HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

Day: 26 (Continued)

Jeff rolled through Homestead to Key West to complete his HopeRider mission and one of the International Iron Butt Association’s (IBA) most demanding rides — The Ultimate Coast to Coast to Coast.  His ride covered over 11,600 miles of some of the most demanding roads and weather conditions (tropic to the arctic) on the planet.  A feat that only a hand full of riders have achieved.

Congratulations and Well Done

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

Jeff: HopeRider and Ultimate Iron Butt Rider. The newest member of the world's toughest motorcycle riders.

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

Day: 26

 Jeff rolled into Homestead, FL this morning.  It has been a very challenging ride for him since the Ice Trucker Road took out his radiator back on Day 14.

Welcome home and congratulations Jeff.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

Independence Day

Day: 24

From: Valdosta, GA                                                      To:  Key West, FL

Miles Travelled today: 607                                    Total Miles Travelled: 11,646

Total Gas Used Today: 12                                    Total Gas Used: 234

Weather: HOT (74-94 F)

Left Valdosta at 3:30 a.m. to beat the heat and get a good jump on the last day of this charitable adventure.  The temps were bearable due to the cloud cover and when I entered the Keys a refreshing rain cooled me.

During the ride down Jeff contacted me I told me to continue to Key West without him because he was still having severe radiator problems.  He is currently at an Air Force Base in Mississippi.  I arrived in Key West at 3:37 p.m.  I will stay in contact with Jeff until his return.

I’ve like to thank all the sponsors (listed on the webpage) and to the Miami Elks Lodge #948 who funded the majority of our fuel costs.

Thanks to all of you who have taken this virtual expedition with Jeff and me.

If you have not had a chance to donate to one or more of the charities please do so.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

Entering the Keys

Navy Gateway Inn at Key West. My home away from home.

Optimus Prime--Never failed a mission. Always brought me home safely.

The Finish line -- Key West on the 4th of July. It doesn't get any better than this.

Ready for next 2012 mission -- The USA four corners Run

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

03 July 2011

Day: 23

From: Cadiz, KY                                                       To: Valdosta, GA

Miles Travelled today: 560 Total Miles Travelled: 11,039

Total Gas Used Today: 11 Total Gas Used: 222

Weather: HOT (69-98 F)

Left Cadiz at 7 a.m. and it was another hot day.  It was so hot I not only had to hydrate every hour but also had to change clothes because I was soaked by midday.

I headed east on I-24 toward Nashville and made a right turn at Chattanooga on to I-75.  When I rode through Atlanta there was a huge accident 20 miles north of the downtown area and traffic was backed up for miles. I ended the day at Valdosta, GA.

Jeff checked in and he is taking the southern route through Little Rock, AR and will travel east to I-75 and proceed south to Key West.  I should arrive in Homestead, FL by 3 p.m. tomorrow.  I will wait for Jeff’s arrival before heading down to the finished point (Key West).

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

The fields of Cadiz

Leaving Nashville

Nashville

I love the Tennessee roads

There's no roads like this in Miami

Tennessee Lake

I just can't passed a Starbuck. My weakness

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

02 July 2011

Day: 22

From: Hays, Kansas                                                      To: Cadiz, KY

Miles Travelled today: 741  Total Miles Travelled: 10,479

Total Gas Used Today: 15 Total Gas Used: 211

Weather: HOT, HOT, HOT (69-98 F)

Today was a day of hard riding. I continued to proceed ahead of Jeff because I must return to work by 05 Jul.  It was VERY HOT today.  I had to stop every 45 minutes to rest and drink water.  At times it was like wearing your winter clothes in a sauna.  I know Jeff had a terrible time on a day like this with his radiator problem.

Hopefully tomorrow we will reach Florida and arrive in Key West on the 4^th of July.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

Looking back at Kansas City

Red truck passes in front of the St Louis Arch

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

01 July 2011

Day: 21

From: Cheyenne, WY                                                      To: Hays, Kansas

Miles Travelled today: 431 Total Miles Travelled: 9738

Total Gas Used Today: 9           Total Gas Used: 196

Weather: Bright and Sunny (63-83 F)

Early this morning Jeff took his bike to Cheyenne Sports Center and had his back tire changed, sprocket and chain replaced and rear spring adjusted; however there was no fix for his busted radiator.  The maintenance team there was superb (see pix).  The owner/manager called in his mechiacs one hour before starting to work on Jeff’s bike  – OUTSTANDING SERVICE.

After the repairs were complete we got underway at noon and about 30 miles outside to town Jeff’s radiator started to run hot.  Jeff insisted that I continue heading east on I-70 and he would catch up.  I arrived in Hays, Kansas to the sound of fireworks.  They’re celebrating the 4^th early here.  I decide to settle in for the night in Hays, Kansas and Jeff met me there about 2 hours later.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

The superb team the Cheyenne Sports Center

Colorado wheat farm

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

30 June 2011

Day: 20

From: Conrad, Montana                                    To:  Cheyenne, WY

Miles Travelled today: 735      Total Miles Travelled: 9307

Total Gas Used Today: 15     Total Gas Used: 187

Weather: Thunder Storms and Very Windy (52-81 F)

Jeff and I got an early start leaving Conrad at 4 a.m. enroute to Denver, CO, which is 835 miles and would put us back on track for a 4^th of July arrival in Key West. The whether was great as we travelled through Montana; however we encountered high winds and several thunderstorms as we navigated our way through Wyoming.

In the Day 13 journal entry I reported Jeff’s radiator was pierced by a rock on the Ice Trucker Road.  We had the radiator repaired in Fairbanks but several days ago it started to leak again.  We tried numerous sealing additives without success.  In order to keep the radiator from over heating we have to stop and fill it every 100 miles.  About 110 miles north of Denver the radiator water pump clogged which compounded the problem.

We have two options to this problem; order a new radiator, which could take three to seven days to arrive or continue stopping every 100 miles to refill.  Jeff made the call to continue heading home and refill the radiator as required.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

Morning in Montana

A local of Casper, Wyoming gives Jeff a radiator sealing compound. I worked for a couple of hours.

Thunderstorms with a rainbow

A cold wind blows over the Wyoming grasslands

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

29 June 2011

Day: 18

From: Red Deer, Alberta                                    To:  Conrad, Montana

Miles Travelled today: 351  Total Miles Travelled: 8572

Total Gas Used Today: 8 Total Gas Used: 187

Weather: Cool and Very Windy (53-78 F)

Took the bikes in to the Precision Kawasaki for a much need service call.  The team there was just great.  They installed a new back tire on Optimus Prime and completed oil changes on both bikes (see pix).  The service, conversation, and coffee at Red Deer Precision Kawasaki were outstanding.

Headed south toward the Montana border crossing at 1 p.m.  The high winds sweeping across the open Montana plains were gusting from the west in excess of 40 MPH forcing cars, trucks and us to end the day early at Conrad, Montana.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

Met these nice people at our motel in Red Deer, Alberta. The gave to our cause by giving us $60 for meal expenses.

Mechanic prepare to remove old time from Optimus Prime

Service team at Red Deer Precision Kawasaki

Red Deer, Alberta

Jeff assist a young lady with car trouble

HOPERIDERS’ DAILY JOURNAL

28 June 2011

Day: 17

From: Pink Mountain, British Columbia                To:  Red Deer,  Alberta

Miles Travelled today: 607   Total Miles Travelled: 8221

Total Gas Used Today: 13  Total Gas Used: 179

Weather: Cool and Sunny (50-70 F)

Left Pink Mountain at 0700 heading south  toward Dawson Creek where we said farewell to the awesome ALCAN Hwy with all its treasures and dangers.  Turned right (south) at Edmonton, in accordance with our new route, toward Calgary and settled in for the night at Red Deer, Alberta.  Optimus Prime’s back tire is almost bald (see before and after pixs) and I must replace it tomorrow morning.

RIDE SAFE – RIDE STRONG

HOPERIDERS

DAY ONE -- MEFO TIRE WITH 500 MILES

DAY 17 Mefo tire with 8221 miles to include over 1000 miles of the Ice Trucker Road and over a 1000 miles of the ALCAN HWY. This is a very good tire.