Reports from the road
Days on the road: 2
Day mileage: 450
JF total mileage: 2453
Gale total mileage: 921
States/Provinces: Arkansas, Tennessee
A 7:00 AM start but lots of stops due to nodding off from the heat. At almost every stop we have people talk to us and comment on our motorcycle trip and all the gear we’re carrying.
Maintained 75 miles an hour almost all day and arrived in Pigeon Forge, TN around dinner time. Too much traffic, too touristy, too many hotels to try to pick from.
Days on road: 1
Day mileage: 471
JF total mileage: 2003
Gale total mileage: 471
States/Provinces: Texas, Arkansas
One bite at a time – that’s how you eat an elephant. I would call a 12,000 mile trip an elephant (for me) and we had our first 471 mile course today with a couple side dishes added – a severe thunderstorm complete with mud bath and near 100 degree humid heat after the storm.
We didn’t make it 30 minutes from the house before the storm let loose and we had to get off 121 and hide under the highway on Legacy Road until the storm let up enough for us to ride. Once on the road again I got a complete splash down with mud water when a vehicle blasted through a mud puddle next to me on 75 in McKinney. First time to be temporarily blinded while riding. Fortunately it was still pouring rain so the mud was quickly rinsed off my visor.
We made to West Memphis, Arkansas as planned around 9:00 in the evening.
I know I have great guardian angels — anyone who knows me knows who they are.
I have always thought Jean-Francois may have even better guardian angels than I do, as was proved once again today. This afternoon he walked back to his motorcycle after taking a break to stretch his legs and a trucker pointed out his rear tire. About an inch down from the rim of the rear tire the steel belts were showing. And no — the tire was not under inflated. Jean Francois had no idea why the tire wore on the side.
This occurred outside Gallup, New Mexico at 4:00 PM on a Friday afternoon. Jean-Francois immediately called me so I could do an internet search for motorcycle dealers. I found Desert Cycle in Gallup not far off I 40 so he took their number.
They didn’t have a brand new tire that fit his wheel, but they had a practically brand new one with a mushroom plug in it. They sold it to him and mounted it for $40.
The kindness of people when you’re on the road always warms my heart.
Jean-Francois called by 6:00 PM ready to get back on the road. He mentioned that he had thought earlier in the day that he had never had a blow out on the road and with all the miles he had ridden he was probably about due. Not a blow out, but close enough. Probably would have been without the thoughtfulness of the trucker who pointed it out.
A big thank you to the trucker and the folks at Desert Cycle.
Jean-Francois is on schedule and on his way to Texas. He expects to arrive at my house in the Highland Village, Texas late Friday or Saturday.
I guess this mean the trip has officially begun, although I’m expecting it to take a couple weeks once he arrives to purchase another motorcycle, and both of us organize and pack.