Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice SS1000

June 21, 2019

This is my second ride towards the Iron Butt Association (IBA) Four Seasons Ride. The first ride, Winter Solstice 2018 can be found here. The Four Seasons Ride is made up rides ridden on the Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, and the Fall Equinox.

The weather has been strange this year, colder and more raining days. Then the temps jump right into the 100-degree range. I had been trying to figure out a 50 CC, Coast to Coast in 50 hours, that didn’t seem the stars would line up for. So, it was the summer solstice and there was a cool front coming in, I was off work, and the bike was working great; stars for this ride were lined up.

Well, it wasn’t a cool front, it was a cold front. I rode in the low 50’s most of the time. I even burnt my hand on the heated grips! I had gloves on, and the grips were only on 2 out of 6, but I guess I didn’t move my hand enough, I now have a one-inch round blister on the right side of my palm.

I had head winds most of the way north, which continued throughout the trip, which meant I had a tail wind most of the way back. I rode north on I-15 to Tremonton, UT, then I-84 west to Twin Falls, ID, then turned around and followed that path back.

It is still a challenge to get all the information I need documented when I stop. IBA Rides require getting a business receipt, taking a picture of it with the odometer, sending a message on Spotwalla, and logging everything in my notebook. But it went better than last time, and since I had stops planned out that let me travel faster on the freeway (80 mph), I made good time.

The best part was with it being cooler, my butt didn’t get hot which improved creature comfort. When I first heard about Iron Butt rides it was hard to believe you could cover these distances and do it safely and in relative comfort. To each his own, I guess. They are addicting…

Great ride, beautiful weather and scenery, and with no problems and it was awesome.