April 20, 2005

Gainesville To Chattanooga

We left Gainesville very early in hopes of reaching Chattanooga by evening.  We were a good half day late and wanted to close the gap toward our plan.  We took the interstate up through Valdosta, Georgia,  where we connected with US 82 at Tifton.  From there we went to Columbus catching IH 185 around the city north to US 27 which we followed into Chattanooga.

The day was totally without pictures since most was on interstate but US 27 into Chattanooga was a nice road with much rolling hills scenery and nicely spaced small towns to afford a short rest from the high speeds. The flowering dogwoods and azaleas along the way with new growth on all the trees were beautiful.

We visited with my sister and her husband and three sons on Signal Mountain, Tennessee, having ascended a twisty and exciting mountain road in late rush hour traffic.  We had dinner at a pizza shop where one of my nephews works then headed towards our motel which was on IH 75 closer to Athens where we would see 66-0319.  To reach IH 75 across Chattanooga we took IH 24 and in traffic I maintained about 60-65 miles per hour.

When we were nearing the IH 75 junction, I noticed a strange, but not unfamiliar, characteristic of my bike.  I tried to change lanes and the bike would not respond.  This time is was worse than the rear tire flat and I surmised my front tire was going flat.  I bent over the tank for a look and could see the tire ballooning outward so I immediately headed for the side of the highway.  Thankfully there was an exit and I headed for it. The tire now went rapidly and totally flat setting up violent vibrations along the front fork and shaking the handlebars as though to take control of them away from me.  My adrenaline was now flowing freely and I was certain I would drop the bike so I forced it toward the grassy left side of the exit.  Fortunately, I was able to bring it to a stop, set the kickstand down, and think about this interesting turn of events.

Two flats in two days.  Not experienced by too many bikers.  And I am a youngster when it comes to riding.  The insurance company was going to love this.  It was turning dusk, I was on the side of the road a second time, and I needed another tow.  The only thing that bothered me now was that both tires had been new.  And both had gone flat due to a screw puncture.  So I called the insurance hot line and discovered my policy covered only one incident in any seven day period.  They did agree to find a tow for me and for the next hour and 15 minutes, my riding companion carried my gear to the motel in case we had to leave the bike somewhere and then waited with me for the tow.

Said tow arrived and we tried to find a dealer open so we could take it there.  No luck.  Had it towed to the motel for the night.  We would find a dealer in the morning.  At any rate, it was now after 10 PM, we were tired and a little frustrated so we called it a day.  I had been wanting to write journals every night but it seemed fate didn't want it that way.  Today's journal would have to wait until now. (4/26)

Here's the only picture of the day...my front flat tire: