We arrived back in town on Saturday, March 2nd around 7:30 PM. Usually when we arrive in northeast Iowa we are greeted by at least a foot of snow on the ground and me having to start up the snowblower to clear a path to the shed to park the trike. NOT THIS YEAR! The only snow we saw along the way back was in the west ditch near Dubuque on HWY 61.
It was the coldest winter months in Panama City Beach in the last 25 years. Boy, were the natives squeeling! We were still able to swim daily in the heated pool at the condo, and we did get in some golf, but we did not get in as much riding as we would have liked. Actually you had some warmer days up here than we had down there! I was able to attend the junior college baseball tournament that I always enjoy. Most of the other fans were wearing parkas. We were able to have dinner at the Wicked Wheel with Rod Schreck and his lovely wife. He no longer claims to be a friend of ChucK!
Speaking of riding, the starter on the trike burned out when I was on a ride with the Ft. Walton gang. After we had lunch, I tried starting the trike, and got nothing. Figuring it may be the battery, we tried jump starting it. Still nothing. I do have towing service through AMA, and I was about to call them, but we decided to try push starting it. It started and I rode the 130 miles back to Panama City without shutting it off, and dropped it off at the motorcycle shop there. I still thought it might be the battery, but after they checked things out the next week, the starter was shot. They would have to order one and it would take 3 to five days. Since I had owned a number of Gold Wings and had never had a starter fail, I figured there must be something else causing it, so I had them replace the A & B starter relays also. This whole process between getting parts and repair time took almost all the time we had left in Florida, because I had decided earlier in the year to stop by Traxxion Dynamics near Atlanta, and have the front end of the trike serviced with new springs, ect.
After the trike was finished at Panama City, we loaded it on the trailer and headed for Woodstock, GA, just north of Atlanta on Thursday. It took us well over 8 hours to make the 300 mile (interstate) trip to Woodstock. The traffic near and in Atlanta is terrible, to put it mildly! I think we averaged 10 mph for at least 50 miles. We stayed overnight in Woodstock and took the trike to Traxxion Dynamics the next morning. This shop is nationally known for their work on motorcycle (and bicycle) suspension systems, and they do specialize in Gold Wings. They manufacture their own parts on site, and use absolutely no foreign materials. While we waited in their comfortable lounge, it took a little over 3 hours for them to complete the job. They removed and replaced the front end with new steering head bearings, new fork brace kit, new cartridge kit (springs), new fork seal and dust kit, and new fork inner and outer bushings. They showed me the old bearings, springs, and bushings. They certainly needed replacement! They even offer to give you the old parts. I declined. So through this whole repair process, we lost close to two weeks of riding during the best weather there all winter. I know, you don't feel sorry for us!
We left Traxxion Dynamics around noon after waiting out a downpour of rain. Our intentions were now to try to get through Nashville with the time we had left in the day, and stay overnight after passing through. Our last trip through Nashville was a nightmare, and this one wasn't much better. We finally arrived in Clarksville and spent the night. Our trek home on Saturday was about 650 miles. Needless to say, I was real tired of looking up the asses of semi's on these 3 days. If I ever have to make that trip back from Florida by that route, it will have to be by gunpoint! I am anxious to ride the trike now that the front end has been redone.
I think I mentioned in a previous post that we just missed a tornado that hit parts of Panama City Beach in January. Here's some photos that I was able to take of the damage. I think the storm went right over our condo building before it touched down.
Also, I will be starting to work on the ride sheet for 2024, so if you have a special ride that won't be led by me, and want to add it to the Wednesday Night Riders ride list, then let me know the dates and destination, and I will include it on the WNR ride sheet for 2024.
Remember April 17th for PMS!
AND FINALLY
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| SAME GIRL, SAME BIKE, 70 YEARS LATER |
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