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Avanti
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« on: August 30, 2017, 05:09:57 AM » |
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I came off the Blue Ridge Parkway over to the Cherohala Skyway through Tellico Plains Sunday 27 with my Interstate heading to St Louis and then home to WI. I am running with traffic (not slow) maybe I should say flying with traffic on 40 to Nashville and to pick up 24 headed to 57 and 64 into St Louis, need to cover 600 miles today and 400 tomorrow. Put more fuel on after Nashville around Clarksville. Back on 24 and start hearing a high pitch whining noise.
Hay, what happened to running quiet? Slow down, speed up, move head around, have no clue what it might be. So I get off next exit and pull into fuel station, which I do not need. I give my bike a complete check. Engine running like a clock, so shut it off. Look and inspect every bolt find nothing. Put up on center stand check tires, wheel bearings and even start it up, put it into gear, shift 2-3-4-5-(6 just kidding) nothing. Put my earplugs back in and full face helmet back on and head off knowing that there is probably still a problem, but what? I decide to take a short test drive, still nothing. Way confused! Back up the ramp to 24 and noise starts again. Kentucky boarder and Welcome Center Rest Area come into view so off I go; sound now is louder.
I pull in and decide to leave it running, helmet off, earplugs out; sound is now deafening. I rev engine no change. Reach down turn key off and noise is still deafening. I realize the trees are alive every where. I see a father and son standing about 60 feet away from me looking up at a tree. I GIVE UP! WHAT IS IT? Father replies A VERY LARGE CICADA HATCHING. I can hardly hear anything else, even the sound of the road traffic is overwhelmed. It is amazing and annoying at the same time. Good, it is just nature not mechanical, what a relief.
Well now, the Smoky Mountains have there Bears and Wild Boars trying to take you out, (different story) and Tennessee and Kentucky the Cicada to blow your mine. Thought runs through my head; need to leave before they decide to fly, ouch.
What an adventure. Only way to complete the adventure now would be to get caught in a storm. The next day I was not disappointed, thunder storms with wind and blinding rain in Wisconsin.
Now did you know, that a Valkyrie can walk on water; but it is best not to let it!
Ridding On - Safely
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msb
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« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2017, 05:45:18 AM » |
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Lol... I can definitely relate to your story here. At Inzane in WV last year, the first day was riding with my cousin on the back roads along the river, under a canopy of trees. I kept hearing that sound... even over my louder exhaust. My first thought was "Crap, rode almost 3000 miles to get here with no issues, now my U-joint is on the way out". Pulled over at a lookout, shut the bike down, and I still heard the sound. A local who was close by pointed up in the trees where you could see swarms of Cicadas , indicating that was the sound I was hearing. Had never even heard of a Cicada prior to that.... had a good laugh though, and also a great sense of relief knowing it wasn't the bike  Thanks for posting your story... |
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Mike
'99 Red & Black IS
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2017, 07:03:48 AM » |
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Bugs. The motorcyclists' buddies. Better in the trees than in your bed.  |
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Willow
Administrator
Member
Posts: 16767
Excessive comfort breeds weakness. PttP
Olathe, KS
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« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2017, 09:17:55 AM » |
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Even locals can be confused about the workings of nature. Hatching can be the wrong term. Perhaps he meant they were emerging from the ground after a lifetime under the surface.
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desertrefugee
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« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2017, 10:46:39 AM » |
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Interesting story. With my ears, I would be riding on blissfully unaware. For trouble with the bike, I rely on feel - and a temperature gauge.
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'97 Bumble Bee, '78 GL1000, '79 CBX, '78 CB750F, '74 CB750
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Bronxboy
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« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2017, 01:53:43 PM » |
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Got them hatching here in FL as well  |
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NewValker
Member
Posts: 1391
VRCC# 36356
Oxford, MA
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« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2017, 05:09:01 PM » |
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Couple years ago we went to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in NY. When we arrived a cute parking attendant told us where to park in this field under some power lines. When I took off my helmet, the noise was incredible! I asked her if it was safe under the power lines making all that noise. She laughed at me and told me it was Cicadas. OK, no big deal, until during the air show 1 of them things landed & attached itself to the side of my face. Yup, screamed like a girl. Even kids were laughing at me...  just creepy... When we left, of course I took 1 dead center on the windshield, quite the mess... Craig |
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Turns out not what or where, but who you ride with really matters  |
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baldo
Member
Posts: 6961
Youbetcha
Cape Cod, MA
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« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2017, 05:37:01 AM » |
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Lol... I can definitely relate to your story here. At Inzane in WV last year, the first day was riding with my cousin on the back roads along the river, under a canopy of trees. I kept hearing that sound... even over my louder exhaust. My first thought was "Crap, rode almost 3000 miles to get here with no issues, now my U-joint is on the way out". Pulled over at a lookout, shut the bike down, and I still heard the sound. A local who was close by pointed up in the trees where you could see swarms of Cicadas , indicating that was the sound I was hearing. Had never even heard of a Cicada prior to that.... had a good laugh though, and also a great sense of relief knowing it wasn't the bike Thanks for posting your story... I did the exact same thing in WV. I thought it was belt tensioners coming apart or some other form of devastation. |
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