As I made my way down the I-95 to the I-85 south into the tip of North Carolina I was met with lush green hillsides, small dark lakes and threatening dark rain clouds. Occasionally my helmet windshield would cover with sprinkles, I gripped the handlebars tighter and hoped for the best!
I pulled into a small gas station/rest stop to stretch my weary back and wrists. I had my first real scare when the bikes ignition would not turn over. I must have sat there for at least a half hour trying to remain calm and draw on the powers of the mechanical hemishpere of my brain when a North Carolina state trooper pulled up in a Hemi-powered Dodge Charger. A behemoth of a man with a marine style buzzcut stepped from the vehicle as I inundated him with mechanical questions, "could I have flooded it?" "did I fry the engine"? he looked me up and down and in a low southern draw said "zit in neutral"? Instantly feeling like a rookie motorcycle buffoon I thanked him repeatedly and continued toward Charlotte.
The clouds became darker and the sprinkle drops more frequent and stronger. When I finally pulled of the first exit in Charlotte to the protected awning of the Drury hotel, the sky opened up and pounded down with fury. I just stood there and contemplated my luck while some older gentlemen there for a vintage car show inspected my bike and asked why I didn't buy a Harley?
Truth is, this Honda Interceptor is worth a hundred Harley's in reliability and function, but being my diplomatic self I kept quiet and just listened.
Tomorrow I will bypass Atlanta and head toward Montgomery, Alabama.
I pulled into a small gas station/rest stop to stretch my weary back and wrists. I had my first real scare when the bikes ignition would not turn over. I must have sat there for at least a half hour trying to remain calm and draw on the powers of the mechanical hemishpere of my brain when a North Carolina state trooper pulled up in a Hemi-powered Dodge Charger. A behemoth of a man with a marine style buzzcut stepped from the vehicle as I inundated him with mechanical questions, "could I have flooded it?" "did I fry the engine"? he looked me up and down and in a low southern draw said "zit in neutral"? Instantly feeling like a rookie motorcycle buffoon I thanked him repeatedly and continued toward Charlotte.
The clouds became darker and the sprinkle drops more frequent and stronger. When I finally pulled of the first exit in Charlotte to the protected awning of the Drury hotel, the sky opened up and pounded down with fury. I just stood there and contemplated my luck while some older gentlemen there for a vintage car show inspected my bike and asked why I didn't buy a Harley?
Truth is, this Honda Interceptor is worth a hundred Harley's in reliability and function, but being my diplomatic self I kept quiet and just listened.
Tomorrow I will bypass Atlanta and head toward Montgomery, Alabama.
3 comments:
Sounds like you are having a great time!......are you going through Louisiana?....tell my Mom I said "hi"! P.S. We haven't regretted turning in the Harley for a Honda at all.
I must admit a bit of envy, Kevin. Sounds like a great trip and real adventure. It is a shame that you weren't able to see Washington D.C., but I would imagine with the motorcycle carrying all of your stuff that it's hard to leavfe it any where. Charlotte is checking your blog daily.
Howdy! Can we see some pics of the places you are stopping? Say, the chics with big afros????
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