Miles and miles, and nothing but miles

"You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy"...... well, Steve IS STILL in Kansas, somewhere!  Actually, they stopped in Junction City, Kansas this evening and have the day off for some much needed R&R tomorrow.  Boots need dried out, sore butts need a break, and helmet head bobbing neck muscles need to relax.  There's only so much a hot shower can fix. He misses our hot tub!

They got wet....yes wet, again today and being that is it only in the 50's it was cold and wet!  However, the bikes ran sweet in the cold air!

 






Here's the Buck's Indian T-shirt Sales force at work.  Dick Jones, Steve S. (a.k.a. the Watchman) and Buck.  Steve is from Keyser,  (I won't even try to spell his last name as I know I will get it wrong), but met up with the guys in Junction City, Kansas this evening and helped out with selling T-shirts while the guys went for dinner.  Thanks Steve!




The results from the end of Stage 6 (Wednesday), showed that only 45 riders have made it the total 1341 miles to date.  There are various theories as to why so many this Cannonball are experiencing so much trouble, but Steve & Ziggy are still a couple of the lucky ones who have endured the entire route to date.  They both got the full 244 miles in today as well, so the results will be in late tonight to see how everyone got along.   

Tonight's hosted dinner was put on by City Cycle Sales in Junction City, Kansas.  It was much appreciated and enjoyed by all.  Thanks for the wam welcome!

Tomorrow's plans include general maintenance, a once over, and then checking on the front tire issue.  It's still wearing abnormally and it pulls when pulling in or out of parking lots, intersections.  Essentially, when the bike is turning and at a slow rate of speed. So, the day will be filled with piddling on the bike.  Enjoy your day guys!

A sad start to today's ride when Ken Smith lost his Harley Davidson when it caught on fire.  Certainly know how that feels, we had our 101 race bike catch on fire at Wauseon on the starting line of the vintage flat track races a couple years back.  What a mess!

You're Kidding Me, Right? More Rain????

Yep, you guessed it....more rain!  Steve says his feet are soaked, they rode at least half of the 291 miles today in the rain, and most of it,  in pouring down rain. There's alot of the bikes on the trailer this evening.  The unending rain is taking its toll.   Long, hot showers for all tonight to get the chill out! 

Thanks to Yeager Cycle Sales in Sedalia, Missouri for a great hosted dinner for the crew tonight!




Rose is still running strong,  However, he's noticed some abnormal tire wear on the front tire, so he's gonna let a little air out to see if that helps.  He also has had to work on the front brake a little.  Apparently, he had some help from his new BFF from California.  I can't believe that he let someone on Rose in a Harley Shirt! LOL!!

This is a shot of the current weather on Berthoud Pass in Colorado.  Looks like rain may not be their worst enemy after all.  Riders make sure that you get your long johns ready for Saturday!

Orlando Sentinel

Click on this link for the Orlando Sentinel for a video that they put on this website about the race.  You'll see Steve sitting on his bike in the first 6 seconds.  It's a great video!  Kudos to them!

Orlando Sentinel

Twenty minutes to get to the starting line....no problem, right?

Today was one of the shorter runs on the Cannonball, only 199 miles.  They rode from Clarksville, TN to Cape Girardeau, Missouri.  However, when Steven went to warm up his bike, twenty minutes before his scheduled start, Rose WOULD NOT START!!! So....it had to be the rotor button, not.  Alright, then the distributor cap needs replaced, still didn't fix it.  Well, then the coil must have gone bad, not that either. Ok, so let's take a shot and say the condensor needs to be replaced,  FIXED IT!  YES!!!!!  All that in less than twenty minutes and he still made to start line in time, oh yeah!

The bikes as a whole today ran very well, with very few breakdowns.  The ride took them around Lake Kentucky and several state and national forests with some super scenery.  However, they encountered the groupie rider that been tagging along the route with the Cannonball riders.  Steve & Ziggy passed him at an intersection and when they looked in their rearview mirrors they saw that he had wrecked his bike pulling out behind them.  They stopped and turned around.  His bike is way overloaded, but they got it back up for him.  Then EMT "Spitfire" came along and stopped to make sure he was alright.  He went to take off and then ran into her on her bike.  She took a spill, hurt her knee and hit her head (which thankfully, had a helmet on it today).  Some more Cannonball riders stopped to help, got the bikes up and the guy wrecks his bike again.  Steve said 4 times this guy took a spill, and they finally convinced him that he had something bad wrong with his bike, along with being overloaded and that he shouldn't be riding it until he got it checked out for everyone's safety.

They arrived in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and enjoyed the hosted dinner by Spanish Street.  Thanks to those fine folks!  Following the Parc Ferme', the Cannonball riders participated in a parade down Broadway street in town. 

This gentleman was looking at Steve's bike from his wheelchair. He and his wife became very emotional when they helped him up on the bike for this photo op.  He used to ride and hadn't been able to for many years.   Landon and Nolan, this one's for you!  You guys made his day!

FYI....Dick is still working on maps.  Tomorrow's ride is 291 miles from Cape Girardeau, Missouri to Sedalia, Missouri. As of this evening, they have ridden 1050 miles - 1/4 of the trip.  There are 51 riders that have ridden the whole way so far, included in this count are both Steve and Ziggy.  They serviced their bikes and helped Dottie check out hers before calling it a night.   They are gonna enjoy the next couple days of nice weather as they hear the temperatures are dropping to freezing in the mountains.  Instead of stay dry, it will soon be stay warm Cannonballers!

Stage 4 - Chattanooga, TN to Clarksville, TN

Lunch stop at the Cyclemos Museum in Red Boiling Springs, TN. 

Hosted dinner at Appleton Harley-Davidson in Clarksville, TN

A couple of clowns .... Steve and Frank Westfall!

The two planes that Corky got from us are still in his museum... Cool!

Buck helping to clean up and change the oil in Rose last night in Tennessee.

Cannonball Crossroads

Cannonball  at  Crossroads in Tennessee

                 Pair of 1936 Indian Chief Motorcycles rode by Steve Rinker #7 and Ziggy #91

Time Change Confusion

It was comical as while I was talking to Steve this evening, three different people ask him the correct time and if they were now an hour behind.  Steve's reply to the last guy who asked him, "Yeah, it told you at the bottom of your rally map today that you would be in the central time zone."   I guess it should have just said, turn your clocks/watches back an hour, since you lost it today!   LOL!!!

The ride today was scenic and quite interesting.  They were constantly ascending and descending the "hills" as Steve called them, since they will be nothing compared to the 3 times they will cross the Rockies in the coming days. 

Rose ran flawlessly again today and there was NO RAIN!  Hurray! Steve says tonight's agenda has an oil change for Rose to get her ready for the flat land riding in Missouri and Kansas the next few days.  When I talked with him this evening, the sweep truck had yet to come in and they were getting ready to enjoy dinner  provided by Appleton Harley-Davidson in Clarksville, TN.  Thanks for feeding the crew!  A shout out and thank you as well to Cyclemos Museum in Red Boiling Springs, TN for providing lunch and opening up their place!

 Here's Dick warming up Rose this morning!

The crowds viewing the Cannonball bikes in Tennessee.