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Earlier this summer I wanted to plan a long ride since I had skipped the rally - Cape Fear 1000 in April. I had came up with the idea to ride to Key West, FL last summer as a long distance ride. This was suppose to be a leisurely ride. Since I didn't have anyone riding with me I decided to modify the ride and attempt a SaddleSore 1000 while in the process of heading to Key West.
I generally reset the GPS to "zero" prior to the ride - so I can track the mileage - and other little bits of information
Here I am 05:30am CST in Bartlett, TN - about to take off. Got my gas receipt and ready to go.
Here I have reset the odometer to "zero" at the gas station and captured my start mileage and start time.
Here I am at 7:45am - crossing into Alabama along Hwy 78. I am really enjoying the ride now. Of course, this is the beginning of the day, I am still excited to be on the ride, maybe even shocked that I have embarked on this LONG ride.
8:45am - stopping at this new Love's Truck stop just outside of Jasper, AL. Getting gas and RR break. This place is new and I have stopped here a couple of times in the past.
Gas: 5.6 Gals @ $3.459 = $19.48
Current Mileage: 41,856
Miles Driven on Tank: 213
Total Miles Ridden: 213
Back on the road and staying hydrated. The "camel-pack" really come in handy. I had packed some sliced apples and granola bars in my tankbag to snack on. These "all season" riding jackets are not very pleasant during the summer as they are lined to provide protection during rain. Translation - "Hot".
Prattville, AL - a little break. - 10:30 AM
Having some food at Wendy's.
Back to the Airhawk R seat cushion. Add a just a little air and off we go.
When I got back on the interstate (I-65) and (for some unknown reason) decided that I wanted to go by Tuskegee Univ and take a quick photo in front of campus. Maybe if I was lucky would see a P-51 airplane which was used in the movie "Red Tails" / "Tuskegee Airmen". However, upon arriving I didn't see anything immediately on the path to the school and didn't want to venture too far off that path - as I was still trying to complete the SS1000.
Tuskegee Univ. Detour Photo ???
I arrived at Tuskegee Univ. around 12:00. The security guard was nice enough to allow me to park the bike and take a few pictures.
Decided to gas up in Tuskegee and continue heading east on Hwy 80 toward Columbus, GA.
Gas: 4.49 Gals @ $3.899 = $17.51
Current Mileage: 42,029
Miles Driven on Tank: 173
Total Miles Ridden: 386
Hrs Riding: 7 hrs
Once I hit hwy 80 I see the "Hill-Billy Mall" on the side of the road. Of course, I had to stop and get a picture of it. Unfortunately, its not a good picture - can't read or make out the sign at all. However, it was very interesting to see.
Weston, GA - taking a little break (2:30 pm)
I have been traveling on Hwy 520 making my way over to Albany, GA. Coming through Columbus and the Fort Benning area was quite interesting. Fort Benning is "definitely" a military town and quite large. I am heading toward Albany, GA and then Tifton, GA where I will get back on the interstate (I-75).
The Merritt Pecan store was a nice place to take a little break. Nice shady porch and some good folks coming by. Always nice to meet local people. Talked with one of the guys that worked at the store while he was on his break. Just shooting the breeze but he was informing me that we were surrounded by pecan tree farms. Apparently, this area is known for growing pecans. Merritt even has a web site ( http://www.merritt-pecan.com/ )
Estimate time of arrival now - is probably going to be around midnight for sure.
Welcome to Florida !!!!
Well, made my arrival to Florida at 6:30pm CST.
Its 9:40pm CST - and making my way down the Florida Turnpike. Can you say - $$$$$$ !!!
Yep, I have been riding for 16 HRS and very much alert. Just a little upset about toll fee's.
Here I am at the West Palm Beach - Florida Turnpike Rest Area. Needed to get gas. Its 1:00 AM CST and I'm still feeling pretty good. After I left this area, I believe I hit another tollbooth. After talking with the young lady and paying the $13 toll - I was a LOT disgusted with paying tolls. She advised that I could head over to I-95 and continue down to Homestead that way. So I did.
What a mistake !!!!
After getting onto I-95, the traffic was very light at that time of morning. What I didn't realize was that I-95 was end and turn into a regular street. This street was US Hwy 1, but it goes through what seemed like the center of Miami. Not sure how many lights I went through, but fortunately most of them were green. Of course the speed limit was 35/40 mph on this entire stretch of highway. Hwy 1 does lead into Homestead and the Garmin lead me via some back road to the hotel.
Right before the hotel, I find a service station to get gas and a gas receipt, along with the attendant's signature (very nice lady) to complete my SS1000. As you can see above the official time was 2:08AM CST and a total mileage of 1083 miles. 21hrs of riding in the books. Surprising I still feel pretty good.
Gas: 1.911 Gals @ $3.99 = $7.64
Current Mileage: 42,727
Miles Driven on Tank:
Total Miles Ridden: 1083
Hrs Riding: 20 hrs 45mins
Homestead, FL - Hampton Inn - SS1000 Completed
Two minutes from the gas station is the Hampton Inn hotel. My actual EST check-in time is 04:00AM EST. I (of course) inquired of the attendant if I had to pay for the day - since I am arriving soooo late. I also asked about when (according to hotel policy) does the "new" day begin. She indicated that it was at 6am. So I guess I could have gone to have breakfast some where for two hours returned and only had to pay for 1 day ??? Oh well, that's not the honest thing to do - but I really wanted to know the exact details.
Lessons Learned
- Stay on course / "Ride the Plan"
- Get new Russell Day Long seat
I have really enjoyed this experience and will cherish it for a long time to come ( as my "seat" will remind me). I do believe this will be the last time I will actively pursue a "SS1000" certificate. This would be my second one - once I get it back from IBA.
| Mileage | Miles to Refuel |
Total Ridden |
GAL | PRICE/GAL | TOTAL | ||
| start | 41,643 | ||||||
| stop1 | jasper, AL | 41,856 | 213 | 213 | 5.632 | 3.459 | $ 19.48 |
| Tuskegee, AL | 42,029 | 173 | 386 | 4.491 | 3.899 | $ 17.51 | |
| Jasper, FL | 42,277 | 248 | 634 | 6.225 | 3.839 | $ 23.90 | |
| St. Cloud, FL | 42,494 | 217 | 851 | 5.854 | 3.829 | $ 22.41 | |
| Lake Worth, FL | 42,633 | 139 | 990 | 3.442 | 4.109 | $ 14.14 | |
| Homestead, FL | 42,727 | 94 | 1,084 | 1.911 | 3.999 | $ 7.64 | |
| total | avg | total | avg | total | |||
| 1,084 | 181 | 27.555 | 3.856 | $ 105.09 |
Now for the rest of the ride......
Key West - Southernmost Point
After I finally got checked in the hotel "this morning" at 4am, of course it took a while to settle down and go to sleep. My original plan was to get up at 7 or 8AM and head to Key West. Upon waking up around 9am - I hear rain coming down. Check the weather radar for S. Florida and it appears to be a pretty good storm over Key West and Homestead. I'm officially awake now - so I just catch some news / weather and lay around for a while. Being that this is S. Florida, they get these showers all the time. After about an hour of waiting and check the radar some more - I see the storm is moving on and I will have a window to start the ride to Key West. I have my rain gear with me but I always like to be smart about riding in the rain. I was not opposed to scratching Key West if things didn't improve. Lucky for me they did.
This is the picture from my room at 11: 45 am EST. I went down, had some breakfast and by noon, I was on the road to Key West.
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| Time: 11:48 AM EST |
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| Time: 1:56 PM EST |
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| Time: 2:41 PM EST |
Southermost Point, FL
Here are my original post comments:
More comments later but this has to be one of the worst places to visit. It is Soooooooo hard to get to because of the 2 lane roads and 40 mph speed limit. Now I have to endure it again to get out of here. Beautiful city - once here!!!!! Definitely fly in!!!!!!Now that I have had some time to reflect: I still agree with the ride into Key West - "horrible". Once you get there - hang out a few days to enjoy it !!!
Its 3:00PM EST - Time to make the 3 hr journey back to the hotel. Total time in Key West: 60 mins
Tomorrow - I am heading to Port St. Joe, FL (700 miles) - so heading to hotel, get some dinner, talk with my wife and get some sleep.
1 comment:
Great report about a great ride. Congratulations!
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