Not the Intended Ride

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10-21-09

Tonight I start midnight shift at the PD and was in between sleep schedules. I woke up at 10 am and was met by my youngest middle son wanting to go for a ride on the bike. I checked the weather and WOW it was great riding weather, clear blue skies, a light wind and temperatures in the upper 70’s.

I have wanted to take a ride over to St. Matthews, SC and have lunch at the Town and Country Restaurant on Bridge St and then take a quick ride down to Santee, SC to visit Santee State Park. This would be a great ride and have me back home in time to get ready for work. So, I told my son to grab his gear and meet me at the bike.

I went on outside to check out the bike and get her warmed up. CLICK … CLICK … CLICK … that is all I heard when I hit the start button. This is twice this week the old girl has not started. CRAP! I pushed her over to the truck, took the seat off and hooked up the jumper cables. After a few seconds I hit the starter and she is running, but want stay running.

I informed my son that we had a change of plans and that I was riding over to Sumter to get the bike looked at. To my surprise he wanted to hang out at the Honda shop. Off we went with our fingers crossed that the Shadow would stay running for the 24 mile ride to the shop.

We made it without any other problems and Allen rolled the bike straight into the service area. It turned out I had two problems going on at the same time. The first thing was that the battery had a dead cell and would not hold a charge during the cold nights we were having. The other was that the choke cable had the choke stuck just a little open and that is what made the bike run ruff. Out with the old battery and in with the new. Then off with the tank, air filter, coil and a bunch of other stuff that I don’t know the name of. Allen worked his magic and got her all fixed up for me!

During our three and a half hour stay at the Honda shop I got to sit on every new and used bike in the Showroom. I found the bike for me … a 2010 Goldwing with ABS … anyone got 22K and some change I can have. Before I left the shop I had to part with a crisp new $100 bill.

The bike ran a 100 times better on the trip back home. We even got to take the long way home and take a short ride in the country. I love the smell of fresh cut hay in the afternoon. This was not the ride I had wanted to take. Instead of a leisurely 150 miles on the back roads of farm country and a great lunch, we had to ride the four lanner and hang out in a bike shop. But my son and I had a great time spending day together.

Total miles = 67

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