Final Thoughts

8 days... 9 States... 2800 miles... GREAT ride.

I should have taken some pictures on this trip but I didn't... maybe next time.

Odie is a great guy and his Special O.P.S. pipe is super... it may have been cheaper to send the pipe to Odie but I was going for a ride anyway and this gave me a destination.

Day 8... Wednesday, October 10, 2007

I was up early and packed up the bike. It was 42 degrees and windy already. I put on my long johns under my jeans and had 2 shirts, a sweatshirt and then my leather jacket. Between my first and second shirt, I pinned two hand warmer packets to try to keep warm on the ride home.

It took me four hours to get home... about 200 miles. It was cold and extremely windy but I only stopped once for gas and a quick hotdog. My hands were warm with my heavy gloves and heated grips... my back was okay until just before home when the hard warmers packets quit heating, but my feet had gotten pretty cold... hurt a little at first to walk when I got off the bike.

Day 7... Tuesday, October 9, 2007

I was up early and ready to ride but I waited until it got light so there would be a better chance to see the critters... especially the deer.

I rode up to Dickeyville, Wisconsin... about 415 miles and got a motel room for the night... it was about 3:30pm. It was a windy day with temps in the mid 50's.

After unpacking and checking the computer, I walked down to my friends tavern. I stayed for awhile and then I guy going up to the bowling alley... asked if I wanted to ride along, so I rode along with him. I had a beer and a pizza at the lanes and then walked back to the motel.

Day 6... Monday, October 8, 2007

The weather forecast for today was thunderstorms but the sun was starting to shine so I went for a ride around the south end of the lake into Camdenton and then up the east side of the lake to Osage Beach. I was going to stop by the Harley/Buell dealer but they are closed on Mondays. The I noticed that the sky to the west and north was getting really dark, like maybe a major storm, so I headed back to the motel the short way... across the bridge to MM and then TT to Sunrise Beach and then on to Laurie.

I used the computer for awhile in the room and then went over to "Chances R" for some lunch. It started to rain just as I got there and continued most of the afternoon.

Day 5... Sunday, October 7, 2007

I had a quick breakfast at the motel and then rode the back roads (Hwy 5) through the Ozark mountains up to Laurie, Missouri by "The Lake of the Ozarks"... 360 miles today.

I got a room for two nights and then walked over to "Chances R" and had some beer and a pork chop dinner while watching the remainder of the NASCAR race and then I watched a little of the Packer/Bear game and walked back to the motel.

Day 4... Saturday, October 6, 2007

I was up early and ate breakfast at the motel. I rode Hwy 84 across Alabama into Mississippi and then Hwy 49 to Greenville, MS and then Hwy 82 across the Mississippi River to Pine Bluff, Arkansas... all secondary roads... most were good riding roads. I got there about 7:30pm and stopped at the Days Inn... 540 miles for the day... checked in, put my stuff in the room and went a couple blocks to a club and had a few beers. Then back to the room with some fast food and to bed early.

Day 3... Friday, October 5, 2007

Odie Special O.P.S. Pipe

I rode from Athens to Enterprise, Alabama and got at room at the new Hampton Inn... 266 miles for the day. I called Odie and we decided to meet at his place and swap the pipes at 4:00pm. Got the new Special O.P.S. pipe installed and I went back to the motel. Pipe sounds GREAT!

Day 2... Thursday, October 4, 2007

I was up early and had a light snack at the motel before riding from Mattoon to Athens, Alabama and getting a room at a Best Western... 425 miles of interstate for the day.

After checking in, I walked to a Ruby Tuesday's nearby for some beer and a sandwich.

Day 1... Wednesday, October 3, 2007

I left Central Wisconsin on my 2007 Uly at 9:00 am... I stopped for the night at a Super 8 motel in Mattoon, Illinois at about 3:30pm... 434 miles for the day. Interstate from Stevens Point to Mattoon.

After checking in I walked across the parking lot to Cody's for a few beers and a steak.