Bluestreak Friday morning, I had caught Hal's post on his misfortunes before I left.

Fueled up and headed out, merged into traffic on the QE 2, set my speed a bit faster than the traffic flow, working my way through traffic I saw another bike up ahead, well I guess He saw me too cause I heard him crank that Harley from a half a mile back. He cranked it up to about 140 kph (87 mph) His pipes saving lives left, right and centre. I contentedly followed the thundering noise about 1/4 mile behind. Run Rabbit Run.... Gotta give him credit, he kept it up for about 10 miles before the Ape Hangers wore him out. See you Later Dude.

Backed off the speed for awhile, then Mr Nissan Titan comes barreling along, drop in behind him, back up to 140- 150 kph, Almost made it to Calgary, As we crested a hill, Mr Nissan hard on the brakes. Radar trap, Thank You very much. Sorry about your luck Mr Nissan.

Hit Calgary around noon, Deerfoot Trail is a Freaking Zoo, finally make it through and continue south on Hiway 2, Sky clouds up in the West

I play hide and seek with rain showers all the way to Lethbridge. Call Kasey on the cell as I get close to Lethbridge, She's tied up and can't make the border run, but will meet up later.

Pull into Coutts around 4:00 pm, park the bike alongside the security fence where I can see the crossing and hunker down to wait. Wind starts picking up and the temperature drops rapidly, hmmm, Big Ass Black Cloud coming in from the West. The rain hits and then the hail started. I fired up the bike and headed down the street to a big tree overhanging the sideway, drove up on the sidewalk and sat out the hailstorm, (Thank you Odot for your wisdom)

Some of the Hail is approaching baseball size and starts knocking small branches off Odot's tree

Finally the storm blows through, so I head back to my spot to watch the border crossing, a bunch of Semi Trailers have decided to block my view, so I head out to the Hiway and park on the first approach coming out of the border crossing.

A few minutes later just after 5:00 pm, here come a couple FJR's

After a brief stretch of the legs, we head up to Milk River to get Fuel and the receipts to finish off the Border to Border run.

TurboDave and Bluestreak need another 120 odd miles to complete the BBG 1500 (it's only 48 miles from Milk River to Lethbridge)

We head west out of Milk River on Secondary 501, a nice stretch of pavement with some sweepers to keep it interesting, heading towards Cardston. Kasey calls, she's heading out to meet up with us. A quick stop in Cardston for a fuel receipt

Start heading back toward Lethbridge, The idiot leading the group misses the turnoff from hiway 2 to hiway 5 but soon realizes his mistake, a quick U turn and we are headed in the right direction.

Come up over a hill and lo and behold another FJR sitting on an approach, Kasey on her 03, She drops into the line and we continue along. All of a sudden I glance in my mirror and see arms waving in the air.... WTF......Bluestreak comes on the radio.. Just completed 1500 miles...

Pull into Lethbridge and stop for fuel and receipts

The Motel was just right around the corner, We pull into the parking lot and FastJoyRide walks out to greet TurboDave and Bluestreak.

CONGRATULATIONS DAVE AND STEVE

 

[Groo]

Nice Skyway Cell on the back of that bike... did it work well?

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Conmgratulations Dave and Steve!!! Nice ride!!! Hal, you won't have trouble convincing people to go along on your next attempt

 

[RenoJohn]

[SIZE=24pt]Congrat's Dave and Steve ---NICE JOB!!![/SIZE]

Thanks for the updates and details ......Awesome accomplishment, and I like the smiles on those ugly mugs of yours ....those smiles say more than words can. Good job, good fun.

...renojohn

 

[odot]

Wonderful story. Great pics. You must be a safe ride leader since there were no crashs....unlike some other band camp leaders out there. wink wink, nudge nudge.

edit: Oh, yeah, trees....they serve many purposes. My grandma used to chew the mold off trees as some sort of tobacco.

 

[beeroux]

Brothers Dave and Steve!

Congrats on an awesome ride. Seeing you at the finish with those clouds and the damp ground, I can just smell the wet grass and feel the humidity both from the air and from my effort inside my jacket.

You guys inspire me to do this ride soon.

I'm bummed for you Hal. But I have a nice song for you that may help with your situation.

Like to hear it?

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Here it goes...

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Diarrhea ( squirt squirt ) Diarrhea

Some people think its funny but its nice and brown and runny

Diarrhea ( squirt squirt ) Diarrhea

Some people think its gross, but I like it on toast

Diarrhea ( squirt squirt ) Diarrhea

Just funnin' Hal, I really am bummed for you.

Congrats again to the Daring Duo and a big hand to all the witness's! Ya'll make us proud.

GZ

 

[FastJoyRide]

Syl and I got back to the barn about 10:30 last night, after a spirited ride with Bearly and Blue up Highway 22 north, then a drone back east across the great plains to Regina. Lots of electrical activity for the last 100 miles coming in, but never did put on the rain gear or get a drop of rain on us.

Around 1,000 miles rounder - good tuneup for our run to Park City later this month. Great to see you all - congrats again to Turbo and Blue - I want to be just like you when (if) I grow up! :lol:

 

[RoadGlide]

When I grow up I'm going to try that run. Sounds like a great route and as usual some of the best people around to assist. Congrats to the both of you.

 

[skyway]

Congratulations Dave and Steve, I knew you guys would pull it off. :yahoo: The photo's are inspiring and great to see. Thanks to everyone who took the time to make sure both riders were well taken care of. They are both precious cargo and are a long way from home. I'm sure their better halves are happy to hear they made it safe and sound.

So now that the B2B BBG is in the bag, what are you guys thinking of bagging next? :dribble:

Hal, sorry to hear you had to DNF the ride. I hope you're almost home safe and sound.

 

[dcarver]

Syl and I got back to the barn about 10:30 last night, after a spirited ride with Bearly and Blue up Highway 22 north, then a drone back east across the great plains to Regina. Lots of electrical activity for the last 100 miles coming in, but never did put on the rain gear or get a drop of rain on us.
Around 1,000 miles rounder - good tuneup for our run to Park City later this month. Great to see you all - congrats again to Turbo and Blue - I want to be just like you when (if) I grow up! :lol:

Very happy to hear you too made the mission safe and sound.. I knew when I first met ya that you were good peeps..

 

[kaitsdad]

I just want to say that I am honored that my experience would give rise to a published musician writing a song....... I think.

To all of you that wished me well - Thanks. Being able to read this post while holed up in Beaver was a blessing.

Quick update - I'm home. I figured I was good when I woke up Sunday morning - yes, still in Beaver - and I no longer had a fever.

So - I checked out and headed south at 07:00, which meant I hit Vegas and the 100+ heat around 11:00 AM. I basically limped my way home trying to stay cool and wet - so I was off the bike about every 45 minutes to an hour.

The traffic backup at the Nev/Cal inspection station was about 6 miles - and I have never been so thankful for lane sharing in California. This was the hottest part of the trip - I saw 111 on the bike at this point. 7 bars on the temp gauge - fans running - but the bike never skipped a beat.

There just ain't nothing like a Roadcrafter sometimes. Cooling vest underneath - ice in my suit - And I discovered another technique for cooling - you buy a cold 20 oz bottle of water - open it up, then shove it upside down between your suit top and your arm. It's very cool as it runs out your leg.

Got home about 3:30 PM Sunday.

Dave and Steve are still out there. I imagine we'll hear from them soon.

Be Safe, everyone, OK ?