Bad weather on the way to my final!

Screwed!!!! Lol! This will be awesome!!!

Spa treatment?

Because she's 12,000 miles today? No. You all know me better than that. Its because Speedway's damned pump didnt shut off, and she had petrol all over the place!!! Grrrr!!!!

Twelve thousand miles of Suzuki fun!

12K=Needs maint...

Fairweather Friends

All the fairweathers are out today, taking up my hardcore space.

Sportsters are tiny

I never noticed it before because I've never seen my bike right up next to a Hardly but Sportsters are pretty tiny. Like not much bigger than a Honda Rebel.  Wierd.

Nice sunset

Its always appreciated to see this in the rearview rather than black clouds ahead.

Last leg of the journey

On the final leg home, I stopped in Nashville Indiana and got some lunch. I also walked around looking at all the cool shops full of neat things you just cant get everywhere. I found fridge magnets for the states I visited. I got home around 530 and Kat came to give me a ten minute long hug. I guess she missed me for some reason! I was able to stay up until about 10pm before having to call it quits and go to bed. Five days of 10+ hours per day of riding with a lot of that being bad weather conditions has taken its toll. Not to mention the constant level of alertness required to stay safe on two wheels. Its not just physical, but a lot of it is mental too. On the ride down 65, I was passing a string of semi trucks. I dont like to hang out in their blind spots any more than I have to so I punched it. That oil/temp light came on again! I pulled in to the rest stop and moved the tool bag to the back of the bike out from in front of the radiator. I was going to get up some speed to test it out, but thats when it dropped down to 55mph in southern Indiana. It wasnt until the Gene Snyder that I was able to make a determination. I think that's got it fixed. I'll know for sure in warmer weather... Its nice to be home, in my own bed, with family and friends. I cant wait to see the kids...

Helpful hints.

As I prepare to head home into the storm, I will pass along a couple things ive learned.

# hot coffee on the inside helps.

# vaseline can help make rain bead on leather gloves and boots

# duct tape can help waterproof

# when you stop for gas, put your gloved hands on your pipes to warm them.

# all illinois roads a built in a way that they have mini speed bumps every so many feet. Avoid illinois whenever possible.

# if you can press on through the weather, do it. It might get better and you can always pull off.

# free continental breakfast is a good perk. Take advantage of it.

# eat small meals. Eat a bit of something like jerky or fruit when you stop for gas. Drink as much as you can...constantly.

The weather wins again

after leaving Le Claire it was my intention to take advantage of the good weather and head "straight for the barn" as they say. Well I didnt get too far when those pretty nasty looking rain clouds cropped up in central illinois. I was still in good spirits...i mean it was finally warmer, and I could handle a little wet. I got drenched, but I had my jacket and chaps on so I thought we'll just blow dry them at 70mph. I rode the rest of the day like that until dark. After dark it got real cold, and I didnt care for being still wet, and cold on top of that. I started having flashbacks of the previous three days! I had switched playlists on the ipod at my last gasup, and the theme song from the Ghost Rider movie came on so I pushed on for a few more exits. Finally, once it got dark I was unable to keep ignoring the flashes of lightning in the distance I was pointed and riding at. I stopped a couple places and found a room. I admit defeat. Again. Damnit, its mainly due to deficient gear! Also my gps keeps disconnecting and reconnecting. More I have to fiddle with while going down the road at interstate speeds. If I could keep 95% dry, this week would have been amazing. Still, as a good friend told me "even a bad time on 2 wheels is still a good time." This trip is putting that to. The test...

Look what just popped up!

this should be fun...

Antique Archeology!!!

Nobody from the show here, but its a cool place!

Almost ran out of gas!

I was trying to make time so I pushed fuel up out a ways. When I got off the exit and leaned in to the curve, it started cutting out! Now a small coffee & warm up. Then back on the road. If I dont hustle, I may not make it before 5pm when Antique Archeology closes! Time to spool up the FTL and make the jump!

Add Iowa, Logan!!

Iowa!

Nebraska!

Made it. Cold as hell...

This is how we do it...

Had to dry everything out overnght. All my stuff was soaked besides my dirty clothes so I did laundry too. Plan to leave soon. Its 6am.

Doing laundry...

Would it be irresponsible of me to pull my clothes and let them hang dry? God I am tired. And TIRED OF WAITING!!!

The only new state I got today. Another day spent from 9am to 9pm cold, wet, and miserable. I need new rain pants. I think these were worn out before I started out on Monday. I swear to god if this weather doesnt let the frack up, im gonna lose my mind. I tried to repair the pants by lining them on the inside with duct tape, but that only kept a little bit of me dry. My thighs and knees were so cold and wet for so long that they were purple. Ive been in dry jeans for 30 minutes or more, and my legs are still cold. I did get a break of about an hour today when it wasnt pouring which made me giddy with happiness and lulled me into a false sense of security-enough to change out of my mostly useless rain pants. That ended up being stupid becuase there was still a lot on the ground to be sprayed up when I got stuck behind a semi.

Seneca

I got drenched again. This time not quite as bad but a little wet at 65/70mph is pretty miserable. I passed into this little town called Seneca, MO and I saw a sign....a little glimmer of comfort... The sign read "Daylight Doughnuts" and where there are doughnuts, there is usually hot coffee! One doughnut, one cup of coffee, then i'm back on the road...i swear!!!

Chicken fried steak sandwich and petrol.

U kno what sittin on top of 50 feet of duct tape feels like? Trust me...u dont wanna know. Pants fixed, but not yet tested still... Gas/lunch done. ETA for Le Claire is 11:20pm. Sweet. :c

Just for Kat

No eggs or bacon...

I have seen some places go all out for their "continental" breakfast and some that do nothing (like the last two). This is ok. Hell, its free!

Crunchy??

Toothpaste must be old....its crunchy and gross...

Deathrace 800miles 12+hrs

Time to get the hell outta dodge. Todays plan involves 800 miles of interstate running thru Kansas, Nebraska (just touching it) then a B-line to Antique Archeology in Le Claire Iowa. I hope like heck i'll be able to cope with the rain. My rain pants are shot and I'm gonna attempt repairs with duct tape on the inside seams and then something to repel water on the outside. I dont know what could do it, but msg me if u can figure something out. Right now I might use lotion or vaseline? Dunnno...need soemthiing easy to find.

I checked in to my room that Kat found for me, and the guy at the desk asked me if I was AAA, CDL, AARP...well when he asked AARP I was a little irritated so I said I have a CDL but didnt bring it because im on the bike. He said I could give you the rate, but we have to make a copy of the license. Then he proceeded to take four calls while he was waiting on me. I think he felt bad about that, so I ended up with the discounted trucker CDL rate. When I got to the room here in the great state of Oklahoma, I turned on the heat full blast and laid out all the wet clothes as best as I could. Now I am next door at a four star restaurant. Ok, its really a diner. And the NAME is "four star" not the rating... The salad is super fresh and the thousand island tastes homemade and they have cake and pie in a rotating display case!

Blue Highways...

Ouachita National Forest....

OMG! Authentic Texas Toast

chicken fried steak, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, white gravy too. AND NOTHING NEEDS SALT! I LOVE THIS STATE!!!!

Dixie Maid

I am grabbing a bite at the Dixie Maid in Atlanta Texas. The last gasup the pump didnt shut off and now I am constantly smelling gas. I took the Airhawk in and rinsed it out, used the windshield washer on the paint areas of the bike. Weather looks good. I hope my crotch dries out soon! And butt, legs, etc. *sigh*

Some sunshine!

linden tx...i will take these clouds over gray any day. Gonna go strip off the wet clothes and see about drying out while lunching somewhere.

Texas

First oil well across border into texas.

I am as wet now as I ever have been. Cold wet making very poor time. Looking like this was a bad idea.