Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice SS1000

December 21, 2018

An equinox is an astronomical event in which the plane of Earth's equator passes through the center of the Sun which occurs twice each year, around 20^th of March and 23^rd of September.  The March equinox is known as the Vernal Equinox, or, in the northern hemisphere, as the Spring Equinox.  The September equinox is known as the Autumnal equinox, or, in the northern hemisphere, as the Fall Equinox. 

A solstice is an event occurring when the Sun appears to reach its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 21^st of June and 21^st of December. The seasons of the year are determined by reference to both the solstices and the equinoxes.

Iron Butt Association (IBA) Guidelines: You may ride any certifiable ride.  Most riders choose to ride a SaddleSore 1000 (SS), but some have ridden Butt Burner Gold’s 1500 (BBG), and even a very few have ridden 50CC Quests (Coast to Coast) on each of the four astronomical events to qualify for the Four Seasons 50CC Quest Award! 

You must be riding sometime during the date of the solstice or equinox.  Purists choose to be riding at the exact time of the solstice or equinox.

You must earn the same type of certified ride for each of the four astronomical events. The four rides need not occur on consecutive astronomical events, and your qualifying rides may span more than one year. When you accomplish all four rides you can earn the FourSeasons Award.

This was a therapy ride for me. I’m not sure why, maybe it’s a lot of little things. So, about a week out I realized that it would be the Winter Solstice and I knew that the Iron Butt Association had some sort of ride for the solstice and equinox that happen every three months. So, planning began and within a few hours I had a ride put together for December 21^st.

I know that following my regular sleep schedule is the easiest for me; got up at 5 am and was at my start by 6 am. I thought it would be colder than it was; 47^o was not bad. Off I went into the desert on a hog named Zoey (headed to Tucson, AZ). The ride through the Virgin River George is always nice, I may have exceeded the 55 mph limit, but if I did it would be by much? Ya, right.

No traffic problems through Las Vegas, another surprise. Stopped in Boulder City for gas – I didn’t really pay attention to my receipt, other than the date and time, until I got home – the total was $2.81, and I know I got at least four gallons?

Outside of Wickenburg AZ, there were two traffic accidents that slowed traffic quite a bit. The first one was north bound and the second one, about 5 miles further was on my side. I noticed a lot of northbound traffic turning off the freeway through an opening in the fence and then taking a frontage road south? Soon I could see some of the southbound traffic doing a U-turn through the median. Of course, a hog can do a little dirt every now and then. I followed. I didn’t lose any time. However, four hours later I was north bound in this area and the freeway way was a total mess. I tried to find some secondary roads which was a waste of time. I did end up further up the backed traffic line, so it only me about 30 minutes.

The rest of the time was just doing time, the full moon was nice, listened to two books on-tape and an NBA game. The last hour or so the temperature dropped to 34^o I had put on a face mask and turned on my heated gear (no heated pants). So, I really didn’t notice how cold my legs and feet were, until I got home. The wife sure didn’t like it when I got in bed. I guess cold feet on warm legs only works one sided.

This is my third IBA ride, and I’m sure one of these times I will get every picture I need, every “t” crossed, and every “I” dotted. But it all seems to work out to get that little certificate that reminds us we can meet the challenge and even get a little therapy along the way.

Thanks to the IBA for much of the background information in the Post.