I left home at 7am on Friday with hugs and best wishes from Cathy, Eli, Emily, and my folks. The familiar familiar
setting in my rear view left a lump in my throat and an unexpected melancholy. This was interesting. A full adventure
lay ahead but all I could think about was how much I would miss them. I don't suppose (or hope) that those feelings
disappear entirely.
Dad suggested going the back way through Greenville Tennessee and on to the Cumberland Gap. What an amazing ride.
Enough fog to give a "Great Smoky Mt brochure" look to everything in the morning light but not enough to make it dangerous.
The bike was perfectly balanced and ran the twisties almost as good as unloaded.
As I moved through the Cumberland Gap area I noticed an issue upshifting. I stopped to find heavy grease around
the shift shaft. Further inspection indicated this was the new chain grease/wax dumping on that spot. Still didn't
explain the shifting issues.
Corbin Kentucky.. Stopped at a light and "PING"...the shifter broke off at the shaft and fell to the pavement.
I kicked it to the side of the road and nursed the bike to the shoulder. OK...first gear...good.
25mph is top speed but still faster than walking. According to my GPS the closest Kawasaki dealership is 100
miles away.
Is this an omen? Will I spend the rest of the day hunting down a part? How much is a cab ride to Kawasakiland?
I pulled out my new Droid, accessed the map on GPS Nav and typed in "MOTORCYCLE". (not spelled right
the first three times I tried. Ever typed with your elbows? Big old thumbs on a little bitty keyboard...)
Up popped "Adrenaline Cycles" very close to my location. Travis answered the phone and said they had a 2008 shift
lever in stock (GREAT...much stronger than my wimpy stock one!). Apparently they part out bikes and sell on eBay
etc...
A two mile ride at 25mph through parking lots, across medians, and to the shop- 10 minutes of wrenching, and I'm
back on the road.
Rain on and off but a gully washer just inside Louisville. On to my brides cousin's (Mark Atwell) home- greated
by his lovely wife Laurie and great kids - Wesley and Sarah (I want to spend more time with them all), and a spectacular
dinner of filet mignon and some other stuff...but the steak UMMM.
Great conversation late into the evening. Mark was an F-15 pilot and trainer and now flies for UPS. I could
talk to him for hours about this stuff. Thanks Atwells for the wonderful hospitality!
8:30 am I'm in Indiana at a McDonalds (free wifi) for a quick breakfast before continuing on to Chicago to visit Clay,
Lydia, Clare, and Helen. See you soon guys. Have a towel ready...looks like more rain.
Problem with downloading pics. I'll figure this out later and give you all eyes.
Mom and dad tossed a great party for me on Monday. Cornell chicken (thanks for the legacy Pop Beckwith), all the
trimmings, and good family really made the day. My friends John from Charlotte and Ruth from Brevard brought instruments
and we picked until our fingers couldn't take it anymore. Thanks everyone!
On the bike...
Electronics complete
Test packing done
Tires to ship today
Me...
pack last of clothes
take care of job related stuff
parse out chores to the kids
