Why? to Whynot! and Saddlesore 2000 - Day 2 Part 2

That's all I needed.  😄

If you'll recall, I did leave about an hour earlier than I had expected. Add to that the hour gained to this point in the entire ride, and I'm still not realizing that I'm really beating my plan with overall efficient riding.
I know roughly how far, and I know roughly how long, but the brain still can’t process that I need to do this ride of 800-odd miles that normally takes ten hours (factoring in gas and food…) in about 14 hours. I just know that I have to get back onto that horse and ride.
I didn’t plan this part of the ride; all by the seat of my pants, and with help from Google Maps and the bike’s GPS. I knew that I had to ride south-east until I reached I-10, then the jaunt across Florida to the Jacksonville area. In addition, I had to make certain that I was continuing to follow the IBA guidelines; receipts at ‘corners’ and making sure that Spotwalla was still dropping bread crumbs periodically.
I knew the first segment meant staying on Alabama Hwy 10, well into the state. I made certain that I got the ‘welcome’ sign. I’m pretty sure that every state I’ve been in, I’ve managed to snap that photo. Since this isn’t my first time here in the Cotton State on two wheels, a practice shot for the real sign I need to grab on this trip (Florida) in just a couple of hours, I hope, was taken.

"Welcome to Alabama" sign

As I’m wandering, I’m now in the mood for food. Not much, but something. I continue until a fast food joint crosses my path, still being mindful over time.
A few minutes to stop, eat and to get my receipts and documents in order for the first ride, then back on the road. A combination of the ‘ending’ there at Whynot, along with this food receipt, begins showing my routing. Two large manilla envelopes - one for the eastbound ride, one for the westbound ride - held the receipts in a more permanent storage. A ziploc bag velcro’d to my small clipboard is where they go as the ride progresses. It’s been said for years, and it continues to be true - organization is the key to success!
There was one small problem. As I started the motorcycle, I noticed that one headlight was out. A decision point has been reached. I can ignore it, be ‘bear bait’ with one headlight out, and take my chances. Since I have extra light bulbs on the bike, and enough tools and faculties about me now, I probably should change it out. Oh, yeah, it’ll be dark right about the time I get back to I-10.

Stop 4 - Thomasville, Alabama

A bit of riding thru one small town after the next got me to Repton, AL. A post office right along the main road, closed. A good location to take care of this task.

USPS, 1801 Conaly St, Repton, AL repair 12:56 14:03 1:07

The bike is parked to take advantage of the natural light behind me. The tools needed are extracted, along with the spare bulb I carry. Removal of the bad bulb took about five minutes. It went straight to the trash can. Installation of the replacement? Well, that took a bit longer. I futzed around for twenty minutes...why doesn’t it fit in there? I had a look at the operational side to figure out the problem.

"I've done this before, but never 'on the clock'"!!!

Stop 5 - "What in the world am I doing?!"

Bike repair while mentally fatigued, not recommended!

At this point, I should state this section of the report, being written several months later, and with the clarity of thought of that time past, I should not have tossed that bulb. On a Goldwing, there’s a mechanical adapter that fits the generic H-7 bulb into the socket, which then provides the clearance to plug in the harness to the bulb. In trying to be efficient, when that old bulb went into the trash can, so did my adapter. D’oh!
I’m blaming this 100% of mental fatigue. So, the good side, then the bad side get buttoned up. Back on the road. Again, common theme, but I thought that had taken close to 90 minutes, but it was only a bit more than an hour.
Observation: You’re an Alabama fan, or an Auburn fan. There really doesn’t seem to be anything else here.
Enough of that - back on the bike, navigation has given me a good simple route to get to I-10, let’s go!

Stop 6 - Andalusia, Alabama

Mr Henry's #4, 18710 Hwy 84, Andalusia, AL 15:01 15:19 0:18

Nature called, part of the reason why this stop is so much longer than all of the others, with the notable exception of the loitering I did back in Whynot.
Resume riding by taking every Google recommended road to get me to I-10. So, now I’m actively looking for that sign to capture a photo of as I’m moving...unless I’m able to get a position to take the shot while I’m stopped.

"Welcome to Florida" sign - my 26th state on a motorcycle!

"Welcome to Florida" sign - my 26th state on a motorcycle!

Gee, backwater Florida looks amazingly similar to backwater Alabama - and I’m not using those terms in a derogatory way.

Returning to Interstate 10

Civilization, then Interstate 10. I’ve not been over 70 miles an hour for it seems to be days, but it’s really only been a few hours. Point the bike east, kick in the cruise control and head for - my next fuel stop.
A fully planned ride that has the luxury of identifying all of the conveniently placed fuel stops is very helpful for those short duration stops. Since I’ve now returned to riding in the dark...hey, lookie there. Moonrise. The third consecutive one I’ve seen while on the back of a motorcycle.
As I was saying...difficult to find that perfectly spaced location to stop and get fuel. I was doing a little more research by phone. Yes, while moving. I was finally able to identify something close, both for food and fuel. Fortunately, they were across the street from each other.

Stop 7 - First food in Tallahassee, Florida

Stop 7 - Then gas in Tallahassee, Florida

Whataburger, 2586 Monroe St. Tallahassee, FL 17:49 18:10 0:21
Circle K, 2683 Monroe St, Tallahassee, FL 18:11 18:17 0:06

I was beginning to think that the chances of making the SS2000 were...well, again, that failure to keep track of time is really messing with my head. I’ve crossed into eastern time zone, and the brain still struggles with time. Now, it doesn’t matter, just get to the room.
I’m still randomly futzing around with the phone. “Do I smell rain?” Fire up weather radar app - yep, there is is headed directly for Jax - and me! Okay, I’ve ridden this far with no issues with weather of any type. If it’s a LD ride, there has got to be some weather in there, right? I knew it would hit me in the last 25 or so miles, and when it did, it was a cooling rain, and actually felt good. The closer I got, the more I realized this is a tropical rainstorm.

Welcomed by rain while approaching Jacksonville, Florida

The corner of my eye then noted that my phone is going crazy. As I mentioned earlier, the main navigation was via Maps, since I had set it up to navigate me directly to my lodging. In the torrential rain in the middle of the night, I made the turn from I-10 onto I-295 loop freeway, but couldn’t get phone to respond. This is bad - I need to stop and get this sorted out.
I then find the next exit, and get off freeway. I have a choice, I take the right turn. Now, I start looking for a for bank, a car wash - someplace with a cover - only need it for a few minutes to make sure I haven’t screwed over my phone and to understand the remaining directions...
Pow!
A lightning strike - close, as flash and bang were simultaneous.
As it looks like there might one to the right, I’m searching for one, so I pull in there. I begin to circle around and see what this place is, two hearses are parked under the awning nose-to-tail! - it’s a funeral home. As I sneak around to the back “Is there room for me to get the bike in here with the hearses parked here?? YES!”

Stop x - Weather delay for lightning - Jacksonville, Florida

Stop 8 - Weather delay for lightning - Jacksonville, Florida

Stop 8 - Weather Delay - Lightning 20:26 20:33 0:07

Now I have a chance to spend a few minutes getting the screen of the phone dry enough to respond. Now I can see the exit I need is only a few additional miles away - surface streets, or again back to the freeway - freeway it is!
Circle around again, get back to the freeway, and get to the exit I need. Turn left, just under the highway, first light, right turn - there it is!

Ramada Inn, 3130 Hartley Rd, Jacksonville, FL 20:49 21:15 0:26

With a nice big awning to park under at this time of night, I try to dry off. I really need to check in first. The lobby door was locked, so a knock and a couple minutes of waiting, the door is activated. Dripping wet, I check in, get my room key, then slosh back to the bike.
A few more minutes of drying off, both me and the bike, I noticed...has the rain passed thru? I’m pretty certain that I’ve made the 2000+ mile requirement, but I’m now thinking about the LD rider wisdom of the Jacksonville Beach area. Yes, law enforcement does sign off the forms. Find the gas station, then the PD station, then to get to bed!

Stop 9 - Check-in at Ramada Inn, Jacksonville, Florida

With gear back on, I mount back onto the bike with the GPS programmed to take me to the police station. More freeway, then to A1A. A couple of stop lights, then the infamous Gate gas station. We’re here!
Just a few dollars of gas needed to get that final receipt - check it, it’s good and I made it!

Stop 10 - Gate Gas, Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Gate Gas, Jacksonville Beach - END 21:23

Now, let’s get that next task done - the ending form signature. The LD wisdom did confirm thru many riders that you can just ride up to the police station and ask them to do this. Let’s see how true that wisdom is. It’s just a few blocks away, so riding thru town quietly, I check out what I can with the storm damage that was experienced just a couple of weeks earlier with Hurricane Matthew. At least long the main drag, no significant damage that I can see - but again, it’s the middle of the night.
Finally, arrival at the police station. My first thought was this is a setup, but what can they do - arrest me? Entry to the lobby, a sign points me to a monitor when you buzz in. I do, and a few seconds later, a dispatch officer is on camera “Can I help you?”
“I have a certification form I’d like to get signed from the Iron Butt ride I just completed.”
“Oh, one of those Ironbutt crazies. I’ll send an officer right out.”
In a few minutes, I’m greeted by a 20-something officer.
“My corporal just gave me a brief description - you guys are crazy!”
After a few minutes of chatting, we went out to the bike, when he noted the mileage, along with my license plate on the bike.
“Arizona, huh?”
“Yep. Less than 48 hours ago, and over 2000 miles away!”
“Wow. Impressive!”
“Oh, by the way, let your corporal know that I’ll be doing this again Monday night/Tuesday morning”
“Sure, no problem!”

How strange is this stop? Jacksonville Beach Police Headquarters

At this point, I reverse the direction I just came from, and head back to the room. I’m now off the clock; feels good after nearly two days of being on the clock. My room was toward the back of the establishment, fairly close to the parking area, but at this time of - now morning, all the close in spots were taken - except one. I got it!
I get the gear off the bike, get in the room and a nice warm shower
Then sleep. Slightly over 48 hours and ~2200 miles from home. A day or so of recovery awaits.

Coming out to get the last bit of gear off the bike before I shower - and sleep!

••END••