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Iron Butt ride
2025
3
Turn by turn directions:
I-465 to I-65 South to I-24 east to I-75 south to I-275 south to FL 60 west, total 1,023 miles in 23 hours 50 minutes to qualify for membership in the Iron Butt Association. Completed on August 17-18, 2015.
Return trip on US 19 north to Tallahassee, FL, US 27 to Chattanooga, US 127 to Frankfort, KY, US 421, IN 7, US 31, IN 144, IN 267 to Avon, IN. Completed August 20-22, 2015. A much more pleasant ride home with one tight switchback coming out of Chattanooga up Lookout Mountain and more sweeping curves going north.
Distinctive sights and experiences:
Went through Nashville in the middle of rush hour due to failing to consider they are in the central time zone and an hour behind us. Went through Atlanta on I-75 at 11:30 at night with light traffic (for Atlanta). Interstate is marked in the lane of travel, which was very convenient downtown where multiple highways converge and diverge.
The ride down to qualify for Iron Butt membership was a lot like going through boot camp. It expanded my experience, gave me pride in accomplishment (especially at my age – 73), but not something I want to do again.
Good places to eat on the route:
Baloney sandwich and a granola bar at Monteagle TN rest stop watching the semis struggle over the mountain. Campagno’s for pizza and Lenny’s (not part of the chain) for breakfast in Clearwater, FL.
Good places to sleep on the route:
Concrete picnic bench at a rest stop on the way down. (Actually, I stopped at a motel in McDonough, GA south of Atlanta for 4 hours. It felt good to me by then, but I would not recommend it).Stayed at the Magnuson Hotel in Clearwater and it was nice for $60 a night, with pool, breakfast, and handy to the water. Cumberland Lodge on US 127 at Russell Springs, KY was comfortable and inexpensive ($60- competition was $109 + tax)
Good places to camp on the route:
I rarely camp on longer rides. My body feels it is hard enough on it just to get there, without having to sleep on the ground. I really surprised myself (and my family) when I completed the Iron Butt qualification.
Favorite features of this ride:
Finishing it!!!!
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