Start Location: Kosciusko, MS
Ending Location: Clarksville, TN
Miles Today: 357
Trip Miles: 3594
States Visited: 13
National Parks Visited: 2
Low Temp: 74.7° F
High Temp: 93.9° F
Min Elevation: 33'
Max Elevation: 1090'
Route Map:
LA or Bust-Day 10
Well, it seems as if we have developed a small problem -
but first today's ride. It was raining earlier this morning
but
let up as we were having breakfast so we went out after breakfast to
take the cover off the motorcycle. The minute we did, it
started
to rain again so we moved the bike under cover of the canopy at the
motel entrance. At least we were able to load up all our gear
and
get the bike ready to go without working in the rain. As we
got
on the bike and rode out at 9:00 the rain let up but three mintes
later, as we got on the Parkway, it began again in earnest.
It
continued to rain steadily for the next 50 miles but we had on our rain
gear and it was a warm rain - something we aren't used to in
Washington. After that first hour, the sun came out and it
began
to dry out and stayed dry for most of the remainder on the morning and
into the afternoon. Once again the ride was very pleasant
with
very little traffic and no problems. We had worried a little
about wildlife - you never want to have an encounter with a deer,
especially on a motorcycle. Fortunately, it wasn't a problem.
During the whole ride we saw 2 deer (only one still alive),
two
foxes, and numerous groups of wild turkeys. We think that we
would definitely win in an encounter with a turkey but it would be ugly
and not much fun, fortunatley we didn't have to find out. We
tried to get pictures of the turkeys but, with one exception, by the
time we saw them and got the camera ready, it was too late.
We
did finally get one shot in the last 10 miles but they must have been
drinking because they were all blurry.
During the afternoon
we got several light sprinkles and then, shortly before we got to the
end of the Parkway, we got one last heavy rain. Since we were
near the end of the day, we didn't even stop for rain gear and it only
lasted about 5 or 10 minutes.
We successfully navigated
around Nashville and ended up in Clarksville, TN. That's when
our
problem arose. I like to inspect the bike in the evening when
we
get in - things like oil level, tire pressure, and a visual inspection
of the tires. That's when I found what appears to be a split in the rear tire
that I hadn't noticed before. It's inside the tread so it
might
be okay but, when you only have two tires, both of them are really
important. There is a Honda dealer in Hopkinsville, KY which
is
only about 25 miles from here so we will call them first thing in the
morning and see if they have a tire and if they can put it on for us.
This is not an unusual thing for dealers or for us for that
matter. We have replaced tires in Utah, Maine, Arizona, and
Michigan. Let's hope Kentucky won't be a problem.
