This is a trip I have been looking for and planning on for a while. I was heading from Ft Bragg, NC to Delta, OH (near Toledo). The plane is to make the 740-mile trip there in one day and return 2 days latter. I left a little late from Ft Bragg at 1200 pm. I headed north up NC 24 wandering what this trip would instill. I was thinking to myself; “how will 10 hrs on a bike feel in 10 hrs?” Well I was about to find out. I hit US 40 and the 100+ mile mark at around the same time and thought only 650 more miles to go. The weather was nice and the road was not too packed. My road king was running great and the 5000-mile service I had earlier that day made me feel confident it would stay that way. As I was going north through West Virginia on US 77 I meet up with an old timer on a Electra Glide as I got off for fuel. Well this fella was going to make my trip a good one and I was yet to know why. Well his name was Calvert he is 54 years old and a ball of energy. He had his fishing pole bunged to his handlebars, a tent and sleeping bag attached to his trunk. He had a big gray beard, cut off camo pants with a germen type helmet. He pulled up next to me at the pump got off his ride and grabbed the handle off the pump and ask me “what flavor ya want?” I guess he was buying this round. He explained to me that he was a little late to meet up with some of his buddies to go to the naked fest in Chillicothe, Oh. To me this was quit a coincidence because I was going right through there to get to Delta. We became buds in no time and took off headed to the nude fest as he put it. Riding with another person for 200+ miles keeps your mind off the time and the pain in the butt you have from your pillow mustang seat and rider’s rest you thought was the softest ever 500 miles ago. Well, after a little shifting here and there, my but still hurt! I was heading down 35 towards Chillicothe as I found out just how big a hawk is when it is inches off your head. After thanking god that only its feet hit my helmet, we hit the fair grounds in Chillicothe, Oh. I had seen that this was one big party to say the least. My friend begged me to stay and play on his bill but, I had other plans and it was dark, cold and latter by the minuet. We shook hands and I started up US 23 towards Columbus after putting on my leathers. 100-miles latter I was colder then a well digger’s a$$ in Dec. My king’s shield was not stopping the wind as much as I thought it would. It was then that I noted that the Synthetic oil that I had put in the oil case really worked. As I was huddled down on the engine, it was not even warm. Well I guess I was just going to have to tuff it out. Two and a half hours latter, I hit Toledo and the end of my 13 hr drive and my first run of the trip. “Monday morning“ Well I left today at around 3:00 am and here again it was as cold as two days ago. My butt started out this time sore and it did not seem to be getting any better. I tried to make up time in Ohio but the State Highway Patrol was doing their jobs well and I ended up talking to them three different times and got a ticket for 74 in a 60 from Columbus to West Virginia. I noted that there were a lot of biker on the road and the fog was thick. When I hit the mountains and tunnels, the rain started to fall. It did not last but a minute. Well I hit Ft. Bragg at around 2:00 pm today with no problems after 1500 miles. I loved the trip. I found that you could never plane for everything, and never know what is around the next corner. It is not just about the ride, but it is about the smells, the wind in your face, the taste of the exhaust, and the journey in whole. I am so glad I made the trip and that I could share it with you all. Thanks for reading!!

 

Glad you made it safe and had a good ride... can you get the ticket fixed like we do here in NC??

 

Airborne?

 

sounds like an interesting and fun trip. So are you ready to get a fairing for the RK? or trade it in on aGlide so you can get a radio and some protection from the wind? I Know I couldn't do that kind of miles on my king.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

I sure am ready for a fairing!!! I didnt thinkthe airwas so bad from the top but the turbulence from the lower parts of the bike was the worst. I was wondering if just the lowers will stop that from being so bad???? I had a lot of time to think why didn't I buy an Electra Glide. Just kidding I like my king. I just need to up grade the seat, fairing, lower fairing, riders rest, radio, etc, etc,

 

Great trip, jnetmac. Wish I could have ridden along, but then again, you covered a lot of ground in a short time! I probaby wouldn't even be sitting down right now had I tagged along.

 

Sounds like a blast. Wish I could just take off like that. The wife is planning on going to see her brother next month, with the kids. I am picking up a day at work (normally three days off), but thought I would just take off once I get off work, and see how far I can get in a couple of days, before I have to get back to family/work. LOL Maybe?? Sure would be nice to sleep under the stars again.

 

great ride jnetmac. Sounds like you need some anti-monkey butt powder.

 

Great ride...Glade you made it safely.