Matt Placed 17th in the 2007 Iron Butt Rally

The countdown begins. 6 days until the IBR.

Ready or not, St. Louis here I come. Bike is packed, Tobie and Lisa are on the way down from their home, and we’re bound for Boise this evening. A picture of my bike in IBR trim on departure–the only thing different will be I’ll lose the soft black bag on back once I get to the hotel.

Update: Tuesday, 23:17 MDT

Tobie, Lisa, and I rolled into Boise about an hour ago and had various forms of chicken burgers and water…….trying to edge out caffeine for the next couple of days. Paul is due in about 20 minutes.

Riding this evening somewhere about Baker City the magnitude of this adventure hit me. I’m going to be gone for about 3 weeks living out of a 2 wheel beast. Incredible…..crazy……just right!

I also saw my first “purple mountain majesty”. The sun was setting just right on the tops of two mountains to the east. I was in a valley that was already dark, but I swear those mountain tops were of a magenta hue. ….it made me smile.

It will be nighty-night soon and get up maybe get up and roll out at 6 to 7 a.m. for the next day’s ride towards Lincoln.

Things are a changin’!  The realization that I leave tomorrow means I’m shifting from “Preparation” to “Before the Start”.  In a sublte way the IBR really begins for me with this post. …..

Before one actually rides 11,000 miles in 11 days…..you have to get to the Starting Line.   In my case, being in the Pacific Northwest that means a short 2,000 mile commute…..

If I sound casual making two thousand miles sound like a trip down to the local grocery store….well I am trying my best.

It’s no small undertaking for sure, but won’t be on the clock and will be a shake-down for any gadgets I’ve tried to install or reconfigure in the last month, to start transmuting my ass to at least aluminum if not an iron ore, and to begin coping with the weather North America has up on deck for us starting next week.  A map and itinerary for this little commute.

Tuesday, depart 3:30 p.m - 300 miles
Tobie and Lisa ride down from nearby Yakima and we head to Boise for the evening.  Meet up with Paul Peloquin and the 4 of us will ride together.

Wednesday - 1100 more miles

4 FJRs point their way East on I-80 and hope to make it to the Lincoln, Nebraska area.  A day of slab cruising that gets us across Utah, Wymoing, and most of Nebraska.

Thursday - 500 more miles

We’ll be riding to Bonne Terre, Missouri where we’re meeting up with fellow FJR owner and good guy, Smitty.  We’ve staged tires at his place and will be swapping rubber with long-lasting ME880 rubber, oil changes, general last minute maintenance, and I’m hoping to have a cruise control installed.

Friday -  60 miles for a total of 2000

We’re in Chesterfield, Missouri at the hotel with hopefully most of the day to decompress and get ready for Saturday and Sunday tech. inspection and frivolity….realizing of course that after I ride 11,000 miles I’ll have a short commute back home, but that’s another blog entry and adventure I’m saving for the end. ;)