Monday July 25 - Day 1

Well the first day turned out to be a very interesting, and long day!

Up at 4:00 a.m. to put in a shift flippin' eggs at the diner then home by 11:30.  Torrential rains threatened to seriously delay our departure which we planned for about 12:30.  However, around 1:00 p.m. the rain stopped and the sun began to shine.  So we set the timers on the lights, locked the doors and we pulled out of the driveway around 2:00 p.m. 

We hit some rain at the PA Turnpike entrance in Cranberry that lasted about 3 miles, then again about 15 mile before the Ohio State line for about a mile.  After that, it was clear sailing...we thought!

I looked in my mirror and saw smoke coming from Judy's trike.  I pulled over and saw that there was oil all over the right side of the bike and the right side of Judy.  We were close to McMahan's Harley in Beaver Falls, but had already passed the exit.  I called and they said it could be the oil was over filled and blowing out the air cleaner.

We opted to go to Bike Town in Youngstown since it didn't require a turn-around and was just as far.

We got to the dealer, they gave a quick look and said the air cleaner was filled with oil and blowing out the bottom and spraying all over the bike, the hot engine and exhaust (hence the smoke) and Judy.  Suspected causes, over filled oil, or blocked breather tube.  I will NOT be changing the oil on the bikes again.

Around 7:00 p.m. we were presented with a bill for $40.00.  They cleaned the air cleaner, the breather tubes and verified the oil level AND washed the bike.  We wished we knew there was a washer and dryed in the shop...Judy's oil splattered clothes would have gone in.

So in FIVE hours we made about 75 miles.  Now that's moving!

After a quick stop at Wendy's, we were on the road again. 

Our plan was to make it to, at best, Flint, Michigan...at worst, Ann Arbor.  We were only able to add another 200 miles putting us in Toledo, about 100 miles short of our planned stop.  Finding a hotel was not as easy as we expected, thanks to the U.S. Senior Open Golf tournament being held here.  But, at 10:00 p.m. we checked into the Toledo Hilton and hit the shower then to sleep.

Tomorrow WILL be a better day!