I debated for a long time on the where, when and WHY...but finally decided that Monday was the day. I was going to do my first Iron Butt ride. I would complete the Saddle Sore 1000. (For those unfamiliar, you have to ride 1000+ miles in under 24 hours.)
My original plan was to ride north and hit the Grand Tetons and depending on time, touch the southern tip of Yellowstone. I wanted to do that so I could start on another Iron Butt project at the same time (National Parks Tour). Unfortunately, the weather prediction was even worse for that area than what it was here. Scrap that idea. I've always wanted to ride to the Grand Canyon area. Problem is....it is more than 500 miles away and not quite 1000. I knew that the smartest idea for my first SS1K would be to do a round trip deal. I didn't want to risk riding a whole 1000 miles just to refuse to get back on the bike to come home. Scrap the Grand Canyon idea. So I jump on the Nat'l Parks website and start looking for anywhere that was roughly 500 miles away and had a pleasant weather forecast. Enter El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico.
Not only have I never been to El Malpais, I'd never even heard of it before...bonus! I could get my first SS1K under my belt, start my National Parks Tour project AND explore somewhere I've never seen/heard of before. Running various routes through Rand McNally and Mapquest assure me that I'll be well within my mileage requirements - even if I take the fastest possible route.
It was about 3:30AM, Monday and I'd slept virtually the entire day on Sunday. I jump in the shower and try to figure out what all I need to bring with me. I packed my digital SLR but hindsight tells me that I shouldn't have wasted the space. This was going to be a quick duck in, and back out. No time for real sightseeing here, so why risk losing/damaging the good camera? My point and shoot has its very own pocket in the tank back though...how else will I ...well.... point and shoot photos while the bike is moving??? lol
As per the Iron Butt rules, my trip starts by the time stamped on the gas receipt on my first fuel up. 0605 hrs. I was lucky enough to find a gas station attendant that was more than willing to serve as my starting witness (he's actually been a witness for several others he tells me). Starting requirements taken care of, I finally hit the road with 4902 miles on the odometer. Right off the bat I have to alter my route. It is too early for much traffic to be out and I'm sitting at a blind intersection that I just can't trip the light for. Damn. So I go the other direction and promptly add a couple of miles to the route. I hit the freeway and almost immediately wish I'd worn more layers. It was mighty nice out, but extended periods on the bike at freeway speeds was going to be a tad chilly. I couldn't wait for the sun to really start warming things up.
The sun finally makes things more comfortable and I’m well under way. Thankfully I make it past Colorado Springs without incident…I was worried about hitting traffic. There is light traffic on the freeway, but so far everybody is keeping a safe distance between each other and I can cruise along at a steady clip (never did see a cop until I hit the state line!) Continuing on south I start to see construction signs warning of delays. Spiffy. Timing is crucial to this ride and I’m going to be forced to make stops I didn’t account for??? The miles slide by and I’m not seeing any construction until I hit Walsenburg. What the signs failed to mention earlier is that not only is there construction…but that SB I-25 is closed!!! Well it is a good time for me to fuel up anyway, so I can figure out my options at that point.
It must have been a great day to be riding a bike in southern Colorado, as the gas station is overrun by two wheelers. I’m told by someone that the detour just jumps you through Walsenburg and dumps you back on the freeway just south of town – so that’s acceptable. I wash the bug carcasses off my helmet and saddle up. I’m leaving the pumps about to hit the road when a guy on a cruiser flips a U-ie in the middle of the parking lot right in front of me. I had to hit the brakes hard enough to slide a bit. At least he recognized what he did as he waved and mumbled “Sorry!” with red cheeks. Onward.