Hi guys and thanks for checking in.  I returned just last night from the longest ride I've ever taken.  I went from my home town of Lincolnton, Georgia, to Lebanon, Ohio. 

   The total distance was going to be 12 hundred miles plus, so I knew I had to have the bike running right before I left.  Not that anything was wrong with it, I just wanted to keep it that way.  The oil only had about 15 hundred miles on it, but I changed it and the filter.  I also changed the spark plugs.  I cleaned my K&N air filter.  I cleaned, tightened and lubed my chain.  Checked and double checked my tire pressure.  Bled both the front and read brakes.  I went over pretty much every nut, bolt and screw on the bike and made sure everything was tight.  I went to a local bike dealer and bought a Throttle Rocker.  Yes, yes; I know they're for the cruisers but I had one heck of a ride before me and didn't want to have to stop every 50 miles and nurse blood back into my hand.  The thing was a life saver!  I didn't think a little piece of plastic could make such a difference, but boy did it!
   I almost didn't get to leave when I had planned to.  The night before I was supposed to head out, the power went out in my whole town.  This left me with no internet to get directions(got to love MapQuest.com), no light to pack by, and no hot water to shower in.  Luckily, 15 miles up the road, my Grandparents still had power so everything worked out nicely.  I got everything ready to go by 11:30pm that night and had to wake up at 5am the next morning to leave.
   I got up right at 5am and started loading up the bike.  I had the tail packed full of tools and small items, an extra helmet hanging off the side, an over-stuffed tank bag stuck on and an equally bulging back pack to wear.  I think I remember telling myself that life was fixing to suck.

   I left at 5:45am Friday morning heading to South Carolina.  I stopped in town and filled up.  It was still dark at the time and there was a light fog.  I topped off with gas right before getting on the interstate.  No rain yet, but the sun had come out and reveled awful looking clouds as far as the eye could see.  Sure enough, about 30 minutes latter, the bottom fell out.  It wasn't too bad, but defiantly slowed my pace.  Crossing into North Carolina brought mountains, more rain, and more traffic. 
   The 18 wheelers were throwing up so much water that visibility was next to none.  I pulled off under an overpass at one point  to wait some of the storm out and pour the water out of my boots.  I saw a few cruisers ride by, some of which had passengers.  I was wearing a leather/textile Joe Rocket jacket with the supposed wind/water proof liner, Gortex BDU pants, steel toe combat boots,  and gloves.  Everything was soaked through.  My black gloves had bled die on my palms and stained them purple.  My fingers were pruned up and my finger prints were pealing.  I went to check my directions in my tank bag, and when I opened it, water poured out.  Apparently it's better at keeping water in apposed to out.  Luckily I had everything in plastic bags of sorts.  Even my rear view camera screen had a Zip Lock draped over it.
   When the rain let up a little, and it sure didn't let up much; I headed back out.  After a few miles a bright yellow Gold Wing passed me at what had to be 80+ mph.  I matched his speed and stayed right behind him.  As the rain started to lighten and eventually clear, he picked up speed.  In and out of traffic through mountain road at around 100mph.  We stopped and got gas and I talked with him for a minute.  His name was John and he was 63!  We got back on the interstate and cruised for another 150 miles together.  For one stint, my speedo didn't drop below 100mph for over 30 miles.  There were no cops what so ever.  I just knew we were going to fly up on one from behind,  or get caught in a speed trap, but we didn't.  Sadly I had to change highways and he kept going straight.  That had to be the coolest old guy of all time.
   I kept track of my fuel consumption from stop to stop.  The worst I got was 37mpg and the best was 46mpg.  Keep in mind that most of the time I was really strolling.  I don't think that's too bad for a liter bike. 
   The rest of the trip wasn't all that note worthy.  Just happy sailing.  All in all it was a great ride, despite being rained on for better than 3 hours.  I got to my final destination at around 4pm.  I was pretty sore, not as bad as I thought I was going to be, but sore none the less.  The thing that hurt most was my neck and shoulders, followed by my arms and but.  The Corbin seat really saved my but, literally!

   I guess this is as good a time as any to tell you why I rode so far.  In case you were wondering, yes; it was for a female.  A vary beautiful one in particular whom I love dearly.  Her name is Lily.  We met this past summer in Edisto Island, SC.  It was like a fairy tale; everything was just so perfect.  So after talking online, on the phone, and texting; we came up with a plan (if you could call it that), for me to ride up to Ohio on a Friday to spend a weekend with her.  It was well worth it!
   While I was there I stayed in a small Hotel close to her house.  She lives about 15 minutes from Cincinnati so there was plenty to do.  I could have stayed in her town and never been bored though.  The whole town is basically a historic district.  Beautiful old houses, Churches and shops lined the streets.  The place was incredible.  Still, we were near a big city so I had to cut it up on some of the inter twining freeways.  I hope Ohio doesn't have speed cameras! 
   Sunday came so much faster then either of us wanted, and sadly, after an awesome weekend and lots of pictures, it was time to leave.  I left my back pack and anything I didn't need for the trip so she could mail it back to me.  I left at about 12:30pm.

   The ride back was great!  I hadn't realized how much the back pack hurt my back and shoulders until I didn't have it.  It was nice and sunny all day long, and it was a nice comfortable temperature too.  In Tennessee I stopped at an exit I had passed on the way in.  There was a Wal-Mart sized porn shop called Adult World, and right next to it was a huge 150+ ft. White Cross.  I had to take a picture of it!
   When I got to the mountains again, it was time to play.  Now that the roads were dry, all the stops were out.  Tearing through traffic and tight turns and really working my tires for about 20 miles was rough so I stopped for gas early and took a 30 minute breather and bought some home-made fudge.  My chain was starting to get loose and make some racket.  I lubed it with a bottle of WD-40 and headed back out.
   By now it was getting both dark and cold, but at least it wasn't raining.  I toughed it out and finally made it home at about 11:30pm.  It took a little longer because I stopped more often and for longer than before.  I looked at my trip meter when I pulled in my drive way,  just over 13 hundred miles.  Wow, what a pain in the but!
   
   Now I've got to go wash my bike; the thing is filthy!  What a ride though.  It was awesome and I'd do it again right now if I could.  Thanks for reading! 


                                             -Latter


All wet
   





Stoped under an overpass



My hands after 3 hours of riding in the rain


Hotel room



Here's "Adult World"



And here's the Cross right beside it.  The pole to the left is actually in front of the Cross



And this is what it was all for

Glad you had a good ride.  $50 rainsuit with the legs outside of the boots will keep the water out of the boots.

Love Your Bike . Im a bigger fan of the white/ blue , but i still love it , cute girl . great ride,

Thats what lifes all about!

Good read, well writen and nice story, I once rode 300 miles on a barrowed Honda Rebel 250cc while in the Marines for a girl, we are going on our 18th year now You got me beat by 1000 miles hahahaa

Thanks for the comments guys.  I just love to ride.  Next year I'll get something a little more comfortable to park next to the Gixxer so long trips won't be so bad.

Because i dont like credit , ive started saving for my new bike , Daytona 675 Sexyest bike ever! , its gonna be 1200 pounds a year insurance , compaired to the 333 pounds the gs500 is , ill never sell it , and in a year or what not , be earning more money

Quote from: afi1 on September 17, 2007, 02:53:03 PM
Thanks for the comments guys.  I just love to ride.  Next year I'll get something a little more comfortable to park next to the Gixxer so long trips won't be so bad.

" adult world is around exit 134 of interstate 75, and the white cross as well, Both near caryville tn

Awesome...

looks like you had a happy ending  nothin like a sweet thong on the back of a bike 

Gee yama sounds like you know exactly where 'adult world' is

Quote from: spcterry on September 18, 2007, 03:27:16 PM
Gee yama sounds like you know exactly where 'adult world' is

That's funny, I don't care who you are lol.

Terry . For when you've put your truck into the *truck Parking* area of Adult world. Did u Enter Via The Backdoor? 

There is something wrong with her underpants.



Just kidding!

1200 miles is an awsome ride.  I bet you can't wait to do it again.

you guys are all much better than i.  i am lazy lazy and rarely do a one way over 25miles

what milage do u lot do a year , here its about 10,000-15,000  miles average , thats cages anyway , and this dude does like a months worth in 2 days , is it because america is so much bigger you have to travel alot further?

Not because we have to..........because we can.   It's a recurring theme over here

hmm , im right in the south , and to leeds . is about 300 miles , so to scotland , is about 500 miles , its not miles of wide roads , with wildlife all around , its the M1 

when i lived in israel i tried explaining to people that there are those who own land in north america larger than the state of israel itself.  they just could not grasp the concept

Quote from: Jay_wolf on September 21, 2007, 03:32:50 PM
what milage do u lot do a year , here its about 10,000-15,000  miles average , thats cages anyway , and this dude does like a months worth in 2 days , is it because america is so much bigger you have to travel alot further?

Thats about average here too.

I've never really counted my miilage up per year.  I haven't kept a bike for a whole year lol .  Probably about 10,000 miles.

Its hard 2 imagine frankie , like im sure England would fit into the U.S loads of times ,  id love to come to the us , i will one day