Mellow's Ride Report

[bonnevillebilly]

Man ! ! ! Guy
After all this crappy weather you been going through I really hope you get nothing
but sun shine and blue sky's the rest of the way.
You are getting closer and closer every day.
Keep on keeping on.

Bill

[Whisperinsmith]

What incredible pictures to go along with the story. That hallway scene sums it up pretty well.
I feel guilty about enjoying two spectacular days of riding in the sun.

[mistermellow001]

Ride Report for May 27

Short report again today. This is the first day since Day-1 in Washington that I rode the entire day without rain! No more severe weather reports! It was about the ride today. I just enjoyed the scenery, and added a few more miles to my record. 399.5 miles - RATS, I should have driven around the block a couple of times. Actually, I'm getting my mileage from MapQuest. Oh, and my odometer clicked past 10K miles. I would have stopped to take a picture of all the zeros, but it was a pretty busy traffic area. Here's today's route... [Edit: I changed my mileage from 100K to 10K. I haven't put THAT many miles on the bike.]




The highlight of my trip today was passing through Chi-town (Chicago). I love that city and have been there a couple of times. Traveling by motorcycle and stopping to wander around somewhere can be a security problem, perceived or otherwise. Is it unusual for you touring types to feel kind of tethered to the bike? I have left my bike in front of ranger stations, campgrounds, and busy rest stops to do short hikes, but never in a city. The tank bag makes a good carry along bag, and I suppose it wouldn't be a big loss to have my tent and sleeping bag gone. The luggage is the biggest of my paranoid concerns. They seem easily pried open, and they contain some pretty expensive camera equipment and my laptop.

Anyway, my pattern so far is to pass through cities on holidays, sundays and mondays (makes a difference with Triumph shops), so I usually don't feel compelled to stop. I'd forgotten that I wanted to go to the Apple Store on the Magnificent mile, though.

So, Mellow's going to tell the entire forum how stupid he is. Before I tell you what I did that was so stupid, I will preface it by saying that I wouldn't have done it if I didn't feel under complete control. Famous last words. Okay, while I was passing through Chicago, I realized that I hadn't taken any pictures for the Ride Report. I saw a good photo opportunity to capture a beautiful sky and illustrate the good weather I had.

Mellow! Get to it. What did you do that was so stupid? Okay, okay. While passing by Sears Tower, I noticed a beautiful cumulus cloud against the blue sky, so I pulled my left glove off with my teeth, unzipped my tank bag, reached inside for my point-and-shoot camera, turned it on, snapped a couple of photos (by simply holding and guessing, not by looking through the view finder!), returned the camera to the tank bag, zipped it up, pulled my left glove on with my teeth, and went on my merry way, cracking up at my phenomenally reckless move. What I got was a couple of crooked but fairly nice shots. I rotated them so you don't have to cock your head...






One reason I love Chicago is the historic buildings, the grand overbuilt infrastructure, and the ease with which you can commute by train. The two times I was there were for conferences. I walked and shopped, went to a museum or two, took a train to see the Cubs (even though the White Socks were winning across town), ate, and took in a Second City improv show. John Belushi and other Saturday Night Live cast members cut their teeth at that club.

The rest of the day was just riding, very slowly for long stretches of inexplicable slow-downs. A weird thing dawned on me today - Throughout this whole trip, I've passed dozens of Road Work Ahead signs, orange barrels re-directing traffic lanes, reduced speeds, etc., but I never once saw anyone doing any work. Also, today's route was a gauntlet of toll booths. if you ride through this area, make sure you have plenty of ones and quarters.

My main distractions for today were talking to several riders about their bikes, or about my Triumph. It seems that when I was in Wyoming and South Dakota, people couldn't give a rip about a Triumph (except for my farmer friends). Maybe they've just seen one too many bikers heading for Sturgis or something.

Since this is my first long tour (6 weeks) I tended to bring everything I could think of. I'm figuring out what works and what doesn't. When I get to Bennington I'm going to ship some stuff home that I haven't used. One is my Sony Handycam. Maybe I'll take some short vids of riders rumbling out of town, I don't know. Another thing is my winter pants liners and electric jacket. And this might seem extravagant, but I may pick up a new jacket and pants and send my current set home.. My riding suit is sized for winter riding. When all bundled up and teathered to electric gear like an astronaut it fits fine, but on hot days they droop from me and are too loose fitting. I certainly needed that stuff coming across the north, but after Bennington Whisper and I are heading south and west, I can't imagine ever needing that Gerbing jacket again. I also have, believe it or not, a full-size camera tripod in my camping bag. Hey, it fit! Why not?

As usual I started late and ended late. Whisper, a man who gets up at the crack of butt, is going to inspire me to switch from swing to day shift. You can put in a lot more mileage that way. I just have been so beat during this last week that I've chosen to sleep in and move slowly. My endurance is building, however!

End of Report.

[Boondox]

Guy, as you get closer I find myself fighting the urge to ride out and meet you somewhere in the hope that some of the endurance thing will rub off on me!

You're a real class act!

Pete

[TonUp]

Guy!


Most excellent adventure, it is making dreams come true. I love long rides, getting up early and hitting the road at sunrise, and doing it all over the next day. Journeys like these is what is all about.

See you on Friday!


Tito


Ton Up!

[modre]

"Mistermellow" my ass

"Tornado Rider" would be good.

or

"Dances with Storms"

Lakota language would be

"Wongwekaridwitumachit"

[bonnevillebilly]

Great report Guy
You are almost on the home stretch now baby.

Bill

[Whisperinsmith]

Another super post. I love modre's suggestion to change your nom de plume to Tornado Rider! You're almost here.

So I gather I should unpack my jacket and pant liners. They are bulky. Thanks for the advice. As for me getting you going at the crack of dawn, I think we'll find a happy medium. Remember Grasshopper, you are now a Master.

[bonniegirl]

guy, you'll be well cared for at the southshire inn. sounds like you're gonna need it. track me down when you get into town & i'll buy you a beer.

[Whisperinsmith]

Robin,
With that invitation, I'll think he'll set a new distance record today!

[mark]

Guy, this ride report is incredible.

--mark

[mistermellow001]

Mellow's Ride Report for May 27

Inching closer to Bennington! I was going to try to make it all the way today, but decided to play tourist in Cleveland. Here's my route, 307 miles today...




The day started out and ended cool, enough to need electrics. Seems there are two schools of thought. Tough bikers don't wear them, which is cool (pun intended), but I love warm hands. It was about 45 ambient today on the south shores. I had to get off the road shortly after dusk, as the deer were out like flies in New York. I tried honking my squeaky Bonneville horn at a few of them and they darted into the woods. Maybe I'm on to something. Of course, they could have darted the opposite direction, so I'll not likely try that one unless they're well off the road.

I talked to a lot of bikers today, but here's my favorite. His name is Jerry, on his 1970 Trophy, which still only has 26K on the clock (I think that's what he said). He was a nice guy to talk to...




The tourist highlight of my day was the Rock & Roll Museum in Cleveland. But first I wanted to set foot on a Great Lake, any Great Lake - Erie will do...




The Rock & Roll Museum had a bunch of stuff that could be photographed, and some that couldn't be. Here's the stuff I could get. First the Museum itself (with me doing my best "here it is" pose)...




I stuck with bikes, cars and guitars, but let me tell you, I find the costumes and minutia very interesting, right down to song lists and back-stage passes. That stuff's off limits. Here's what I snapped. First, Johnny Cash's tour bus. He sold it in 2003, two years after June Carter Cash died, and two years before he did...




Joe Strummer's (The Clash) axe. I love how thrashed it is...




In contrast, here's one of Jerry Garcia's guitars. It wasn't clear how often he played it; it looks pretty clean...




A couple of whips. The first is Joplin's Porsche - I loved this one...




This one should need no introduction...




Lastly, some bikes. First is some rock star's two-wheeler. I forgot whose...




This one belongs to Billy Joel...




Cleveland drivers seemed really aggressive to me, so I was glad to get out of there. But everyone I met was very nice. One thing that struck me was the number of factories and warehouses that are boarded up, right on the waterfront. If those were in Seattle they'd be high-dollar condos in no time. Maybe this will happen eventually, but I'd much rather see trains and sewing machines and life breathed back into those factories. I completely spaced out going to the Triumph dealer in Cleveland. I passed right by it without realizing it.

Tomorrow I'm sure I'll arrive in Bennington. I'll track Robin down so she can point me in the right directions, oh, and buy me that beer. Arriving early will give me a chance to mail some stuff home, wash my bike, do laundry and generally rest up before the event starts. I can hear the train a-coming!

[TonUp]

Great pics Guy!

I like the HD Cafe Racer only about 3,600 of those made between 1977-1979. Beautiful bike. See you soon!



Tito


Ton Up!

[bonnevillebilly]

Guy
Excellent report as usual.
I will see you Friday afternoon.
you get some well deserved rest and relaxation.
And thank you for taking us along for the ride.

Bill

[Whisperinsmith]

Just think of what you've just done in a relatively short amount of time. Pretty cool. And speaking of cool, your report yesterday suggested you didn't need your "liners" and today's report mentions heated gloves. You really are getting closer to New England where the weather can flip hour to hour.

I repacked last night taking my "liners" out. I may have to rethink that. Better safe than sorry, or better said, it's easier to cool off than warm up.

Guy, it's been an amazing story for us all. Don't forget to post your arrival! That will be a highlight for sure. Get a picture of Robin handing you that beer! We need proof. (Kidding, Robin.)