Stéphan's Iron Butt Rally Daily Updates
Leg One - Monday August 20 to Friday August 24, 2007
Last Updated:
25/08/2007 03:13 PM
Click here for Leg Two
Saturday August 18 - 4:30 pm (all times Eastern)
Stephan has arrived safely in St-Louis and will rest and try to get as much info before the rally starts. Already the IBR 2007 logo is giving a lot of hints on what is coming up. The logo incorporates many famous landmarks such as Mount Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty and Stephan recognised this famous landmark on the logo so he thinks Death Valley will be included in one of the bonuses. The weather is very hot in St-Louis (100 degrees F.) At least it's warmer than here.....
Sunday August 19 - 8:07pm
Finally the IBR logo was designed to throw people off a bit. The Statue of Liberty in the logo is really a replica that is in Birmingham Alabama as you can see here.
There are bonuses in Key West and Niagara Falls and Percé and Stéphan hasn't decided where to head out yet.
Monday August 20 - 10:00am (one hour before the start)
St-Louis,
Missouri - Stephan has decided to head to the North East. It is, in his words, pissing rain now in St.Louis and he wants to get out of the heat so he has decided to chase the bonuses in that direction. We will be heading out towards P.E.I. by way of Wheeling Illinois (judging by his Star-Traxx he changed his mind about Wheeling) and some National Monument (don't know which one) Here is the list of National Monuments.
He will make his way to P.E.I. via Buxton, Maine and then through Halifax, then Percé Rock. He will try to come back via Grand Marais Minnesota then through Chicago back to St-Louis. Remember that he has to be back to St-Louis on Friday at a certain time for the check in after leg 1. If he doesn't make it, he is disqualified. Below is the general plan without the National Monument.
Below is Stephan's original plan. The weather didn't cooperate. In the original plan I had mistaken Wheeling Illinois for Wheeling West Virginia therefore this map is wrong.
Tuesday August 21 - 04:00am
Stephan has been riding in the rain constantly except for a 2 hour break. He is not riding alone. He has joined Donna and Jim, a couple that came in 11th in 2005 and had ridden with Stéphan in the 2003 IBR. They are heading towards a big bonus at a dealership in Buxton, Maine and then Prince Edward Island and/or Percé depending on their time. They are currently 6 ,iles west of highway 87. Star-Traxx website is down so I can't give you a map.
Tuesday August 21 - 04:00PM
Buxton,
Maine - Stephan, Donna and Jim have reached the Buxton, Maine
bonus. The going is slow because of the rain (almost 24 hours solid) so they will cut out the PEI and Halifax bonuses and concentrate on Percé Rock. They have to time this well as they have to be there at low tide in order to get to the rock to plant a flag. Then, coming back west through Montreal, they will go for the Niagara Falls bonus before heading to Grand Marais. Here is a map as of Tuesday's progress until 8:00pm. They are trying to get to Canadian soil and pick up the 6 hour rest bonus after midnight.
Wednesday August 22 - 7:30am
Edmundston, New Brunswick - Stephan and Jim & Donna could not easily find a room but they finally found one in Edmundston. They good 6 hours rest which gives bonus points. They are off to Perce and have to reach it at low tide. If you look at the other 12 bikes in the Star-Traxx map, you will notice that 9 of the 12 seem to be heading to Perce. Stephan is ahead of the pack in Bike 8. After Perce it will be Niagara Falls for another bonus. That is quite the ride but since he will pass Montreal he knows the roads.
Thursday August 23 - 4:30am
Cornwall, Ontario - Stephan and Jim & Donna are resting in a motel in
Cornwall. They are planning their next bonus. Niagara Falls is still an option
and Grand Marais seems to be too far out of the way. To finish Leg One, you must
report in to St-Louis by 7:00pm on Friday to not lose any points and if you
don't report in by 9:00pm, you are out of the rally. Taking a chance can cause
the rally to be over before the half way point.
Thursday August 23 - 9:30pm
Clyde, Ohio - Bonus Acquired and St-Louis is now well in reach for 7:00 on Friday. There is also a 2231 point bonus in Milwaukee to pick up on the way. There are tornado warnings around Chicago and the rain is getting a little frustrating. Since Stephan is travelling with Donna and Jim he's in good hands because Donna is a nurse and his leg is doing pretty good.
Friday August 24 10:55am
Peru, Indiana - After a rest in Rochester Wisconsin, we now have time to get
the oil changed in the bikes. Thanks to Lacy at Max Pitts for taking care of
getting our bikes serviced. Here is
Max Pitts website.
Friday August 24 6:25 PM
St-Louis Missouri - Back at the checkpoint in time even though the rain was
a factor once again. Donna says hi to her sister back home. We will now take the
clues for the second leg and rest until 4am or so and get on with Leg two.