1608 Miles.....96 dollars!

[CARTEEUSMC]

A little rant and a rave. The rant......A gallon of gas is 3.65 premium! The rave....my r1150r!

So the Friday before last It was a cool 62 degrees and I started to ride. I rode about 32 miles to a town outside of Decatur, IL that was called Tuscola. I wanted some new jeans and some summer shirts, and in the town of Tuscola just right outside of Interstate 57 they have an outlet center there. So I got what I came for, a new bag and some jeans, underwear ,etc, and then I decided to head to Indiana. On route 36 there is some little towns I like to go to like Montezumuma and a place called Billie Creek. Parke county in Indiana is said to be the number one area from coverered bridges, they even have a covered bridge festival every year sometime in October. So I stopped in Billie Creek and called my wife and told her where I was and that I was going a bit further to Indianapolis, she told me I was nuts and the weather was going to turn cold. There I was in Louisville, KY. Yes I went to Ky. Called the wife and told her I needed a break and I was going a bit further. Ashland, KY caught me with a surprise (Ashland is just outside West Virginia) with lightning and 40 MPH wind gusts, I would have kept going, but lightning, rain and a motorcycle do not mix. So I stayed the night in Ashland at the Hampton Inn. I called the wife and told her I was going to NC but I could not ride anymore. (she asked what about your job....what credit card do you have, and thanks for telling me in advance, and I think she said....bye butt crevice). Next morning was nice and sunny and I hit the turn pike......the West Virginia turnpike is awesome, lots of curves, real fast fif you want it to be, tunnels and just an enjoyable ride. They need to to fix the road a little and its hard to find 1.25 in your pocket three times for the darn toll, but I really enjoy the turnpike.

Virginia caught me with a Porsche 911 Carrera Gt trying to outrun me. Very fast cars.....but then again the beakster is not that slow either, and only has two wheels. The Porsche and I had fun dodging the state troopers and I would always love watching him in my mirrow around curves. Always amazing that they have 100 Grand worth of a car....a GT even, and do 55 around curves.

Alas NC is here. Head over to 52 off of 77 and its 30 miles to Winston-Salem, another 26 to Greensboro, where my good friends live. Show up, use my key to their house, lock the bike in the garage, turn the tv on and wait to see their surprise when they come home. And it was a surprise! Coming home to me taking a nap on the couch with their dog Chloe passed out on my stomach. Woke up and called the wife and she was glad I got there ok. Washed the beakster up, took a shower and off to McCouls pub. Greensboro NC was celebrating their bi-centennial (sp), caught an 1860's baseball games(1860's rules and all, evidently there was not heckeling in baseball in 1860 so the guy over the PA yelled at me to stop heckeling the players, I was heckeling (sp) both teams). Greensboro has the oldest minor league field in the country, built right after WW1, if you get a chance check it out!

Sunday was spent with my kids, my freinds Acura always comes in handy when I am there. Monday was more drinking downtown during the day and eating a Carolina burger....i missed them so much I ordered two...all the way.

Come Tuesday, 530 AM, NC time, I took off when it was 38 degrees. Get to the top in VA and its 28! I was so cold and shaking (did not have proper gear, I literally shook getting of my bike, I warmed up for a hour in VA, good coffee in VA! West Virginia came another warming up period, starbucks was gracious enough to warm my coffee for free! Rode the turnpike again, this time i had taped a quarter to three one dollar bills and i went through the tolls without a hitch.

Lexington, KY I was sore. I mean really sore! My back was killing me bc I was shivering, and when I shiver for some reason my lower back muscles tighten and retract constantly! Called my sister in Louisville and stayed the night.....taco pizza from CiCis and I slepped like a log from 6PM till 10am their time!

From Louisville....55 degrees.....to Indianapolis was a cake walk! It went by very quickly. Took a left on route 36 and 40 mph crosswinds hit me like a rock.

I didn't stop until I got home, I was literally hanging my left knee out at 70 mph to wave wind in my favor and I still was leaned to the left, almost 20 degrees to the road.

Alas home..Full beard, tired, smiling and really appreciating what a beautiful, safe, fun motorcycle we have. I will have her until I am gone from this world! I do not want another bike! I love my RR. The wife forgave me.....she has a thing for beards on me....I hate a beard and a helmet.

Thursday welcomed me to my life again......work and work and more work.

Be safe. Ride until you can't ride anymore..


Clint

[towerworker]

Cool!!

[Daryl_stamp]

USMC mean what I think it means? If so, here's to you ; I was around a few on the Forrestal back in the day.
Sounds like it was a great ride, any pics?

DLS

[taosports]

A little rant and a rave. The rant......A gallon of gas is 3.65 premium! The rave....my r1150r!

Clint...if it makes you feel better, here in the SF bay area, $3.65 per gallon for premium is a bargain. Our average for regular in San Francisco just reached $4.00 this week!

[boxermania]

carteeusmc

The was one hell of a ride....and unplanned. The only thing I see happening is that the missus is going to get you back as her 1608 mile trip is not to cost you $96. You should send it in into BMW for them to use as advertisement, for a small contribution to your retirement fund......

[digga]

brilliant post..

really enjoyed reading that... it bought a wide smile to my face..

BC
riding 1600 miles is like almost twice the length of the UK and the gas at $4


our gas is currently $10.45 a UK gallon (5 litres)

Good on 'ya

Think i might clear a few debts and stack a little aside for an impromptu ride..

[bikermeow]

Guys, by my maths in my country it's 7 US dollars to a US gallon.

Yup, that is right. 7 buckaroos for petrol or gas in a country that has one of the biggest petroleum refining operation in the WORLD.

Cheers

Cat