TAT Report 2010-Day 10 August 18-2010

Wednesday already.
We have now spent two nights in the same motel....BORING....especially when you're handy-caped. We ordered out last night and had Chinese delivered to the motel...it was filling.

Small quiet and  clean..this is the Econo Lodge where we "hid out" for two days, planning our escape.

We were in the back building, just about had it all to ourselves. Horses at the ready to make our escape, at a moments notice, when the time was right.







Decision was made this AM, we'd start for home. My ankle felt a lot better, but was obvious I'd never get all my strength back in time for the Rockies crossing, and could actually make matters worse by not getting the needed rest on it if I kept riding Westward. I called my friend back home. He will pick up my trailer at Rich's place, and head towards St. Louis, MO. We'll head towards St. Louis also.

We got a late start, maybe 10:15am, and headed East on 60 from Bartlesville. We connected with I-44, and headed towards Missouri.  Just as we entered I-44 (a/k/a Will Rogers Parkway), I saw a motorcycle headlight behind us. It just stayed back there, maybe a third of a mile. It traveled at the same speed as we did, about 60 mph (speed limit 70mph). After about 100 miles, we pulled into a rest area / information center. Just as we pulled into the parking spots, this bike that had been behind us, pulled in beside us. It  was a cute little Honda Rascal (250cc), all decked out. This small, almost frail elderly gentleman got off. He immediately started up a conversation. Within seconds I learned he was 75 years old, had been riding 55 years, had retired his original CB750 (Honda), as it got bigger and heavier as he got older. We all walked into the rest area facility.

Rich...you would have loved this guy...he even kept talking when we were in the mens room, standing facing the wall....doing our thing.

After washing up (Brooks had to show him how to turn on the "magic" facets) (the auto sensor type).
we went into the information section, got a new map, free (Hey..CB..you hear that .. FREE coffee), sat down and relaxed.

I know know his name is Mr. Cain, and he lives in Eastern Missouri, born and raised there.
Not sure how we got on the subject, (other than he mentioned it), but at one time he delivered new and used airplanes to customers all over the US. We learned of the time he delivered a 1923 British Sopwith Camel Bi-plane to a rancher in South Dakota. No navigational equipment in those old planes. You flew with a chart (map) strapped to your thigh, and you had a compass and a stop watch.

Read more about this great old plane:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopwith_Camel

I mentioned we lived near a place called Hammondsport, NY, birthplace of Glenn Curtiss.
He immediately started telling me about Glenn Curtiss and his competition with the Wright brothers. He knew what he was talking about. His historical facts were right on.

Read more about Glenn Curtiss:  http://www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org/


Eventually I finished my coffee, and we started back outside, Mr. Cain right at our side, never missing a beat.

We said our good-byes, and we were off.  What a neat (and nice) guy he was....Rich said it, we meet the nicest and most interesting people on our motorcycles.

Mr. Cain 75 years old-enjoying life everyday

We kept on a movin...finally stopping just outside Rolla, MO. A wonderful Best Western.  Guess what...FREE coffee in the rooms. A whole basket full of pure Colombian coffee. I took a picture of it and will print it out when I get home...guess who's going to get it in the mail...yep..Mr. CB...in Beebe, AR.

FREE Coffee- What a neat idea

Gave Jon and Rich a call tonight. They are bunked down near Lexington, KY. They had a good day, traveled over 325 miles. Rich even got a tire to replace his almost bald D606 rear. Said he paid $10.00 for it.
I told him he must have gotten it out of a dumpster. Turns out he found it at a bike parts shop they drove past. Used, but for $10.00, you can't go wrong .

We'll continue in the morning. We expect to meet our rescue truck about 11:30-12 noon, on I-70, in Indiana.


Stats for the day:  274 miles, avg speed; 56mph Time: 7hr 12 min