DAYTONA BUTT

Well I made it. I rode from Connecticut to Summerland Key in 22 hours on my way down to Daytona. I realize that the Keys are not exactly on the way to Daytona but if you have been reading my articles you realize that they sorta' are. The trip down was basically uneventful. Bike worked well, the traffic was not too bad, and the weather was perfect. This ride gives me another certificate for the Iron Butt Association's Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in less than 24 hours).

DAYTONA BUTT

My Daytona vacation was great. I hope all of you were able to make it down there. I had planned on turning this ride into another Ironbutt Challenge. Well I made it. I rode from Connecticut to Summerland Key in 22 hours on my way down to Daytona. I realize that the Keys are not exactly on the way to Daytona but if you have been reading my articles you realize that they sorta' are. The trip down was basically uneventful. The bike worked well, the traffic was not too bad, and the weather was perfect. This ride gives me another certificate for the Iron Butt Association's Bun Burner Gold (1,500 miles in less than 24 hours).

05 MAR 00 Sun - Mon

Summerland Key, FL @ 3,765 - 1,522 mile day 22 hours

MPG 33.1, 32.4, 34.4, 32.7, 34.4, 34.0, 37.5, 33.1, 33.8, 49.5

-Bun Burner Gold attempt. I woke up early for the ride but decided I was too tired to make the trip in one day so I decided to leave later. I tried to get back to sleep but could not due to thinking about the trip and calculating times etc so I got up about 3 am and showered. I left Dad's house and went to the Seymour police dept. An officer signed my form and then I filled up in Seymour. There was no time stamp on the receipt. I went to the station at the base of Great Hill road to get .1 gal of gas. I was not using a spare tank on this ride. There were a number of occasions where the time on the receipt was off by an hour or some odd number. I took rt. 8 to 95 and basically stayed on that except rt. 295 around Richmond. When I got to Florida I stayed on 95 until I got to near West Palm Beach, then decided to take the turnpike. Unfortunately, from where I was it was a pain in the ass to get there, lots of side streets.

-Some where in Georgia traffic started to slow down. I saw the body of a dog in the middle of the right lane, severely busted up. I saw the head of the dog a little ways farther in the left lane. Then, about 1/4 of a mile from the first part there was a big van parked facing traffic in the right lane, radiator spewing fluid and a very nervous looking driver standing next to it. Hit that dog good.

-I got to Ramrod key, where Blaine and Elise and a number of others were staying. I went farther to Sugarloaf Key, got gas and then went to the Sheriffs sub station on Sugarloaf Key. There was no one inside even though the door was unlocked. I called and knocked at the back door but no one was there. I went back to the gas station to find two witnesses. These were the only people still awake in the area. I don't know if this will be enough of a witness. I also don't know if the miles were enough. Auto map said it was 1,529 miles. My odometer said 1,510. Maps-On-Us, a web based program said 1,485.2. Hard to say what they will take as the official miles. I suppose I could have just gone to Key west but then I would have woken my friends way too early. As it was I woke up Blaine Breining and Elise Small and Tim Theocareis at 2:30. Actual BBG time was 21:50 hours.

06 MAR 00 Mon

-Got up at 7:30. Not bad considering getting in at 2:30. Tim snored like crazy, one of the most annoying snorers I have ever heard. I stayed on the floor the three nights I was there, they would not let me pay anything.

-Went out with some of the guys on a boat belonging to a friend of one of the guys. We went out over the reef. Blaine and I went snorkeling for a while. Beautiful water and lots of fish to look at. Had a great time but want to do some snorkeling. The boat was a 1947 Chris Craft. A little worn but nice. The woman that owns it takes it to Bermuda every year.

-At night a bunch of us went into Key west to have a few beers around Duval st.

-Everyone was staying at the Looe Key Reef Resort and dive shop. Mile Marker 27.5, PO Box 509, Ramrod Key, FL 33042, 1-800-942-5397, 305-872-3786, FAX: 305-872-3786, LooeKey@aol.com

-This place teaches diving also. I wanted to dive but I missed scheduling training. I plan on going down next year after getting trained up here.