West
2020
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Day 01 July 13 |
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With all the Covid craziness and other events that have unfolded over the last month or so, I am way past due to get some wind in my ears. I've got 11 states plus Alaska and I will have BlueBelle in all 49 states like the other three girls. But with Covid fears shutting down the US/Canadian border, Alaska will have to wait for another time. She is loaded and ready to roll and so am I. | |||||
As I head out, the ever watchful Bowser checks me out and makes a note in his log book - "Daddy's loaded up on a motorcycle so he will be gone a while'. |
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As I head west toward I40, I pass by our church, Arbor Baptist, the home of my heart. I don't believe a feller could find any more dearer folks anywhere on the planet. And I take great comfort in knowing that they are praying for me in earnest. | |||||
As I hit I40, my companion for the day, I run into some fog where it crosses the Harpeth River. The coolness feels good and I know I will be wishing I had some more of it long about high noon. | |||||
Up ahead is what I call an 'elephant dance' - one semi trying to pass another semi and they don't quite have enough power to pull it off. I've seen these dances take a long time before one or the other drivers finally lets up. All I can do is hold back and watch from a distance as I don't want to get sucked into the nasty turbulence caused by the clashing wind streams. | |||||
Memphis comes and goes and I remember that Bass Pro Shops took the pyramid over in 2015 and turned into a megastore. It was a typical 'government' project that turned into a failed boondoggle shortly after it opened. | |||||
Before long I am crossing the mighty Mississippi and leaving my beloved Tennessee. During my career I could have moved to many other places, but this state is where my heart is and always has been. My family heritage in this land goes back 7 generations to before Tennessee became a state. I live less than 50 miles from where the first Derryberry settled in what later became Tennessee. | |||||
Looks like the corn is doing right well in Arkansas. | |||||
Further along, I see my flag flying at a granary silo. Regardless of the fad du jour, I believe a real man kneels at the Cross and stands before the Flag. To do anything less, disrespects the blood that was shed on both accounts. | |||||
With the Covid 'precautions', you never know what to expect as far as getting something to eat. I figure Sonic always has take out so when the gas level and the hunger level line up, I head for one. | |||||
Their breakfast burritos ain't bad - one bacon, one sausage, and I really love their strawberry slushies with extra strawberries. As will be the case for most of this trip, BlueBelle or a motel bed will be my dining table. | |||||
With both beasts filled, I get back to slabbing it. Up ahead, the skies look a little iffy but I can see some blue so I take the chance. In these temps, 'baking in the bag' of a rain suit is a less than desirable experience. | |||||
And then I hit the first of a bazallion construction zones that I will encounter along the way. And then ... | |||||
there's another one ... | |||||
and another one ... | |||||
and another one ... | |||||
And when I finally escape that, there's a wreck that's got traffic snarled up from all of the rubber necking. My guess is the FedEx driver probably took the median rather that hit a car. I've seen it played out over and over again where a speeding car cuts right in front of a semi as if the semi can stop on a dime. But I guess that is just idle speculation on my part. | |||||
Off to my right I see a gas flare blazing away like a giant candle. My understanding is they have to burn off flammable gas released by safety valves during unplanned over-pressuring of plant equipment. | |||||
Further down the road is an entourage of the power generating windmills. I understand the principle but they sure are ugly to me. | |||||
A little further along are some 'windmills' of the Lord's own making in the form of dust devils. These are little ones but some have been over 1/2 mile tall and 30 feet wide. | |||||
It's been an uneventful day of around 780 miles and for that we are thankful. I'm glad to arrive at the Super 8 for the evening and get BlueBelle bedded down. Supper is from the Subway at the Love's truck stop next door with my bed as my table. | |||||
It would be nice to have wandered this way on lazy backroads over a couple of days, but I have limited time to travel. So I either have some 'grind it out' days like today to get where I want to ride and what I want to see, or I stay at the house. The 'Then Came Bronson' moments are far and few in the real world. But a bad day riding is still better than a good day working. | |||||
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