MTF 50/100CC Iron Butt Association Ride
Michael Glass & Viktoria Juodenaite
100CCC Ride Report March 2003
Part 6
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MTF 50/100CC Iron Butt Association Ride
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March 11th
THE ROAD BACK TO JUNCTION (WEST T0 EAST)
As we leave San Diego the sleep issue is very much on our mind. With only 10
hours of sleep in the last three days, we want to build as much sleep as
possible into the remaining two days of the ride. At the same time, too much
time sleeping and we will not achieve our goal of finishing the West-East leg in
49 hours.
It looked like this: 49 hours to finish the remaining 2,400 miles. Factoring in
a projected 20 gas stop, maybe another "relationship" stop, plus a two
to three-hour buffer for bad weather, traffic, breakdown, etc., that leaves us
four hours for sleep ,or anything else unexpected.
Instead of taking the sleep all at once, I thought we’d try for a 4PM,
half-hour nap to coincide with my normal afternoon energy dip. By 3PM I was
feeling tired so we pulled into the Marene, Arizona McDonalds.
I had Vik order some food so we wouldn’t look like vagrants and set the Meanie
for 30 minutes. I put my head down on the ground but couldn’t fall asleep.
However, the rest did some good – or, maybe it was the BigMac I ate
afterwards, and we pushed on refreshed, spending the afternoon chasing rabbits.
You deserve a break today.
OK. Break over (Photo by Viktoria)
No sleep but the rest did some good – or, maybe it was the BigMac I ate afterwards, and we pushed on refreshed, spending the afternoon chasing rabbits.
White Rabbit ahead. It seemed most of
our bunnies were white -- and either vans or SUVs.(Photo by Viktoria)
I think it was somewhere in New Mexico or
Texas that the night temperature kept changing from warm to cold to warm again.
It was really strange as the temps alternated as much as twenty degrees in
minutes depending on how much heat was being reflected from surrounding
structures: 
.
It was also here that we stopped losing maps and charts and started losing
gloves. First it was one of my Gerbings, later one of Vik’s , then another of
mine. With the Gerbing’s gone, I alternated between one remaining winter glove
and no gloves, depending on what the temperature was that second. I think I was
driving Vik crazy with the gloves as she was helping with the changes. Finally,
Vik solved the problem by dropping the remaining glove!
It’s now 3AM and we’re near Ozona, Texas. All of a sudden Vik asks why I’m
driving so slow and funny. "What do you mean Vik," as I look at the
speedo and realize I’m doing 50 mph on a straight and empty highway.
For some reason this seemed very funny and I started to laugh and Vik started to
laugh and neither of us could stop laughing.
Before the ride I had made a commitment to both Vik and myself that this would
be above all a safe ride. That meant staying on the safe side of the "zonk"
zone, even if it meant not finishing on time. I think I was approaching the zonk
zone if not in it already.
Gasping for air from laughing, I told Vik we might not make it to Junction that
night and that she should start looking for a motel on her Road Wiz. The RoadWiz
is kind of poor man’s GPS that we’d picked up for about thirty bucks at a
truck stop. You punch in the state, highway and mile marker, and the Road Wiz
gives you all kinds of information like mileage to destination, gas stations,
motels, etc.
Anyway, flashlight in one hand, Road Wiz in the other, Vik punches in the
information and informs me that there aren’t any motels for the next 100
miles. This starts us both laughing again as I try to keep the Busa in a
straight line.
Then Vik made me a couple of wild promises that I’m sure she had not intention
of keeping -- if only I would stay awake long enough to reach the Junction
Day’s Inn!
While tempted by her enticements, for the first time on a bike I felt close to
falling asleep at the wheel. We pulled off at the next exit looking for a place
to sleep. About two minutes later we spot the Motel from Hell.
It’s kind of hard to describe this place but let’s just say at first we
weren’t sure whether this place was open for business or had been closed for
years.
We check in and head for the room. On the way we noticed two bikes parked nearby
– a Honda ST1100 and a Wing. It was hard to believe that anyone else would
actually plan on staying here.
Later we would read Wayne Doyle’s ride report, the owner of the ST1100. He and
his partner, Bob Coffland, were doing the East-West 50cc. Like ourselves, they
had also pulled off the road from fatigue.
Wayne describes the establishment this way: the worst place I have ever
stayed in… the roof tiles were pulling away and hanging due to the previous
rains, the carpet smelled of dampness."
Carrying on like a bunch of goofy kids we stagger into the room. I push Vik
through the door and she pushes me onto bed which I miss and land on the floor.
Vik pulls me up and I notice a greenish goo glob on the dresser glimmering in
the parking lot lights. Not to disturb whatever life forms may be lurking
inside, we respectfully leave the lights off, and immediately zonk out still in
our ride outfits. Three hours later the Meanie wakes us up.
The morning scene is best described in Wayne’s ride report.
Well I could not believe what I saw next, the guy was laying all his gear on
the ground and in a daze said hello and asked me what time it was…the next
thing I know he has a pillion on the back of that crocth rocket! A beautiful
blonde who I know for sure has been laying on his back since San Diego, this guy
had to be the strongest man and he could not have been any bigger than I am.
Needless to say Bob and I headed out leaving him in the parking lot getting
ready!
Daze or no daze, it was time to leave Ozona and make the final push for
Jacksonville. We had 1300 miles to go and only 24 hours left. The forecast was
thunderstorms most of way.
While anything but a cake walk so far, in the next 24 hours Vik and I would come
to fully understand why they call this ride the 100ccc Insanity.
