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Ride Reports K.I.S.S. Adventure - Part 2
Ride Reports K.I.S.S. Adventure - Part 2
| K.I.S.S. Adventure - Part 2 |
| Saturday, 21 June 2008 00:00 |
Sas report: T Minus 1Took the kids out to the grandparents in Michigan's flat farmland Thumb. I told my mom that I brought enough food for the kids for six weeks "just in case."
 We said our goodbyes, snapped a farewell pic or two, hopped on the bike, sent the dog back up to the house a couple of times, and rolled out. So this begins the trip, actually. Kids are gone, a 45-minute ride back home for one last night's sleep in the casa and we're off, bright and early tomorrow morn.  I'm playing with the D300 on the back of the bike. Ohno's new toy for the trip is a Tokina 11-16 mm lens. Well, it's one of them. There are many that I know of, and more I don't know about I'm sure. Found out about one while we were fueling up and making final bike checks when we rolled back into town. The tire pressure gauge he pulled from The Killer Tool Roll started talking.  Anyway, Ohno wants me to practice shooting while we're riding to get that vista shot. I'm always game for something to occupy me when we ride two-up. The sun is starting to set and big clouds roll overhead. We aren't 15 miles from my parents and we're clicking away, stopping and checking angles, clicking again. This is going to be a well documented trip.  A cadence taps on my helmet. Da dum da da dum, da dum dum dum. The dirty gray-yellow clouds above, backlit from the setting sun, have let a few raindrops slip down to earth. It is not raining hard enough to wet the road, just big heavy drops playing music on my head.  I look at the setting sun peeking over the shoulder of a blue-violet cloud. The orb is starting to golden as it heads toward the horizon. I look back up at the clouds above. Big globules of water splash on my face shield. Da da dum. I smile. It's a baptism. An open welcome to this new adventure. We're on our way. DangIt's early ... Hope RNR brings some donuts.
 Wingmen in the hangars (RNR and Bark Sampler accompanied Ohno and Sas on the first leg of the mission this morning to St. Ignace for breakfast. NSA intercepts follow:)
"Uh, Ohno and Sas, this is Uly Wingman, in the barn at 19:32 hours after a 528 mile day, over." "Happy to report M-119 smooth and well-packed." "No battle damage to report. Audio warning bell went off near East Jordan vector, backed down from Mach 1, just in time for a skin-top blacked-out Charger with radar to come round the corner, over." "Dodged showers, heavy weather most of the day, but only got wet once. Found a stealth two-lane route southbound, performed nap-of-the-earth manuevers. Top indicated speed 1-1-0, repeat, one-one-oh." "RT Wingman dropped off at his Midland launch site about 1700 hours. Installed horn on RT. Rehydrated. Expect pics soon, over." "Wingmen mission map attached. Call when inbound with route; Alert 1 and 2 on the cat launches. "Enjoyed our morning rations. Safe trip and happy hunting. Out." We're off to see the WingOhno
The best way to pound out the miles is to wake up early and burn a tank or two. Sas and I were up at 5 a.m. putting the finishing touches on packing. Coffee was brewing. We headed out of the gate to accomplish the "mission" at 6:15 a.m. Bay City standard. Sas was two up on the Uly to save her backside from the 1100R's seat. Plus she was going to fire off some photos of the 1100R at speed.  Dang that bike looks small with me aboard. By 9:00 a.m. we were seated and had coffee in hand at the Hillside House in St. Ignace.  Breakfast was excellent and free. RNR is getting charitable in his old age. Maybe it the new stich that has him in such a good mood. That new jacket has taken him to new heights already.  So someone please explain this too me. Sas is afraid of cliffs but she dangles off the back of the bike shooting photos of Bark Sampler and RNR. In the rain. On the Mackinaw Bridge. While driving on the grate.    Dang women. Wish I had a dime for every time I couldn't figure them out. We pushed across the UP and hit a flood of German iron heading home from the BMW RA rally up in Houghton. Very strange to see so many beemers at once. Storm cells developed throughout the day and forced us to take a more southern route into the twin cities  But we still had some time to take a break or two.  By 9:30 p.m. whoops I mean 21:30 we rolled into our destination. There she sat. The Wing ... Kevin has done a nice job of putting the old girl back together. And she sounds purrfect. Plus she has some really cool features: • The ignition key pulls right out of the lock. Even if the bike is running. • A new windshield! Oh yeah. • A seat that had Sas purring • New tires • A full tank of gas After a quick test ride Kevin asked what I thought.  All I could say is "Old School." Ya got to remember this old girl is 26 years old. Wow. But everything works. Well after a little wrenching everything works. She is even fitted with a hardwired GPS now. Oh yeah the pull today was 700 miles. The longest day ever in the saddle for Sas.  |