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Key West Runners
Report
This is a date/time based log. Here is a matrix that goes straight to
different log entries
- General format of log entries:
- Local Time- Trip Mileage- Location
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Route Map |
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FEBRUARY 10, 2000
10:24- 0000 - Baltimore, MD
I left Thursday Morning, about 10:30 am, after checking things at work. My boss
signed off as my starting witness and I got my gas receipt at the Russell Street Exxon. What a truly
glorious winter day. I look forward to put as many miles under my butt as
possible before pulling over for some needed shut eye. Benny's got 5 bottles of
Gatorade (three frozen) and an extra gallon of drinking water. Not really
knowing what kind of temperature ranges I'll be dealing with other than the
weather forecast, aka the big crap shoot, I have both my complete summer and winter riding gear
filling the saddlebags.
Tooling down 95, a truly dreadful road, I lose the DC traffic below Stafford,
VA and nudge the speed up a few mph. The schedule was carefully built around
several key assumptions- the biggest was having a 54 mph speed made good.
Meeting or exceeding that magic number put me in Key West about 8 pm Friday
evening with a 6 hour rest layover. I realize, I don't need to speed, even
though I feel the "need for speed". It's very carefully explained in the IBA
Archives of Wisdom- speed essentially costs you miles by using more gas and
running the chance of being stopped. With a few notable exceptions, I stuck at
about 5 over the whole route.
Benny turns southwest at Petersburg on I-85, another dreadful road, but
different, as this is only my third time heading south on it.
Top
13:55- 0232 - South Hill, VA
I stop for gas and a stretch. Still haven't got my highway pegs- man I have to
send Craig N. the money. During my walk, I noted there's still a fair amount of
snow on the ground here, damn! Back on the road again, my goal for this leg is
to run the tank out as well. This strategy should put me ahead of schedule,
leaving more room for future error and traffic unknowns.
Top
17:05- 0434 - Charlotte, NC
Another gas stop. The CB has nothing but belly-aching truckers about the price
of fuel in Connecticut and New Jersey- one even claimed about paying $2.39 for
diesel in North Jersey; I decide to go to the CD player for a while- That 70's
Show "Jammin' ".
Still snow
on the ground here, only in shadows though and a lot less than a couple hours
ago. I feel pretty good, considering I'm just short of a third of the way to Key
West, and I'm on a BBG pace (1500/24=62.5mph). If I had the butt and I was in
better shape, that BBG doesn't look that undoable in the East after all (I always
thought it was a West thing- higher speed limits, less traffic).
Somewhere south of Charlotte, the snow disappears. It'll be another 3 days until I
see more.
Top
18:58- 0538 - Powdersville, SC
Dinner stop. At this point I am close to a hour ahead of the schedule, so I
choose to have a nice "sit down" meal- a grilled chicken sandwich and
Dr Pepper- this is the first caffeine I've had on the road and I love Dr Pepper.
Still on a BBG pace. I figure the rest stops will probably get more regular
(every 2 hours) and little longer (30 minutes instead of 20) now that the ride's
in full swing and I'm ahead of the schedule. I call home and talk to Jean for a
bit- every thing's fine there. Promise to call when I stop for the night.
Top
21:28- 0663 - Tucker, GA an Atlanta suburb
It's friggin' 9:30 at night and there is a ton of traffic out here. Man where
are all of these people going? (that's what Jean says when we're on the Beltway
after midnight) I flipped on the thermostat to the "#1" (base) setting on my
Widder in last leg. It's warmer here right now than I was in Baltimore when I
left, but without the sun, it feels colder. Finally got to see Atlanta- maybe
I'll stay longer next time. I "Get the Led Out" on my way around the
Atlanta "Bypass".
Top
22:45- 0736 - I-75/475 Rest Area just north of
Macon, GA
No longer on a BBG pace, real close though, I decide to pull over and tap a
kidney- refill my Camelbak. My extra gallon is now depleted; I'll get more when
I stop for gas. There's some older couple with a broken down car looking
for assistance. I offer what I can.
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FEBRUARY 11, 2000
00:40- 0845 - Tifton, GA
Named "America's Best Small City", so the signs say. Other signs say
"Turf grass capitol of the world", that ranks right up there with
"Home of Spam" in my eyes- and that's coming from a golfer, too. I plan to
pull over for the evening in the next couple of hours and get some shut eye. Gas
is fairly hard to find this time of the day along I-75, many places have closed
for the night. I find out later tornadoes rip through this area during
Sunday's thunder storms.
Top
02:00- 0916 - Jasper, FL
I decide this is the place, I'm in Florida and just about 90 minutes away from
the 1,000 mark. The Scottish Inns "All Rooms 22.95 Sign" beckons. Once I get
checked in and to my room, I see why "all rooms 22.95"- there's no TP,
shower head or heat- the TV gets 4 stations, one of which is the Weather
Channel. But there's a bed, and after calling home, I set the Meanie for 4.5
hours and fall off almost instantly.
Top
06:45- 0916 - Jasper, FL
The Meanie's warning beep wakes me. I take a look outside, palm trees and RV's,
yup this must be Florida. I take a refreshing "pipe blast", repack the
bike and decide I should have heeded Mike's (?) idea of shipping clean clothing
ahead, that way you've got room for extra gear- the Widder got packed away:
figure the ski bibs and expedition boots go soon once the temps pick up. I grab
a donut, check out, and hit the road at 7:30. I figure Tampa is just a couple
hours down the road.
Top
09:04- 1026 - Ocala, FL
Gas stop. Florida's Turnpike has it's northern entrance near here. I'll
meet the other end later in the afternoon.
Man, it's warming up quickly; gas is expensive again- must be the fuel
taxes here. I just did a Saddlesore even being down for 5.5 hours. This sorta
hits me funny. I figure, if I see a cop along the road somewhere, I might stop
by and get the SS1k witness- my real goal is Key West. Barring a mechanical, that appears to be in the
bag.
Top
10:55- 1134 - Ruskin, FL a Tampa suburb
Rest stop, time for some phone calls. I call Jean at work, "Greetings from
Tampa" she had her matching run schedule and noted I was "right on
time" for the 54mph schedule to arrive at 7:30. She's right, I was. I called my Key West
witnesses: Carol and Catherine, my sisters-in-law. They'll be waiting for my
confirming call at the end of the Florida Turnpike.
Now I have all my summer gear on.
The sno-paws and expedition boots are stuffed into my luggage, and off I go.
Another gallon of water is opened; that's the second today already.
Top
12:40- 1235 - Ft Myers, FL
Gas and lunch stop. I've been in Ft Myers before; I've been to this 7-11 before,
too. Jean's grandparents lived here for many years. I've played golf a few times
at the Ft Myers Country Club, a Donald Ross classic, that'll rip your heart out
despite it's length. I figure it's in the mid-70's by now. Just delightful.
Top
13:40- 1271 - Toll Barrier, Alligator Alley, Naples,
FL
The CB has had nothing but chatter on the total lack of "bears" on
the Alley. The trucker behind me in the toll plaza, said he was going to "open
'er up" across the Alley, so I figured I tag along. I let him go by (Shields
are up Captain), and decide to trail behind about 1/4 mile or so. I look down at the
speedos (I have two)- yikes! I decide not to look there anymore for a while. How fast where
we going, well lets just say I hit the barrier at the other end of the Alley in
1hr and 1 minute- the trucker left me in the dust some where past the second
exit (50 miles into the Alley) and I slowed down a bit when I couldn't see him
anymore. The fuel gauge took a pounding doing this. Once I got to Key West, I
looked over all of my receipts- I found the Alley's toll receipt was "45
minutes stale". I hope this doesn't disallow my IBA effort (very doubtful),
but it is a lesson learned. I checked every receipt on the way back, except
one, again a toll receipt with a stale time.
The Florida Turnpike's Barrier system must have been designed by that same
guy who did the Jersey ones; what a time waster. Every 12 miles, 75 cents. Makes
for a slow travel. I exit the Turnpike, expected to find a gas station, and make
my witness confirmation calls. I failed to realize the 3 stores and 1 strip
plaza are the extent of "civilization" until you get to Key Largo. Oh
well.
Top
16:10- 1422 - Key Largo, FL
Gas and contact stop MM106. I'm in the Keys!!! 106 miles from MM 0. I talked
with Carol. The plan is to meet her at her home around 6:30. She said there's an
Amoco just around the corner from her on Route 1/ Roosevelt Avenue- that becomes my target.
The draw bridge from the mainland to the Keys was up and traffic had backed up
pretty badly, about 3 miles worth. You'd think they'd "schedule"
openings around the rush hours.
The trip across the Keys, is a paradox of delight and frustration. I figure
most people who drive on the Keys have ODed on stoopid pills. Sudden stops to
turn right/ left- no blinker. I had a panel truck pass me on the double yellow
just to gain 1 position in a mile long chain of vehicles- where's he gonna go?
He turned right about 15 miles later, no blinker of course. At the same
time, your surrounded by some of the most interesting coast line and a great
stretch of road, despite being flat.
Top
18:43- 1523 - Key West (?), FL
I pass MM 5, knowing Stock Island is the last Key before Key West and come to a
"T" junction in the road, Route 1 heads right. There's no sign that
says "Welcome to Key West" or even a little blue state sign at the
foot of the bridge that says "Key West Key" like all the other Keys
have. I haven't been here in
the better part of 10 years and two big hurricanes- things look right but I
actually asked a guy at the gas station to make sure- got the strangest look, no
charge. I put $1 in the tank, leaving room for another buck on the depart. I
head over to Carol's place to unload unwind; I put shorts and sandals on.
I'm here: 1,523 miles from Baltimore in just over 33 hours, including a 5.5
hours layover. This is my first Bun Burner run; I can see the allure that
these long rides have; who'da thunk that you can get this far in this amount of
time. The 50 cc and the BBG look inviting.
I arrived 7 minutes later than my planned schedule on 1,500+ miles. Not
to shabby for a rookie.
Top
20:00- 1523 - Key West, FL
The Turtle Kraals. After a brief stop at the "Gallery" for the annual
Valentine's Art Exhibit, we settle in for a very good dinner. I had mango crab cakes
(Suicide Bridge still rules) as there was a promise of shrimp for dinner on
Saturday. Cigars were then smoked and beer was consumed (1 black and tan for me).
Top
FEBRUARY 12, 2000
After dealing with the logistical nightmare that had become my gear, I decided
to "reverse ship" the stuff I didn't need, mainly my dirty and
unneeded clothes. Chip (Catherine's beau) has checked the tide charts and we're
supposed to be at the boat around 1 to head out to Marvin Key for a picnic. I
get Catherine and Carol to guide me to the Southernmost Point marker,
freshly repainted. Then up the street a bit and over to MM 0, the southern
terminus to US 1. I hope to get to the Northern Terminus this summer.
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| Southernmost Point in the US |
The end of the road |
The beginning of the Road |
Back to the house, and off to the grocery store for picnic supplies and dinner
stuff.
From there, onto the boat at Catherine's place on Cudjoe Key, MM 21.
Gawd, I could get real used to this!
Marvin Key is northwest (?) of Cudjoe Key, and has changed alot since Georges
whipped thru. I take this on faith, as I don't recall ever being to Marvin
before. The water is shallow, clear and warm, the air is clean and crisp. I can
dig this- If only there was work down here. Eventually, the tide overtakes our
sand bar, and we pull up the anchor, head back to Catherine's for what promises
to be an excellent dinner.
Chip has been soaking his wood chips for smoking the fresh mussels and
roasting peppers- what a treat. Catsy has 12 count shrimp steaming away on the
stove and just before dark we settle into a nice bottle of Chardonnay and
dinner. Excellent. I could really get use to this!
Around 8pm, Carol and I head back to Key West, for an early bed time. Benny's
all packed up, except for the tank bag and refreshments. I set the Meanie for 5
hours, planning to get out the door by 2:30.
Top
FEBRUARY 13, 2000
02:10
The Meanie's warning beep wakes me. I quickly dress and put the last of the
stuff to ship home in it's box. I have Carol's witness form all filled out for
her, all she's got to do is sign it. A quick sig and hug later, I'm out the door
for the ride home. Goal, Richmond or Dale City, VA- there are witness waiting
there for my phone call later in the day.
Top
02:24- 0000 - Key West, FL
Another dollar in the tank (it's a buck 50 plus down here at the end of the
Keys. Every 25 MM is about an additional nickel on the price of gas; I saw, but
didn't pay, 1.71 for regular). It's dark,
traffic is very light as I leave Key West. I figure I'll lose time on the
schedule starting on Key West, but I've got enough time and distance to make it
back. So far, the weather has been perfect; just perfect. That's will change in
the not too distant future.
I thought I saw a Key Deer when I cross Coppet Key
(?), coulda been a dog. Don't know. When I pass by MM 106, I realize it has
taken me exactly 15 minutes less than it did Friday evening - so I guess the
stoopid pills really only add frustration but not time.
Top
05:20- 0140 - Miami, FL
Gas stop at the Snapper Creek Service Plaza. I hope to run this tank off and
make up for the lost time on the Keys. I try to figure out the best way to get
to back to I-95 and avoid the toll barriers. I'm told there are 14 of them
before the exit onto I-95; no freaking way. Even 95 can't be that bad this time of the
morning. The fog's been surprisingly chilly since Key Largo and I put my Widder vest on, dial it up
to the #1 setting.
Top
07:25- 0260 - MM 105 Rest Area, FL
Rest stop. Man I got to pee! I've been drinking a lot of fluids and I guess it's
time for them to come out. Just a quick stop. I take the Widder off again as the
sun's warming up the air quickly and burning off the fog.
Top
09:25- 0382 - Scottsmoor, FL
Gas stop, more water and another bottle of Gatorade. It's getting downright hot!
My plan on leaving early am appears to be paying off; the idea was to take
advantage of the heat of the day to get the most miles in before dark. I
should have about 6 or 7 hours of riding after dark at my current pace.
Traffic
is steadily getting heavier. I later find out there's a NASCAR race at Daytona today -
oh, that explains it. Traffic thins out again as I close in on Jacksonville.
Top
12:25- 0556 - Waverly, GA
Gas stop. Just one exit from Jekyll Island, I've done this stretch of 95 before.
In the Explorer, it's 11 hours from home. On Benny, a few more. Have to stop for
gas more frequently and it's a lot more fatiguing, I'll be reminded of this in
about 10 hours.
Another big
bottle of water along for the ride and a bag of "freshly roasted"
peanuts; I'm a sucker for peanuts. The Daytona race is on the set as some locals
have settled in for the duration.
In downtown Jacksonville, there is a big ass bridge under construction to
replace the existing span. As I marvel at it's mass, I wonder why the Woodrow
Wilson's replacement span isn't even funded yet (despite carrying probably 4
times as many vehicles a day as the current Jacksonville bridge), and this one looks about a year
away from opening. I also figure, Congress is favoring Florida over VA/MD
right now.
As I cross I-10, the temptation to turn west beckons. I choose to ignore it
for now.
Top
14:10- 0644 - Welcome Center, SC
Rest stop and a call home. I'm in South Carolina. nanner nanner haha. Now the
bad news, between me and her, there a shit pot of rain. Jean says the
thermometer has been dropping all morning. Looks like I'm going to get both wet
and cold, oh goodie!
Top
16:08- 0751 - Manning, SC
Gas stop. I'm finally ahead of the schedule. I didn't figure on it taking this
long. My butt is fairly tender at this point; I don't know why. ;-) I plan
to run until dark and grab some dinner, and make my next round of phone calls.
Somewhere along this leg, I realize it's time to change the oil- yea, like
that's going to happen along the side of 95.
Top
17:45- 0855 - Lumberton, NC
Dinner Stop. No rain yet, but the fog has been settling in and there is
evidence it has rained recently. I have successfully gained enough time to have
a nice sit down dinner; I have an hour 15 available for a normal 20 minute stop. At
the exit, there are two basic non-fast food choices- a waffle house and Denny's.
While in the mood for breakfast (makes me tired though), I decide on Denny's.
This would turn out to be a major error of judgment. Taking a lesson from the
Archives of Wisdom, I order a turkey sandwich and a cup of coffee (first caffeine
of the day) then head to the phone to make my calls. Talked again with Jean,
current temp is 34d and it's foggy. She said that is raining between us and
there's been some real nasty weather to my west (see 2-11
00:40 entry). A call to Guy Young, my
Richmond witness, confirms this. Oh great, another steaming pile of good news!
But wait there's more! I return to my table, and find....my
table. My dinner
has not arrived, nor has my coffee. I flag down my "server" and
finally get my coffee. It's now 6:15. I head out to the bike; it's getting noticeably
colder fast and there is a mist mixing in with the fog nicely. Check on a few
things, get my winter gloves out- first time they have been on for the trip and
head back in. Still no dinner.
Finally, at 6:35 my turkey sandwich arrives. That's right 50 minutes for a
turkey sandwich- all they had to do was toast the bread and put the stuff on it.
By the time I'm back on the road, my hour-fifteen cushion is gone. Should have
had breakfast instead.
Top
21:05 - 1003 - Roanoke Rapids, NC
Gas and call stop. Guy's going to meet me at the Texaco off exit 64 about
10:30. The drizzle is getting damn near intolerable. My riding jacket breathes
and is waterproof. So as the water collects on the surface, air passes thru it
and cools off. My torso is fine; the Widder vest on the #4 setting (toasty) takes care of that. My arms are
getting downright cold. My legs and feet are OK. I'm starting to get tired and
not making as good of time as I did earlier. Snow is again visible along
the "shadowy" areas.
Top
22:33 - 1076 - Richmond, VA
Final IBA stop. Guy and Clyde Watson are there under the Texaco's canopy, camera
in hand, waiting for me. I roll up to the pump, and the camera's going off
hand
shakes all around. I put a whopping $2 in the tank and get Guy to pen the
witness form on the SS1k (pics here are courtesy of Guy)
I call home- wake Jean up. Tell her everything's OK and I'll be home in a few
hours. With the fog and my propensity to pee, I'll probably stop twice in the
last 140 miles.
We shoot the breeze for about an hour covering the usual range of stuff,
including when the two of them are going to try their hands at this lunacy.
I arrive 3 minutes ahead of the 54 mph schedule; again, not too bad for a
rookie.
Top
FEBRUARY 14, 2000
03:00 - 1244 - Baltimore, MD home
I stop at every rest area on the way home (3), even stop at the Race Trac in
Fredericksburg for a cup of coffee and a donut. Despite my warm torso and feet, I'm
freezing. The incessant drizzle and falling temps are beginning to take their
toll. My butt is sore and I'm tired. Not real good combinations. I could get a
room here for the night and then just hoof it back in the am. I intend to work
today and that would change with this stop. Pig headedly, I press on.
At the Woodbridge rest area, I pulled the CD player out and "Get the Led
Out". This makes a big difference as I forces me to think about something
else besides the crappy weather. Traffic is very very light for 95. Kinda scary.
At the Laurel rest area, I switch to EWF Greatest hits, Vol 1. I'm cruising now. I hit my
exit, turn Benny down Frederick Ave and straight for the barn: 3 am. As I still
plan to work in a few hours, I carry in everything I can in two trips
and let the bike "hang open" to air out an intrusions - weren't any.
Jean meets me after my second trip in as I strip off my gear. I'm not wet, in
fact there's sweat on my head sock. We chat for a bit I drink a well earned beer
and decide to call in "late". I set my alarm for 10 am and immediately
sleep.
Jean wakes me with a phone call at 10; apparently the power went out sometime
between when we went to bed at 3:45 and when she got up at 6:00. What a trooper.
Even with the 1 hour lost to shooing the breeze and the three unplanned
stops, I arrive only an hour and a quarter behind my desired "arrival
home" time. Back out the bull session, and I was off a total of 23
minutes on 2800 miles.
Top
EPILOGUE
-New Things that worked
- Kamik Expedition Boots
- Jolly Ranchers
- Screamin Meanie
- Sno-paws
- Black dry board markers (notes on the windshield)
- Nolan N-100
-New Things that didn't
- Chewy oatmeal-fruit bars- too messy
- Blue dry board markers (notes on the windshield)
- Fluorescent hi-lighters aren't day glow anymore- damn toxicity rules
- Stock "breath deflector" of the N-100- need the official
anti-fog shield
-Lessons learned
- Cold and rain take their toll.
- The Florida Toll Barrier system stinks for making time.
- Other than big rigs, wakes from the following vehicles, in rank order, are the worst:
- Bobtails
- Dodge Durango's
- Suburbans/ Tahoes
- motor homes that pass you
- any "cab over" design e.g. pusher school buses
- Ford Expeditions
- mini-vans -pick one
- other SUV's
- I need to get my legs and arms in better shape. My forearms shoulders and
calves got fairly stiff from fatigue. I also need a set of highway
pegs.
- It's good to get home
Top
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