Problem is, I had it in my head to go the long way, during record setting heat, with limited time. Sheesh. What a bozo.
So instead of WV and VA, I left thinking my best route would be over to Iowa, down through Missoura, Arkinsaw, over through Mephis, to Missithippi, Bama, Georgia, to Cherohala and the Dragon. All, in a blast furnace.
Poor planning #1 – left the house at 2PM instead of early AM on such a hot day.
Leaving Illinoise
On the way I came across the feeder canal to the Hennepin canal. Had a great weekend ride following the Hennepin earlier this summer. Ride report here:
Hennipin Canal Ride
Crossing into Iowa, I got a chance to score one of my best road pics ever! Antique Archeology was closed due to filming. Took some pics and suddenly, Mike comes out of the trailer, straight to me and starts talking bikes and about my ride. Dude is exactly the same guy live as on the show. Better perk up, cause it’s going to be a fast paced conversation. I’ll leave it at that, but could go on for volumes about how down to earth and awesome he is!
Can you just see the man love there?
For some reason, I got all the way to Cedar Rapids before heading south.
Well, it was 103 or something. I was hot and done so found a camp with a shower house and a pool. No pics, but the water was great!
So day two began with some relief from the heat. Got on and made some miles. Unfortunately, the furnace turned back up and started blasting. Too many miles heading straight south into a 30mph head wind of HEAT!
Iowa in the morning sprinkle / mist:
Tall tale. At one water stop in MO, this little guy was walking around when I pulled over. By the time I finished filling my jug, he looked like this. It ain’t easy for an armadillo in such heat ….
Poor planning, no time, so I had to slab it. Well, I55 down there is not a scenic byway. Tons of traffic, high speeds, strong head winds, did I mention the heat? Finally, turned east for Mephis. Stopped in for a cold diet coke and felt refreshed in the AC. Also felt good knowing no more head wind and only a few more miles of super slab.
Riding through the top part of Miss and Ala was relaxing with the sun going down and great roads. Not a great sunset, but a great sunset! Glad to see it going down.
Around this time, I just wanted to put miles on and get closer to the dragon. My wife back home price lined me a room in Huntsville, so I broke my cardinal rule and rode well past dark. Slowly, looking for deer.
Payoff was seeing the Davidson Center for Space Exploration after dark! Pics are not good, but man, what a great way to view these mega giants all lit up in the night sky!!! Too cool!
See the stages broken up in there?
Nice hotel room, AC, ice cold soda, ahhh…..
Day three...
Felt great, left the room ready to go. After a few hours of side roads, super slabs, and broken promises from my GPS, I heard angels sing as I saw this sign!
Laaa…..
Man oh man. Been here last year with a Vulcan 1600 cruiser and my 12 year old son. Miss having my son with me, but looking forward to the riding with more spirited bike.
Took a little bit to learn to keep the revs up and shift less. Cherohala is still my favorite road and even more fun with the Connie.
Great stuff
Yes, the oil spot was there before I pulled over
Ahhh
A lot more fun riding and I found myself here.
As it turns out, there was a mega Miata convention in these parts. More than you can shake a stick at. Everywhere you looked, Miata. Sometimes, you couldn’t even see them coming around those blind curves. I have visions of becoming a hood ornament, but have to admit, never saw one cross the yellow line. The one time I was stuck behind one, he used a pullout and let me by. Respect.
Learned a lot about the Connie. Only really need 2nd and 3rd around here. Only NEED 2nd, but used 3rd on some of the more open parts to cool off the bike. Much fun and just loved it.
After the 3rd pass, started thinking about heading home so just kept riding North for while. GPS said I could be home by midnight. Slight route change for less slab and 12:30. Hmmmm camp in the heat or just push on? This would mean breaking the rule about riding after dark again.
Started riding. Fast, fast super slab from Knoxville to Lexington and heading for Lou’ville. Half hour to Lou’ville mega storm comes out of nowhere. Hard, heavy rain. The kind where all the cars stop / pull over. With hazards on (love having hazard lights) going around 40 in the right lane behind a semi. Hail mixed in. Every underpass is occupied by cars. Just take it. Exit 2 miles. Just take it. Exit 1 mile. Got to a gas station overhang. Here is a pic of a car fording the same road river I had to get here.
Well, more rain until Indiana. Then it stopped! Cool weather! In the 70’s!!!!
Dark at Indy. Slow and steady on I74 to Champaign, then got of the slabs and took 47 for 3 hours to get home. Going slow, looking for deer and drunks.
Around 2AM got home to find my wife allowed the two older boys to have friends over. Party house central. Had a few diet cokes, uploaded some pics, and put my head on the pillow by 4 dreaming about Miatas coming at me around blind curves.
At 46, I should know better. Too many miles for too few days. No reason to be riding this many miles after dark. Got up to my acceptable risk threshold several times. Nonetheless, a great way to spend two and a half days putting 2K miles on the Connie – next time, I’ll plan a little smarter. Great bike, great ride.
Dang I'm envious ..nice report
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was a great ride but I should have planned better. Love riding in that area though. Great roads all around.
ReplyDelete