there went bennett

The front tire went flat twice and both times on the highway. One was a total and sudden deflation caused by the tube seam splitting and the second time was a leak that made the front end sluggish and squishy. These were the first flats I experienced but I handled them well with the knowledge I gained through the MSF course. Brake with the good tire and ease her over to the side of the road. The second flat was repaired with a half bottle of Slime, and the tube is still holding air. A bike mechanic recommended I always fill up a new tube with the stuff before I experience a flat as it will take care of most future punctures as well.

Sleeping. I read a book about a guy who, back in 1922, rode a motorcycle across the United States. Back then most of the roads were nothing but cow paths and he was able to stop and sleep just about anywhere he wanted. That is not case today but I did sleep in many places. On top of picnic tables in rest stops- waking up to the smell of diesel exhaust from the idling tractor-trailers. I was never bothered by authorities or strangers, but in Florida the rest stop security persons asked me to keep my motorcycle out of sight. I guess they thought a visible motorcycle would make some tourists uncomfortable.

I slept on a park bench next to the USS Midway in San Diego-kind of. Damn difficult sleeping vertical but park benches now have a divider prohibiting someone from getting horizontal. I really just nodded off so that I could answer to any police officer that might question me that I was ‘just enjoying the night air.’ Of course that line probably would not have worked, but since I was close to broke and planning on only a couple of days in San Diego, until some cash came through, it would have to do. Tried sleeping in Balboa Park during the day but Ariel would chase other dogs when they came by, and with her being tied to my beltloops, damn near took my pants with her. At one time the leash got wrapped around my neck and I got strangled and had difficulty reeling her back in so I could restore my air supply. For just mere 13 pounds she has a lot of traction.

We cuddled up under a sleeping bag against the motorcycle when we broke down in the middle of Texas at 0130 hours.

We slept in National Forests in Florida and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Texas state parks. Also, along the Natchez Trace Parkway, which was free and very beautiful, with the only drawback being the damn ticks that grabbed hold and fought to stay attached. Flea, tick, and insect repellants didn’t help much.

We stayed at a couple of Motel 6s when we needed a shower or just had to get off the road into a comfortable bed and airconditioning. They are advertised to be cheaper than any other national chain, but I don’t think by much.

Probably, by far, the most dodgy places we ever stayed were the motels owned and operated by Indians. Not native-American Indians, but Indians from India. I don’t know why but the places were dumps. I stayed in three different establishments and they all had the same things in common. No shades on the lamps and ceiling fixtures; curtains and bedspreads with holes and cigarette burns; televisions with only one color-green; and sheets too small for the bed. Forget about getting your room cleaned or an extra towel. And I can say that only the ticks of Mississippi were more vicious than the bed bugs of the Indian motels. But at least in Mississippi we were camping and could accept the ticks as part of the outdoor experience.

P.S. I named all my campsites after friends and acquaintances.

I haven’t posted in a while since I’ve been in the hospital for the last month. It has nothing to do with any sort of accident, but some old war wounds. Ariel is currently staying with foster parents while I recuperate. It’s tough leaving my baby with others but I know that she is being well taken care of with the help of an organization which provides veterans with such services.

I thought I would discuss some of the difficulties I encountered on the road.

Riding a Sporty and carrying a dog means little room left for luggage and supplies. Discomfort and difficulty arises from this limited space. The T Bag carrier attached to the sissy bar takes up a lot of space, but it’s a sacrifice I’m happy to make to have my best girlfriend with me. On the other side of the sissy bar is strapped the tent, sleeping bag, leather vest, and Ariel’s two favorite toys; her teddy bear and Jessie (Toy Story) doll. Under all this sits Kuryakyn throw over saddle bags which hold less than I had hoped for when I bought them on-line. One zipper broke before we even got on the road and another separated at the seams. They would probably make good weekend bags as long as you underpack, but I will have to find another, more durable, option when the time comes to venture out on the road again.

I only had two pairs of jeans and they got dirty, sweaty, and nasty real fast in the hot, triple-digit weather. I wore a pair until they became saturated with sweat and I couldn’t stand them any longer. I would then change into the dry pair doing that back and forth, taking one pair off long enough to dry out before swapping again. Sometimes this would occur many times a day. I think next time I will ride in cooler weather.

Needed more space for food and MORE WATER. Fewer trips into town=more gas money for going further down the road. There was always enough water available where we camped, but while on the road we could of used more. Keep enough food and water on hand for a couple of days, particulary while on back roads of the southwest. Better safe than sorry. Stay hydrated and keep the caloric intake up. I differently felt muddled, and legs cramping, on a few occasions which I think was due to not enough liquids and food. But in hindsight take enough water and food on the road in case of a breakdown. You don’t know how long it will take for someone to drive by and offer help. Some people may not even stop and you may be out of cell phone reach.
Next time take a netbook or other computing device smaller than my current laptop which is heavy and bulky.

Long sleeve shirts/jackets are cooler than short sleeves.

Watching after Ariel was a bit of a problem in some places. Most public buildings do not welcome dogs so I was restricted as well since I couldn’t leave baby out in the sun. I was also afraid of leaving her tied up in the shade unattended. We just dealt with it but next time I will have to come up with a solution to this problem. It was mostly at grocery stores, libraries, and wifi spots.

So I will just have to pack smarter, buy smaller accessories, and ride during cooler weather. Or get that sidecar I keep drooling over.

Ariel and I started riding mostly at night after she developed a bit of heat stroke. Fortunately she recovered. So now we start out about 1800 (six pm) and stop for the nearest McDollar burger and a cup of coffee. We then fill up the bike and look it over. This uses up some time but since I’m not really ready to get underway until 2000 hrs we sit at McD’s or the gas station waiting for the sun to sink further. Often times someone will offer us something to eat and in some cases cash. Apparently I appear forlorn, but actually I think it is concern for Ariel.

I ride for six hours or so and then look for a rest stop where Ariel and I sleep for the remainder of the night if I think getting to the next stop will exceed my fatigue tolerance.

One evening, about 0130, we pulled into a rest stop, and a voice from under a picnic pavilion asked me if I would like a cup of coffee. I accepted the invitation and introduced myself.

‘Bennett,’ extending my hand.
‘Stillman, glad to meet you.’

Stillman had a Jetboil camping stove, and a hand coffee grinder. I soon had a cup and when his cup was ready he offered me a cigar . We sat in the rest area smoking cigars and drinking fresh ground, fresh brewed, hazelnut coffee.

We talked about ex-spouses, ex in-laws. Places we’ve been and work we’ve done. When I mentioned that I had spent a number of years working in Anti-submarine warfare designing sonobuoys he perked up and said his son was somehow connected with them and he knew exactly what I was talking about.

Then the conversation trailed off. We found our commonalities, and still being strangers, didn’t feel the need to take it further.

We sat finishing our cigars and coffee saying nothing else except to point out another one of the dozen or so jack-rabbits hopping through the area.

I was sitting at a 7-11, avoiding the mid-day sun and heat as best as possible, when a Hispanic woman in her late thirties walked by and noticed my dog tags. She asked if I was a vet. I answered yes and she said she had been in the Air Force. Our conversation moved along to Ariel needing a bath. Ariel’s white hair was now the color of coffee with cream due to camping without facilities. My hygiene wasn’t any better. She invited us to her house, which was around the corner, so I could wash Ariel with the garden hose

After our shampoo I asked if there was a park in the area where I could nap in the shade during the hot part of the day before getting back on the road.

She offered to walk me over and show me the park where I could hang out for a few hours. She went into the house and I could hear her argue with her father in Spanish. Of course I didn’t understand a word so I asked if everything was okay and she said yes.

After walking a couple of blocks she wanted to borrow my sunglasses saying that she was being stalked.

“Really, how long has this been going on?’
“Oh since the Air Force did mind control experiments on me.’
‘Mind control.’ I asked
‘Yes and even though I’m no longer in the service they still control my thoughts from air planes and ships.

I turned us around and got back to her house asap. ‘Ariel let’s get the hell out of here,’ I said. We got back on the highway and headed for San Diego.

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