<The greatest plans of mice and men oft go astray>. A beautiful morning found us in Robinson, IL, a quick 200 miles from home. A quick refill of the tank and we sped for a mile before my bike quit. Just lost power and slowed as I rolled to a driveway of a cement plant. Starter would not crank, nothing...now they say, all you need is spark, fuel and oxygen to fly down the highway, but the devil is <always> in the details. So, luggage off, seat off, fuel tank up, lots of side covers off...(You have to strip these metric bikes to the bone to service them). Did I mention it is now 90 degrees? I called the guys in service at Riva Motorsports in Pompano Beach, FL (where my Dad shops). Thanks, Carlo. They were great in talking me through a few debug steps but ultimately couldn't help. I found the fuse box and lo and behold the 15 A ignition circuit fuse had blown! Being the saavy traveller I happen to have some spares, two in fact. I replace the fuse and it immediately blows. I try one more and lo, the bike starts. I re-assemble but go nowhere as that last fuse shorts out. Now at this point I should have started a search for the short that is causing the problem...but I opt for the AMA (the other one) Roadside assistance.
Two hours later, we load the bike on a flatbed and head off for Thompson's Motor Sports in Terra Haute, IN. First a shout out to Poor Boy's towing: Thanks Steve and Grayson. Second, let me just say that the reception I got at thompson's was great. The service guys told me they realized I was on a trip and would do their best to get us back on the road. And boy, did they!
We wandered the Honey Creek Mall for two hours. Our return to Thompson's showed Xray ready to roll again. The cause (as explained in great detail by the mechanic): a short just under the fuse box!! I was inches from having been able to fix this myself.
Be that as it may, thanks to the great folk at Thompson's we were back on the road by 4 PM. A four hour jaunt up on the backroads to 94 finally brought us home. A temperature of 57 degrees as night fell added insult to injury caused by the horrible road conditions in Chicago.
An ignomious end, but an end none-the-less. The light was on, the hearth was on and the steaks were ready as we walked in the door. A warm embrace from the wife, the kids and the dog sealed the deal. There is no place like home.
The 4th ride is now in the bag. We'll have to see where the fundraising leads.
Dsc
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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Day 3, Mile 1735, Robinson, IL
The home stretch. We are approximately 250 miles out after a lovely evening ride through the heartland of Illinois. We rode up IL 1 along the border of the state. We have avoided most of the heavy weather with the severe thunder storms now below us and moving east.
An easy if not hot and humid ride to the Windy City and back to the real world.
Dsc
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An easy if not hot and humid ride to the Windy City and back to the real world.
Dsc
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Monday, June 8, 2009
Day 2, Mile 15xx, Take the last to Clarksville
We can be there by 4:30; don't be slow...oh no, no, no...
Well, the rain gear only stayed on for about 15 minutes. Then the heat and humidity were killing us so off they came. The rain was the tail of a front passing north of us so we are in the clear heading north.
Our train will leave Clarksville then head to Evansville, IN. From there, its a straight shot up the IL/IN border home.
Dsc
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Well, the rain gear only stayed on for about 15 minutes. Then the heat and humidity were killing us so off they came. The rain was the tail of a front passing north of us so we are in the clear heading north.
Our train will leave Clarksville then head to Evansville, IN. From there, its a straight shot up the IL/IN border home.
Dsc
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Day 2, Mile 1378; the road to Nashville
Bustin' out the rain gear...there's got be a country song there somewhere.
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Sunday, June 7, 2009
Day 1, Mile 1316; The nameless road to the secret city
We rode through Gatlinburg which turns into a real tourist town with restaurants, souvenir shops, attractions, etc. It was packed on this hot, gorgeous day. Cars and motorcycles clog the main drag.
We continue on TN 321 but then turn back into the Smokey Mtn National Forest. Rather than continue south down 411 (toward the Dragon), we turn right toward Townsend. What do we find? You guessed YABRR! But this river has a difference: tubers and swimmers! Absolutely enticing. Great pictures.
We continue from Townsend to Maryville and then on US 140 to Oak Ridge, the secret city; home of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 Security Complex.
Tomorrow, we turn North.
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We continue on TN 321 but then turn back into the Smokey Mtn National Forest. Rather than continue south down 411 (toward the Dragon), we turn right toward Townsend. What do we find? You guessed YABRR! But this river has a difference: tubers and swimmers! Absolutely enticing. Great pictures.
We continue from Townsend to Maryville and then on US 140 to Oak Ridge, the secret city; home of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 Security Complex.
Tomorrow, we turn North.
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Day 1, Mile ??, Gatlinburg, TN
We came over 74 West to 26 to Asheville, then picked up 40 over the Smokies. 40 is the park is a great slab; 70 mph through twisting forest.
We then found a small gem, the Foothills Parkway that connects 40 to Maryville, TN. Beautiful. We are continuing 321 S to Maryville re-entering the park.
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We then found a small gem, the Foothills Parkway that connects 40 to Maryville, TN. Beautiful. We are continuing 321 S to Maryville re-entering the park.
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Day 1, Mile 1035, Charlotte
The ride home begins. Our first stop is Knoxville, TN. That means, we are <forced> to ride west through the smoky mountains again. Some of the best greenward twisties foisted upon us. It is a dirty job but someone besides Mike Rowe must do it.
Westward, Ho!
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Westward, Ho!
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Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Day 2, Mile 879.5, Brevard NC
A great start to a great day. I decided to head south on 441 to get to 64 E as the latter is marked as a scenic route. THAT is quite an understatement. 64 E is YASRR (yet another spectacular river road). When the road begins with a warning sign, <narrow road and sharp turns next 40 miles; trucks consider alternate> you know life is going to be good. 64 serpentines itself next to the Cullsuja (Tuskagee?) River and then other branches of the savannah river basin. Between the rapids and the waterfalls along the way there is an abondance of spots just beggin' for a visit and a photo (I only gave in half the time). At the end of the first part of 64 just before Highlands is a rest area built into a waterfall. You can even drive dehind the water! Spectacular.
Highlands is a lovely tourist/nature town set as a gateway to wilderness.
From Highlands to Brevard is more of the same; beatuiful twisties, with residential communities springing up left and right. I hope all the folks here are bikers as this is some of the finest bikin' land.
Now on to Charlotte. Gotta meet up with the Old Man.
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Highlands is a lovely tourist/nature town set as a gateway to wilderness.
From Highlands to Brevard is more of the same; beatuiful twisties, with residential communities springing up left and right. I hope all the folks here are bikers as this is some of the finest bikin' land.
Now on to Charlotte. Gotta meet up with the Old Man.
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