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Steve “Rollin’” Rolland lived up to his nickname in August of 2008 by visiting all 48 contiguous states in under 10 days on his 2004 Vegas.
“Breckenridge, MN, was the last stop on my Iron Butt Association ‘48 States in Less Than 10 Days’ ride,” the Wisconsin rider said. “I started this ride just south of Milwaukee, WI, and finished 9 days, 14 hours and 22 minutes later after passing though all of the lower 48 states.”
The 8,199.7-mile trip was the third Iron Butt ride for the Vegas. “A lot of trouble free miles,” said Rollin’, who had to ride an extra 550 miles to get home from Breckenridge.
His high-mileage day was 968 miles on Day 8, and his high-spirit day was probably Day 10: He asked a pastor to sign his final gas receipt as a witness, and he got invited to a church picnic, where he enjoyed the best food he had eaten in 10 days.
Rollin’ earned Iron Butt Assn. (IBA) 48 States in 10 Days certification for his journey. He has also earned SaddleSore 1000 certification (at least 1,000 miles in less than 24 hours) on a trip from Milwaukee to Las Vegas, and in 2007 he and his Vegas covered 1,500 miles in less than 24 hours on a trip from Milwaukee to Tijuana to earn Butt Burner Gold 1500 certification.
What follows is an abridged 48-State journal that Rollin had posted on the web. Even in this condensed version, it’s fascinating to see the trip’s up and downs.
But if there’s anyone who is likely to succeed in an Iron Butt challenge, it’s Rollin’.
48 States in Less Than 10 Days on a Victory Vegas
By Steve “Rollin’” Rolland
[Abridged]
The story of my 48 state 10 day ride on a Victory Vegas. This is how it starts. I read a story about someone's ride and I think that's crazy! Then I find myself saying "I wonder if I could do that", then it starts…
This is the story of my attempt to ride to all 48 states in less than 10 days. I would be doing this ride on a 2004 Victory Vegas. The equipment on the bike would include two GPSs (one for back-up), a map tank bag with three maps and a Schwinn water bottle.
I would also be bringing a spare drive belt, clutch cable, spark plugs and an oil filter, two jackets, five pairs of gloves and a rain suit.
The first thing that I would need to do is plan a route that would hit all lower 48 states and do it in as few a miles as possible. To do this I used the MapSource program that came with my Garmin 2720 GPS. This route would start just south of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and end in Breckenridge, Minnesota. Planning this map would take weeks. I would not be using the route in the GPS. Instead I would download 26 way points to the GPS that I would use to steer myself around the country.
I am going to have this ride certified by the Iron Butt Association (IBA) so I will need to follow their rules for this ride. My first gas receipt would be my first state and my start time, my last gas receipt would be my end time. I would need a gas receipt for all 48 states, plus I would need to save all my receipts (food, motels, tolls) for the ride so that the IBA can see my route.
Day 1
I started this ride on Thursday, August 7 at 8:15 p.m. I started at that hour because my start time would be my end time 10 days later, and my goal would be to do the needed 800+ miles before 8:15 p.m. each day.
The MapSource program showed that this ride would be 8,000 miles, so I would need to average over 800 miles each day for the next 10 days.
I started at a gas station in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. I am going to head east first so that I can do the East Coast over the weekend, hopefully there will be less traffic. I am also going to try to stay on Central time as much as I can.
I get my first gas receipt, check the numbers and head for Illinois. When I get my first receipt in Illinois the receipt is bad, it doesn't show the city or state so I ride one block to the next gas station and try again. This receipt is good. The ride continues. Receipts would continue to be a problem along the East Coast. I would be waiting for the receipt and it would say “see attendant,” or it would say “printing receipt” and nothing would come out. More time wasted.
When I reached the end of Ohio, I stopped at a truck stop, I was getting tired so I went inside to get a coffee and to walk around a little. I didn't know I would be staying here for a while. I sat on the side of a padded bench, laid back – just to rest – and fell asleep. I slept for about an hour. I felt good and it was time to go.
When I went back outside everything was wet, it had rained again. I least I missed the rain this time. I was able to make it to Vermont the first day. The weather forecast doesn't look good but I wouldn't have any more rain until Florida.
Total miles for day one: 942. A good start.
Day 2
The next morning in Vermont it's 52 degrees with heavy fog. It would be a slow start. I pick up a newspaper in Maine. I'm going to buy one in each of the four corners to show what day I was there.
Day two would be a long day. Traffic and a lot of toll roads.
Total miles for day two: 716. Way below the needed 800 miles.
Day 3
I was in Maine Saturday morning and in Florida by Sunday night. I had done the East Coast in good time but I was worn out. I was dehydrated and I hadn't eaten much. I was tired and sore and I really didn't think I could do another seven days. At this point I am deciding if I should continue.
Total miles for day three: 938.
Day 4
The morning of day four I feel better and decide to try to make it to all 48 states even if I don't make it in 10 days. First I need a gas receipt in Florida and then on to Mississippi.
It's another 14 miles to the gas station in Florida and then another 14 miles back to where I am. (More delays.) Before I leave Florida it starts to rain, time for the rain suit. It would rain (pouring rain at times) for 300 miles. The rain stops in central Mississippi and after that everything goes well.
Good weather, no traffic, no tolls and no more problems with gas receipts. Now the ride is fun!
Total miles for day four: 819
Day 5
Day five starts in Sikeston, Missouri, and takes me through Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and ends in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Total miles for day five: 902.
Day 6
Day six. It's time for an oil change. I stop at a dealer in Flagstaff but they say that they are busy and they could do it in a little over an hour. I need to average 60 mph every day so every minute I stop I lose a mile. I can't wait. I have tools with me, so I buy oil and ask if I can use a drain pan and I change the oil myself in their parking lot.
I will get up at 4:30 a.m. (Central) every day and try to be on the road by 5:30 a.m. At 5:30 a.m. in New Mexico it is 55 degrees. I can't believe how cold it has been on this trip. It is August it's suppose to be hot!
I make to Needles, California, that afternoon and it's 111 degrees. Careful what you wish for.
Day six starts in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and takes me through Arizona, California and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Total miles for day six: 839.
Day 7
Day seven starts in Las Vegas, Nevada, and takes me through Utah, Oregon, Washington and ends in Riggins, Idaho.
Total miles for day seven: 926.
Day 8
The next day there would be 300 miles of twisting mountain roads to start the day. I'm on Hwy. 12 in Idaho when I see a “Moose Crossing” sign. I start laughing until I see a moose walking along the side of the road. I don't have time to get my digital camera so I use the disposable camera that I have in my tank bag.
Day eight was a long day. I was setting the alarm for 4:30 a.m. Central time and because of the time zone change and my math skills I was up at 3:30 a.m. Central and on the road at 4:30 a.m.
I didn't know that it was that early until I was leaving the parking lot and one of the parking lot lights lit up my clock on the bike. Per the GPS I rode 975 miles that day. Long day!
Day eight started in Riggins, Idaho, and ended in Casper, Wyoming.
Total miles for day eight: 968.
Day 9
Day nine starts in Casper, Wyoming, and goes through Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and ends in Elk Point, South Dakota.
Total miles for day nine: 809.
Day 10
Day 10. I only have 268 miles to go and I have until 8:15 p.m. to make it. I still need a gas receipt for North Dakota and then on to Breckenridge, Minnesota.
I made it to Minnesota by 10:37 a.m. I had made it in less than 10 days. I had made it in 9 days and 14.5 hours – 9.5 hours to spare.
My final 48-10 mileage: 8199.7.
‘Can I Get a Witness?’
After I get my last receipt I need to find two witnesses. I had planned to go to a bank and have a notary sign my form. I went to three closed banks before I remembered that it was Sunday.
I found one witness but I still needed another. I was riding to the hospital to see if they would sign my form and I was passing a church and the congregation was just leaving. Perfect. What could be better than a minister for a witness.
I go inside and show the Pastor (David) the map, and tell him the story of the ride. We would talk for along time and he agrees to sign my witness form.
We talk for a while after he signs and then he asks me if I would like to go to a picnic. He said that they were going to the park after the service for a picnic, and asks if I would like to go.
This is great. I haven't eaten and I haven't had any real food for 10 days. What a great way to end the day. The food was great and it gave me a chance to meet and talk to a lot of people.
Day 10 started in Elk Point, South Dakota, took me through North Dakota and ended in Breckenridge, Minnesota.
Total miles for day 10: 268.
After the picnic it was another 550 miles to get home. I stayed in Black River Falls, Wisconsin that night. After the Falls, it was only 200 miles to get home. I made it back to Wisconsin on Monday, August 18.
Total mileage for the trip – per the bike speedo – was 8,681.
The first three days were hard and then the ride became fun. Every day was easier. It seemed like I could ride farther every day. Fun trip. I learned a lot (I know where all the states are again) and met a lot of people.
I can't wait to go again!
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