DDT (12)
Member
Posts: 4112
Sometimes ya just gotta go...
Winter Springs, FL - Occasionally...
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« on: July 19, 2023, 01:45:49 PM » |
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Definitely More Than Halfway…
Where to begin… I’d planned to depart these hills and go wander around until the Quad State Ride just under four weeks away at the time. I’d even passed on a day ride invitation from 3fan4life that Saturday so preparations for departure could be pursued.
A check of the weather forecast, though, plus an update glance at the Canadian smoke problem that morning quickly dissuaded me… I hastily signed up to keep this rental another week for yet another extended shot at regrouping. Then I decided to just go take a day ride of my own… So, is the cup half full or half empty…?
A little over one hundred miles into the ride with 180 miles showing on the odometer and about time for the main tank to be running dry, I felt the first typically graceful sputter indicating time to crank the petcock lever around and switch to reserve. I had noticed but had not been at all aware of the significance about twenty miles before, that the tachometer had abruptly stopped measuring RPMs.
We were passing a couple of vehicles while keeping a close eye on those around us due to the warning of a closed lane up ahead and merging traffic. The engine died before I could get the petcock repositioned… No response when restart attempts were made… Dang! Now what? I soon learned of the significance of the tachometer issue… It is electrical not mechanical like the speedometer is on a Tourer…
We coasted over to the emergency lane to see what might be going on. A couple of weeks before while at a gas station, there had been no response when the starter button had been depressed, but after waiting while I’d taken a break everything appeared to have ‘healed’, as she cranked right up when the next attempt was made. No further problems were encountered right up until this latest challenge.
The ritualistic call to Troutdude led to some troubleshooting attempts, but no temporary resolution was identified. Dennis was pretty sure the OE starter had probably drawn its last breath, but he couldn’t rule out an alternator issue either. He was in Texas at the time, so he recommended a call to Mitch for possible assistance/advice. I made that call…
I also called AAA for a tow truck. By then we’d already spent an hour in the sun on the side of the road, and we still had the warmest part of the day ahead! Dang, I’d also neglected to strap on the ‘nap chair’ for a simple little day ride… Huge mistake, it turned out! We were able to coast down the slight grade to the shade of an overpass… The guard rail was not fluffy at all, however, so while a seat of sorts was available, it was by no means very comfortable!
Following a discussion with Mitch, it was decided our girl and her rider would have the tow truck drive us back to the Airbnb rental where we would rendezvous with Mitch later that afternoon for further diagnostics and/or repairs. By this time traffic was backed up to us and behind as far as we could see due to a collision up ahead (we later learned there had been an infant fatality in that collision). More than a dozen folks offered water, food, encouragement, and actual help as they crept by. What a great feeling knowing I’d been sharing the road with so many nice people!
Two hours passed and still AAA was unable to give me even an estimated time for the tow truck arrival! “Unusually high call volume that day,” they had informed me. A police officer pulled up behind us, lights flashing but no siren, and the usual inquiries were made. I’d known I was physically going downhill in a major way, but I hadn’t realized it had been that much!
The officer studied this aging relic as we chatted, and he asked if he should call an ambulance! He later told me that he hadn’t wanted to force that on me, but if it had been up to him, he would have made that call. I was apparently suffering from the early stages of heat exhaustion by that time… He offered to let me sit in his cruiser in the A/C while we waited for the truck. WOW! That was absolutely wonderful!!!
After another hour of waiting and still no estimated time of arrival, the officer offered to call the tow service they use who by contract is supposed to respond within half an hour to at least take us to a better waiting spot. He did, so I informed AAA I’d update the new location to pick us up when I knew where it would be. The alternate tow truck arrived on schedule, and we were transported to a nearby Sheetz store.
By this time Mitch was approaching the Airbnb rental, while we still had no idea when the AAA tow truck might even arrive, let alone when we might arrive ‘home’. Mitch headed towards my new location, where he loaded our girl on his trailer and delivered us from Greensboro, NC, back in Hillsville, VA.
I called AAA and canceled the truck I’d requested several hours before! Laura (Mitch’s wife) and Bambi had made the trip with Mitch, so we all had a nice time recounting the unusual day’s events as we headed home. As if a little more drama was needed, it even rained on us as we approached the house… after dark…
The following morning, Mitch replaced both the starter and alternator on our girl, and she ran like a new one afterward! My three guests had spent the night at my temporary ‘home’, but they were eager to return to their own, so farewells were exchanged, and heartfelt, profuse thanks were offered.
This was not the first time one of my friends has had to rescue us in such a way. We’re often congratulated for all the miles we’ve traveled across North America (more than 750,000 miles together), but the fact is, if it weren’t for MitchO and Troutdude along with some others, none of that would have been possible!!!
As with every other breakdown we’ve had over the years, there has been again the obvious inconvenience, discomfort, expense, and change in plans that always result. As with all, on the other hand, there had also been some positive aspects that more than compensated for the aggravation.
If it weren’t for this most recent ‘extended stay’ on the side of the road, for example, I wouldn’t have had contact with so many nice folks who really wanted to be of some help. I also wouldn’t have had those fascinating conversations with a highly intelligent, caring, thoughtful police officer, Zack Mayo, who demonstrated there are those who do so much more than merely chase bad guys or give out tickets… They truly do serve the welfare of the public!
We’d been thinking seriously about a swing up through the UP of Michigan and across Minnesota, possibly even over into the Dakotas to kill some time and to further escape heat. This boo-boo could have occurred in any number of more inconvenient and/or out of the way locations! While not ideal, of course, having the issues where and when we did was far better than it might have been!
There was another huge side-effect to all of this, also. I was in a bad way, but without hesitation a dear friend dropped what he was doing and hurried a couple of hundred miles to my aid. Having friends like that is part of the reason a guy with no business riding a twenty-four-year-old motorcycle that he is completely unable to work on himself can venture virtually anywhere anytime with confidence.
This twenty-four-year adventure aboard our girl has been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream… The aid and forbearance of others and especially that of my generous friends have made it all possible… Half full or half empty? My cup is absolutely overflowing!!! Thanks, guys, I love ya like brothers…
DDT (12)
P.S. Due to staying the extra week here but not directly related to the boo-boo, I was able to attempt toast and gravy again… Yes, I ran out of biscuits… Still, I was able to produce my personal best gravy ever! So many positive vibes must have played a role… reckon?
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