Tales Of Hot Times...

[DDT (12)]

Tales Of ‘Hot’ Times... 

I very seldom need an alarm clock these days. Since my prostate removal and especially since the subsequent radiation treatments, my weakened sphincter ensures frequent nocturnal awakenings for relief, so... I just check the time at those get-ups and decide when the time is right to begin the next big adventure. When I conclude it is, we're already awake! My home-hosts, on the other hand...   

They’d wanted to be up to see us off, so they did set their clock... Just as I was loading the last two items on our girl, they staggered forth all bleary-eyed and semi-conscious. Following the usual farewell ritual, our girl transported us down the driveway towards... whatever fate had in store for us next. As we exchanged waves, I could easily imagine the envy my BIL, himself a yeoman rider, was feeling at that moment... I understand completely! 

Oh my! It felt even better than I'd thought it would... much of the day, anyway! Yep, we went KSU before the first glimmers of daylight Sunday morning and headed out for Georgia, the probable first destination on our way to Tennessee. I even wore my denim jacket for the first 180 miles or so, and it felt wonderful most of the way. Ah, but no way around it, that pleasant circumstance grudgingly gives way to the inevitable growing heat always present this time of year in these parts. Oh well, it was mighty nice while it lasted... 

In Tifton, GA, we stopped to top-off and take a break... and to store the jacket plus slather-on a couple of buckets of sunblock. A nice couple from Michigan wanted to chat about our girl and the therapeutic wonders of scooterizing... They proved to be quite conversant in the language of two-wheeled magic, and they seemed most eager to tell some of their own war stories. I enjoyed listening to them of course, but more than that, I really enjoyed simply observing their unbridled, exuberant, animated enthusiasm! Yep, there can be no doubt, they do get it!!! 

We headed out again still northbound on I-75 and a possible stop for the night in Perry, GA. Yeah, no backroads yet... there was still much 'work' to be done to get us north a reasonable distance: Being a tenderfoot does impose so many compromises upon us, ya know... Oh well, at least that time of day on a Sunday meant light traffic... no shortage of LEOs, however. I suppose with reduced tax revenue coming in, the interest in and zeal for 'public safety' has escalated again, as it always seems to do in such times...   

In Perry I seriously thought about stopping as 'planned', but... It was only 11:30am, and this was to be our already 'planned' escape from the super slab. “Oh heck, it's only another 120 miles or so to the next likely motel location the way we'll be going... Let's just go a little way and see how we do... We can always double back," I lied to myself. Yep, I'm sort of like a runaway horse, in that once I get the bit in my teeth, it becomes really hard to turn me! Only very rarely do we ever turn back!!! This was not to be one of those rare times either... 

It was actually rather pleasant riding that two-laned road westward and a bit north. We'd taken a much-needed break just as we finally exited I-75, and the combination of sitting for twenty minutes or so in serious A/C while sipping icy water had worked wonders to improve my attitude and thoughts about continuing... Great call, too, for about half the ride following that break! Ever increasing heat can be such an insidious monster, you know! And combined with high humidity, well... The petals in short order do start to droop on this delicate flower... 

The ride to Big Wolf's lair under decent circumstances is typically a two-day trek. It could be done in one mostly interstate highway monster day, but this easy rider almost never engages in such Tomfoolery anymore; besides, nowadays we simply avoid traveling any route that includes Atlanta! Given the heat and humidity present, I'd figured on a three-day ride this time, ergo the 'planned' possible overnight in Perry. Only, we didn't stop there for the night. We continued instead and reintroduced the possibility of this becoming another two-day jaunt despite our always subject to change anyway 'plans'! 

It did turn out to be only a two-day ride... The second day was every bit as ‘challenging’ as the first had been; although, it was mercifully about a hundred miles less in total length. By the time we arrived at Jerry’s hacienda, however, I was desperately in need of an abundance of artic level A/C exposure and some lengthy recuperation... Jerry has a super-duper A/C unit in his garage, and he’d already cranked it down to a wonderful icicle producing level by the time we arrived! That guy is certainly a fine host!!! 

Following a decent dinner meal out consisting of fried catfish and fixins for this bushed trekker, we crashed early that evening... It sure is good to be back on the road again, but obviously I still have some tweaking to do on proper ride ‘planning’ and the judicious exercise of sound judgement... 

DDT

[thedon]

Be careful, my friend, don't want to over heat.
Ride Safe

[3fan4life]

GREAT Write up as usual! 


And yes I am jealous. 

[..]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11050343/Mothership-storm-cell-captured-North-Dakota-state-hit-golf-ball-sized-hail.html

[f6john]

It’s sort of wet north of you this week. Rain yesterday, more today, and thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow, and on it goes. It is breaking up the heat a little bit though.

[Valker]

Bruce, remember that you're always welcome here if you pass through. Let me know a bit ahead and I'll get the A/C to do its thing really well. Whether it's for a short conversation, a meal, overnight, or for a week or more, it's open.

[Beardo]

I do like the gas station and motel conversations with strangers about bikes and riding…but they always start talking about the bike…or something…then I have to say…sorry, I’m wearing ear plugs, I can’t hear you. Then they keep talking anyway. 

[DDT (12)]

Be careful, my friend, don't want to over heat.
Ride Safe

Don,

Sound advice for sure! Easier to agree than to practice, though, at least in my case. Still, I always do intend to do precisely that... it's just that... oh you know! Thanks for the reminder, old buddy, I'll keep working on that... Who knows... maybe one of these days... 

DDT

GREAT Write up as usual!  


And yes I am jealous.  

Mark,

Thanks! Yeah, I even get a little envious of myself whenever I'm bogged down! Speaking of which... A couple of surprises have sprung up to delay us in Tennessee for a wee bit, but nothing it appears that will stop the big show! It's truly a blessing to have lots of good friends all around, especially the kind who are willing to come to our rescue... I'll probably write some about that soon... Sure hope you are on an upward trajectory and nearing full recovery from you little episode! 

DDT

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11050343/Mothership-storm-cell-captured-North-Dakota-state-hit-golf-ball-sized-hail.html

Paul,

That is downright spooky! I've ridden in pea-size hail, and I've stood next to our girl under shelter during mothball size hail... but, never anything like that stuff! Holy cow! Glad it's gone by now... We do plan to travel right through Grand Forks, though, so... I think I'd better double my wary weather watching!!! Travel across the plains is typically unpleasant, but occasionally it can be plum dangerous! 

DDT

It’s sort of wet north of you this week. Rain yesterday, more today, and thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow, and on it goes. It is breaking up the heat a little bit though.

John,

Yeah, I've been watching as that has developed and is forecasted to continue! I appreciate the heads-up, but a modest delay in our non-plans will likely carry us through this next round of moisture... Sure hope so, anyway... 

DDT

Bruce, remember that you're always welcome here if you pass through. Let me know a bit ahead and I'll get the A/C to do its thing really well. Whether it's for a short conversation, a meal, overnight, or for a week or more, it's open.

Eric,

Honest, I do have that on my 'one of these days' wish lists! I also have good intentions of dropping by, but... You know what they say about intentions, right? Any chance you might be in the mood for a return to Montana and Idaho? I'll be heading that way in a few days... That is, those are my intentions!!! 

DDT

I do like the gas station and motel conversations with strangers about bikes and riding…but they always start talking about the bike…or something…then I have to say…sorry, I’m wearing ear plugs, I can’t hear you. Then they keep talking anyway. 

Jason,

Funny you should mention that! I don't wear ear plugs, but often I find myself not actually hearing what's being said due to background noise and/or other distractions. I just nod politely and appear attentive... Mostly I think those folks are far more interested in expressing their own emotions and excitement anyway, and they don't particularly care about actually conveying information. Heck, I don't remember much about the details soon afterward anyway, so... Everyone has a nice visit, though. 

DDT

[Valker]

Bruce, I’m entered in a riding competition in Amarillo the first week of August. I have my 50th high school reunion the first weekend in September. Two doctors’ appointments October 3-4. I have a ride in appointment at Russell Day-Long in Northern California November 2.  Those are all my plans for the rest of this year right now.

[DDT (12)]

Bruce, I’m entered in a riding competition in Amarillo the first week of August. I have my 50th high school reunion the first weekend in September. Two doctors’ appointments October 3-4. I have a ride in appointment at Russell Day-Long in Northern California November 2.  Those are all my plans for the rest of this year right now.

Eric,

WOW! You are indeed one busy dude! Not a lot of slack time in betwix appointments, commitments, and other such either. Oh well, thought I'd ask... Still, there may come an opportunity this Fall... you know, for our girl and her nomadic rider to breeze through Pampa, as we confirm the town still looks to be in good order... Just another of the many services we provide... Killing bugs is another of those!

DDT

[t-man403]

Evaporative Cooling Vest, Wearer Stays Cool and Dry, Breathable Comfort, Ergodyne Chill-Its 6685 https://a.co/d/iHQhZ5G

I have something similar to this. I considerate my Gerbing for summer!

[DDT (12)]

Terry,

I've saved that link for further ponderation... Thanks! It does appear to be far better than anything I've experimented with in the past... My history is that most of the 'gee whiz' items for cooling I've taken a chance on just haven't worked out to be worth the bother... and certainly not the expense. Your suggestion, however, appears to have some serious promise! Probably will take just one more day like those on the way up here to tip the balance and push me towards a purchase! Thanks a bunch for the suggestion!!!

DDT