should have done an iron butt 1000

[detdrbuzzard]

yesterday morning I met up with scott, Kenny, and cousinjeff in Romulus, MI. they were attempting to do a saddle sore 3000 ( 3000 miles in three days ) / great lakes challenge ( loop all of the great lakes in less than 100hrs ). I was going to do this also but something came up and I need to be home.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

about 05:00 we headed out, we took I-94 west to I-275 and headed south. it was cooler than I expected, I was wishing I hadn't taken my fleece jacket off the Mighty ST 1300. we headed south on I-75 then took I-280 to the Woodville exit so we could pick up O-578. the sun was up by now but I still had a chill. we took rt-2 east and made a stop at the rest area in vermillion, OH.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

we took RT-2 over to I-90 in Cleveland, I think I was finally starting to warm up. we also started to get caught up in rush hour traffic. somewhere around Euclid, OH. we made a stop for fuel, thats when the boy's asked how far I was going to ride before heading home, I really didn't know at the time

 

[detdrbuzzard]

as the temp went up so did the wind, it got breezy and hot all at once. all of a sudden there we were, crossing the boarder from PA. into New York and thats when I decided where to leave the group. they would head to watertown, ny and I would head to Niagara falls. as we got close to I-190 I passed and waved to the group and headed around for buffalo, ny. I stopped at the welcome center looking for a restroom and something to eat

 

[detdrbuzzard]

about two miles from Niagara falls I stopped at the upper Niagara river observation facility

 

[detdrbuzzard]

after the short ride to the falls on the U.S. side I paid the $10 to get in, on the U.S. side its a state park

 

[detdrbuzzard]

a few more with the blue and red maid of the mist boats, maybe dan can help with the night time pic even if it is just after noon

 

[detdrbuzzard]

leaving the falls I decided to cut through Canada rather than go back the way I got there so I crossed the rainbow bridge. I pulled up to the booth to pay and the guy said " go ahead, you're ok " I looked at him and as I was turning my head I noticed the sign saying that they would charge your I-pass or easy pass, I have an I-pass, $3.50 was charged to it. once in Canada it was the usual questions by the boarder guard before being sent on my way. my first stop was at the currency exchange but the sign said that the attendant would be back in five minutes, time that I didn't want to wait so I took a few pic's before heading out on the QEW

 

[detdrbuzzard]

it was around 12:45, it was near 90f, I was getting hungry, and the Mighty ST 1300 was getting thirsty but I really didn't want to put an $8.00 meal on a credit card. I stopped in Grimsby for gas, a snack, a drink, and a pic of lake Ontario

 

[detdrbuzzard]

with the Mighty ST 1300 full of 93 octane and a bag of chips and ice tea in my belly I got back on the QEW and headed for the 403. lots of traffic around Hamilton and only one LEO, i'm ok with that! even more traffic on the 401but most everyone was rolling along near 85mph. once on the 402 I started to get hungry, my only meal had been a small bag of nuts in Buffalo plus the chips and tea in Grimsby. I had no problem crossing the blue water bridge or getting back into the states. I made a wrong turn after getting releasted from customs and was going north on M-25 so I made a left turn into a shell gas station, I didn't need fuel but I was thirsty so I got a candy bar and a bottle of tea. once back out in the parking loti realized that there was an A&W restaurant inside so back in I went

 

[detdrbuzzard]

I felt much better with some food on my stomach, my first meal of the day. I decided to ride over to Thomas Edison park but first a little side trip to get a pic of a fire truck

 

[detdrbuzzard]

after leaving the park it was time to head home, I stopped and got $10 / 2.5 gallons of gas even though I didn't need any plus I would burn most of that getting home. traffic on M-29 wasn't too bad for this time of year and I saw a lot of flooding along the way from all the rain we had earlier this year. I took my last pic in Anchorville, MI. then took M-29 around to I-94 and headed west but exited the expressway at shook rd. shook rd. curves around and turns into Jefferson ave, in ST. Clare Shores, MI. I rode that all the way into Detroit. I took a round about way around downtown Detroit to avoid a big traffic backup and made it home about 20:00 and 672 miles later

 

[Ansimp]

Nice ride William.Good to see the ST out and about. :good:

 

[desertrefugee]

Now THAT’S a day in the saddle. Excellent narrative, as usual, William. Thanks for taking us along.

 

[OldCrow]

Excellent adventure! I'm thinking of a SS3000 in conjunction with a USA 4 Corners tour. My 3k would be from Waterville Maine to Baker City Oregon on my trusty 1987 GL1200 Aspencade. If everything goes right launch will be late September.

 

[detdrbuzzard]

OldCrow » Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:56 pm[/url]":1bnpnkjj]
Excellent adventure! I'm thinking of a SS3000 in conjunction with a USA 4 Corners tour. My 3k would be from Waterville Maine to Baker City Oregon on my trusty 1987 GL1200 Aspencade. If everything goes right launch will be late September.

i'm not sure if I want to do another IBA ride. my first was the lake superior IBA ride and I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another. I decided to get a cert for each of the great lakes ride ( which I did ) and once I got them I haven't been too excited to do another. I have a couple friends that are talking about doing an IBA ride, I told them if they plan to do one that I would ride along with them. a friend just moved to AZ so i'm temped to try a BBG on the way out there next year

 

[OldCrow]

detdrbuzzard » Today- 8:43[/url]":3ec6m0ww]

OldCrow » Sat Aug 10, 2019 5:56 pm[/url]":3ec6m0ww]
Excellent adventure! I'm thinking of a SS3000 in conjunction with a USA 4 Corners tour. My 3k would be from Waterville Maine to Baker City Oregon on my trusty 1987 GL1200 Aspencade. If everything goes right launch will be late September.

i'm not sure if I want to do another IBA ride. my first was the lake superior IBA ride and I wasn't sure if I wanted to do another. I decided to get a cert for each of the great lakes ride ( which I did ) and once I got them I haven't been too excited to do another. I have a couple friends that are talking about doing an IBA ride, I told them if they plan to do one that I would ride along with them. a friend just moved to AZ so i'm temped to try a BBG on the way out there next year

Yes different strokes for different folks. I do most of my miles in IBA mode. It's almost boring to ride without some challenge and hard goal.

My SS3000 and CC50 went back up in to the air, my wife might be able to join me after all on the 4 Cornershttps://sc-ma.com/rides/usa-four-corners-tour-site/. That will require removing the 4gal aux tank and changing my tempo from IBA to tourist Should now the answer in about 3 weeks.