1500 mile BunBurner from SC to IA...question?

[lolife]

Me & a co worker are thinking of trying the IBA Bun Burner which is 1500 miles in 36 hrs.  From Greenville SC to Le Claire IA is approx 800 miles.  We were thinking of riding to the "American Pickers" guys place & possibly getting Danielle to sign our witness paper.     We'll email first of course.

My question is what's a good month to try something in the midwest?  We want to wait until the weather cools off here in the south but I don't want to run into tornadoes or snow storms in the midwest.  Would this be a better spring or fall ride?

Here is a link to a possible route.  http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=greenville+sc&daddr=le+claire+ia&geocode=FQrPEwIdZsQW-ykFEfpiZo9XiDGWdiW_d52q2A%3BFWG_egIdciWd-inV2yRtVz_ihzGUVBu8EsZd_w&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=38.05106,-86.38131&sspn=11.58551,27.180176&ie=UTF8&ll=38.22092,-86.374512&spn=11.558293,27.180176&z=6

Any other opinions or tips would be appreciated.  

[stromgal]

Early October would be nice.  Good luck with your quest!

[Bounce]

Sounds right. Sept can still be in the high summer temps.

[scramblerracer123]

Like the others have said September/October should still be decent.  Better chance of Daniel wearing less when it is hot out though.  

[lolife]

Like the others have said September/October should still be decent.  Better chance of Daniel wearing less when it is hot out though.  

I didn't think about that but we'll see what we can do.    I'm going to email the American Pickers & ask them their hours & if they'd mind signing as a witness.  

[Cablebandit]

Why do you need a witness at the halfway point?

[lolife]

Why do you need a witness at the halfway point?

We don't but we a direction to go.  My first choice would be Key West but I've heard too many people say the  bridges will slow you down.  Me & another guy are going & we're both fans of American Pickers. It just happens to be 800 miles from SC to IA & it fits into the trip we want to do.  I don't know why but I think Danielle from that show is hot & it'd be cool to have her or even one of those 2 guys from the show sign our witness sheet just to be doing it.

I've emailed them to see if they'd be interested in signing our sheet but I haven't gotten a response yet.  Their shop is open is 12-4 pm & we were wanting to get to IA around 4 but by 5 at the latest.

[cbolling]

I have been dreaming of doing an SS1500 from Greenville also.  Here is the route that I came up with.


View Larger Map


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Greenville,+SC&daddr=Atlanta,+GA+to:Memphis,+TN+to:W+Plantation+Rd+to:I-57+N%2FI-64+W+to:US-52+N+to:Huntington,+WV+to:Statesville,+NC+to:Greenville,+SC&geocode=FQrPEwIdZsQW-ykFEfpiZo9XiDGWdiW_d52q2A%3BFQP4AgIdclf4-imNCZNpXQT1iDELYwuZL97-Zg%3BFd5WGAIdLPah-ilFl0PqHn7VhzH-thpgFfOT0Q%3BFeh6IgIdLIaj-g%3BFX5BSAIdtNqy-g%3BFQZESgId1lAV-w%3BFTI7SgIdnvwV-ym1MCR5quNFiDHUUUDtaDVx0w%3BFez_IQIdAMIt-ylVmzKYB1lRiDFgVJje9xMWBw%3B&gl=us&hl=en&mra=ls&via=3&sll=35.98923,-85.49249&sspn=9.894953,18.149414&ie=UTF8&ll=35.554574,-81.859131&spn=2.489084,4.537354&z=8

I like the idea of getting as many states as possible.  In this route you ride in 14 states in just 1500 miles.

[lolife]

cbolling you're more than welcome to join us in this ride.  We're looking to go in early October.  That would make 3 of us.  I wouldn't want to attempt this with more than 4 riders.  Our plan is to set it at 80 mph & ride gas stop to gas stop which will be approx 200 miles.  We're thinking we can cover 800 miles in 12-13 hrs.

I like your route & the 14 states is a great idea.  This is my first iron butt so I'm not sure on how this will all play out.  The only thing I see about your route is we'd be going through some pretty big cities.  Greenville, Charlotte, Charles WV, Lexington, Memphis & Atlanta.  The problem I see with that is in those cities is going to be traffic & cops.  Because of our work schedule, we're going to have to do this on a Fri/Sat.  If we could go during the middle of the week, it'd be easier.  

It's also a good many turns.  With a circular route like that, its nice to stay on different roads but if you go 1 direction, spend the night & return, you've already came that way & it should cut down on your chances of missing your exit & riding the wrong direction.

I'm not saying no to your route b/c I think it'd be fun to cover 14 states.  I'm just giving you my thoughts on it & what I'm thinking.  What's your thoughts?

We're not dead set on IA either.  We've been looking around & its 789 miles to Rock Tavern NY.  That's where OCC is.  Yes I watch that silly show but once you get north of Charlotte, you ride straight North on 2 different interstates.  We've never been that far north up the east coast & I think NY would be a neat destination.

If you want I can post my cell or send me an email.  Its 01rapidtransit@bellsouth.net

[cbolling]

lolife,

Sorry that I never replied.  I have been working so many hours that I forgot all about this thread and never even noticed that you replied.  Thanks for the invite, but there is no way I can work it yet.

For one thing I don't have the bike for it.  You mentioned 80mph and 200 mile fuel stops.  80 would be pretty close to WOT on the Shadow and I don't have near the 200 mile range. Hoping that there is a new bike in the near future. .

I agree with you about my route.  Lots of cities and turns which could be problematic.   One thing that I did like about it was riding in the 14 states and crossing the Mississippi River.

Of course, I see the benefit of an easy out and back.  OCC sounds like a pretty cool destination.

Here is another option that I was looking at:


View Larger Map

[cbolling]

If you don't mind keep me posted if you decide to go, I would love to know how it works out.  

[mmdrake]

LOts of beter places to go besides Iowa.  I know I lived there