The day before I was scheduled to leave my radio died, a check confirmed it was the radio and not anything else, like a blown fuse or loose wire. Well, I had a new helmet from Harley I was trying and I was able to hear music from my phone with it, so no big deal. I will write a separate article on the helmet when the dust settles.
I got an early start on Friday, August 1, because this year I planned to stop and visit my niece in North Carolina. The ride went well and as the day went on the temperature continued to rise. I did plan on that and had my Harley Cooling vest with me and did need to use it. When I am riding by myself I don’t mess around. I stop for gas and unless I have to use the men’s room I gas and go. This helps to make excellent time getting to my next stop. Something you can never plan on is traffic jams, because of construction or wrecks on the interstates, and I did hit a couple of them but still arrived in time for us to go to supper and enjoy some conversation.
Got a reasonable start Saturday morning, because my next stop was Gettysburg, PA, where I was to meet my friend and riding partner Beat-on who was coming in from New Jersey. I no sooner got into PA and my oil pressure gauge started doing crazy stuff. I was in bumper to bumper traffic and all kinds of things were going through my mind. I was finally able to get off the highway, and through a process felt it was the gauge or sending unit and not anything more serious, so I made it to the hotel, where I was meeting Beat-on.
Still concerned I wanted to make sure it was not something more serious, I realized my friend Dan Fitzmaurice shop Zippers Performance was not that far away.
A phone call to him had me meet him at the shop early Monday and Justin installed a hose and gauge which confirmed I did in fact have good oil pressure. Better safe than sorry.
We made it to sister Cat’s and Cowboy’s house in Wisconsin for a much-needed R&R. Times with friends and their hospitality on these trips makes a world of difference. I also got to try out a new crossbow.
While there I took the opportunity to check out the fuel gauge situation which told me I would need a new part in the tank. Not something looking to do on the road.
First, we stopped at Klock Werks to see our good friends there. Good thing we did as we were parking, I noticed oil leaking from Beat-on’s bike. It turned out to be an oil line. Got it in the shop and Todd got on it right away. Concerned about getting it fixed Brian Klock the owner said not to worry, we will get it fixed or take the bike and Beat-on to Black Hills H-D the next day. Well, Todd did his thing and not a drop the rest of the trip.
Got my oil pressure switch and wire connector fixed at Black Hills H-D but they did not have the fuel gauge parts in stock but did confirm what I thought was wrong so would just pay attention to gas and mileage the rest of the trip.
Made it to my friend Kathy’s house in Nemo and got settled in, while Beat-on did the same at the Guest Ranch.
Okay, even with planning and trying to cover everything, sometimes things just do not work out as planned. But I think this is way more interesting than I got on my motorcycle, met Beat-on and we rode to Sturgis…
