Day 11 Sunday

today's route: Clay Center, KS to Manchester, TN

Day 11 in the books at Manchester, TN.  778.8 miles closer to home.

Terry was quite chatty tonight.  I was trying to take notes.  He said that he passed the World's Largest Ball of Twine West of Kansas City...the things you come across out there.  No time to stop this time, but he would like to cover the ground again with time to stop and see all the sights that he is literally flying by.

world's largest ball of twine Cawker City KS

He told me he had 2 failures today....this is where I hold my breath and say a little prayer to prepare for whatever is next.  Turns out they were fairly minor.  He started out this morning with no headlight...I said NO headlight, well, the low beam, he rode with the high beam until he found a store with a replacement bulb.

Then the other failure was the Air Hawk cushion for his seat sprung a leak.  Now this piece of equipment is highly critical as it keeps his bum happy for all those hours of sitting.

But, with the patch kits he has, he patched it & he'll see if it holds.  If not, he will be passing by JP Cycles in Ormond FL where he purchased this one 4 years ago.

He strained his back a bit again putting the bike on the center stand.  Time to ice it up, take some Advil, shower and hit the sack.

That's it for today.

today stats:

o/a mph: 60.5

moving mph: 70.6

max speed:  88.7

total time:  12.43

moving time:  10.53

rest time:  1.49

Mileage Recap:

Day 1...798

Day 2...781

Day 3...839.5

Day 4...708
Day 5...839.5

Day 6...732.8

Day 7...697

Day 8...650.7
Day 9...688.4
Day 10...816.4
Day 11...778.8

total miles: 8150.6

Avg @ day 741

Tomorrows Route: Manchester TN to Ormond FL

Terry & Ivan at Mammoth MX

Day 10 Saturday

Today's route: Cloverdale IN to Lebanon KS (2nd pass) to Clay Center KS

Day 8 finished with the 2nd check into Lebanon KS and staying in Clay Center, KS.

Clay County Sunset by Jason Erbert

It was a quick chat tonight...He had the opportunity to talk for awhile with his brother, so our conversation was short with pretty much just the stats.  He doesn't take much down time.

He preps the night before for the next day so he can get up and go.  So when he arrives for the evening, it is...find a place to sleep, find a place to eat, prep for the next day, check in with me, shower....go to bed and get up the next day and go.

He had a t-shirt once that said...
ride, eat, sleep, repeat
pretty much says it all

I can't believe I found it online!!

That's it for today...thanks for checking in
Cat


today stats:
o/a mph:  59.8
moving mph:  67.7
max speed:  95.4  :O ok.....
total time:  13.39
moving time:  12.03
rest time:  1.35  (whew)

Mileage Recap:

Day 1...798

Day 2...781

Day 3...839.5

Day 4...708
Day 5...839.5

Day 6...732.8

Day 7...697

Day 8...650.7
Day 9...688.4
Day 10...816.4

total miles rounded:  7371

Avg @ day 737

Day 9 Friday

It is only 2:30pm here on the west coast, but Terry's day is done.  I got a call around 1pm from Terry asking me to find a BMW dealer in Indianapolis.  I had already done some research, so I knew there was one....

He has a flat front tire...done...done....

He had pulled into a gas station maybe 20 miles out of Indianapolis and when he took it off the center stand noticed how heavy it pushed, looked down and noticed the flat.

Now at this point...I can only literally thank God....those of us that ride and those that know the 2 wheels, know what the consequences could have been at freeway speeds.  So, keep up those prayers, his guardian angel is working overtime today. 

The BMW shop, Falcone Powersports of Indianapolis, was fantastic to respond so quickly.  They have picked him up and are going to try to get it fixed today, but it is almost closing time for them.  Will let you know how the evening finished out with the stats later...for now...keep the prayers going...please...and thank you ;)

*********************************************************************
Ok, now the day is being put to bed.  Thanks to the crew at the BMW shop, Terry got picked up, delivered with the bike, valve stem replaced and back on down the road to Cloverdale, Indiana about 25 west of Indianapolis IN.

Terry left them enough money to buy pizza for everyone in the shop tomorrow and payment for the repair.  Can't say enough good about the people, no charge for the pickup and delivery to the shop.

Apparently it is hot, sticky and sweaty and lots of traffic which made the decision easier to get off the road for the night.

Can't help but reflect on the possibilities....diligence...always

Onward to Lebanon KS, looks like thunder showers and wind.....

Route for tomorrow: Cloverdale IN to Lebanon KS

oh...the stats:
o/a mph:  54.3
avg moving speed:  66
max speed:  85
total time:  12.4
moving time:  10.26
stop time:  2.14

Total Miles:  688.4

Mileage Recap:

Day 1...798

Day 2...781

Day 3...839.5

Day 4...708
Day 5...839.5

Day 6...732.8

Day 7...697

Day 8...650.7
Day 9...688.4

total miles rounded:  6735

Avg @ day 748

Day 8 Thursday

Portsmouth, ME

Started out today in 32 degrees....brrrrrrr

And didn't warm up into the 40's!! until he left Portsmouth, ME for the oil change on the bike.  The service guys took him right in even though they knew nothing of his possible arrival.  He also took the opportunity to put on a new rear tire, something that would probably be needed before he got home.

Todays route: Houlton ME to Portsmouth ME to Scranton PA 

Cold...Cold...Cold

Thank goodness for electric vest, arm chaps, heated grips and seat!!  Needs heated socks!  Tootsies got cold.  But he is headed west tomorrow for Lebanon KS which is still 1300 mi +.  But the weather should be getting warmer.

I think that after he hits Lebanon KS for the 2nd time he will be 1/2 way and then down hill from there.

proposed route for the next 2 days

No stats for today...when you hit reset....it resets....everything...darn, I hate it when that happens.

The only thing we have is:  Total miles for the day...650.7

Econo Lodge, commercial section = order in from Bella Pizza, Meatballs Parmigana

Then it was time for a shower and bed.....and another day in the journey.

Zoom Zoom

Mileage Recap:

Day 1...798

Day 2...781

Day 3...839.5

Day 4...708
Day 5...839.5

Day 6...732.8

Day 7...697

Day 8...650.7

total miles rounded:  6047

Avg @ day 756

Estimated Total Miles:  12,300

Day 7 Wednesday

Madawaska, Maine from the 2008 4 Corners Tour

Day 7...one week in the books.

Today Terry rode from Waterbury Connecticut to the 2nd corner in   Madawaska, Maine on the US and Canadian border to Houlton Maine.  The roads are different on the East coast.  Lots of traffic and many on the road.

I asked him if he could bring me back a red leaf or two.  I can only imagine the change of colors being stunning.  He said that the full spectrum has not turned up as far as he has seen, but he would try to remember to get me some.  He laughed and said he had been dodging them, as it has turned windy and cold, with lows hovering around 42 and highs in the mid 50's.

He checked in at Madawaska, ME around 4pm, did the paperwork, gassed up and put it all in the mail (ride rules) and as soon as he released the envelope, remembered that he did not put the mileage on the ticket, part of the requirements.  I will email them to give them that piece of information.  He then continued on to Houlton, ME for the night.

Houlton, ME

Tomorrow, if the shop is open, he will stop to get the oil changed in Portsmouth, ME at Street Cycles.

He made the appointment before he left.  It was the same place he stopped in 2008.

Ride stats:

Total miles:  697

O/A miles:  55.7 mph

moving avg:  64.5 mph

max speed:  90.4

total time:  12.30

moving time:  10.48

rest time:  1.42

route for tomorrow: Houlton, ME to Portsmouth, ME to Lebanon, KS

And that's it for tonight...sleep tight all....Especially you my dear Terry...

Day 6 Tuesday

End of Day 6, sorry about the incorrect day for yesterday....didn't catch it until someone pointed it out this morning.

Welcome to Waterbury

He has finished the day at Waterbury CT.  Said there is allot of road construction and authorities monitoring the 65 mph limit.  So the miles are not so easily attained.  He was ready to turn in after our chat, a 3 hour difference now from me.

At one of his 2 nap stops, (didn't sleep well last night) he met a man that asked him where he was from, and when he said California...San Luis Obispo, he said "you mean SLO town?"  Only the locals know that!  Turns out he is from Sonora, both a long way from home.  

He was up and awake, not intentionally by 4am and hit the road by 5am, hence, time to turn in to get a good nights sleep.

Today's stats:

Overall avg speed:  55 mph

Moving avg speed:  67 mph

Max speed:  88 mph

Total time:  13.15

Moving time:  10.56

Stop time:  2.19  (2 naps, gas, eat)

Total miles covered:  732.8

route for tomorrow Waterbury CT to Madawaska Maine

Day 5 Monday

Just a quick note.  Terry called around 6:45am pst and he had continued east.  Still uncertain of the day.  His back was better than expected, but cold & wet conditions.  He said he would call at his next stop.  I will keep everyone posted....Keep prayers and good thoughts going in his direction.

Brookville, OH

Day 5 in the books.
Attitude adjusted, back doing much better = good day

It is now 3 hrs different from home, good talk, time to get off the phone and prep for tomorrow.  Rain is expected.  Nice to have options of different routes to skirt around some of the weather.
He was able to replace the camelback tip, so water is accessible all day once again.

He mentioned that he did his good deed for the day by putting out a fire in the hotel's mulch outside the lobby.  Somebody had tossed their cigarette into it & off it went.  Another use for the camelback!

Used his McDonald's certificate that he has been hanging onto since we were in Moab UT last year!!  He was so proud of himself  :)

Today's stats:

O/A avg speed:  60.6 mph
Moving avg:  68.6 mph
total time:  11hrs 41 min
Moving time:  10hrs 20 min
stop time:  1hr 21 min

miles traveled......708

All in all...a good day