TENNESSEE

Late start this morning! I put on a small front sprocket and lubed the chain – all in an effort to wait out a downpour. It was sunny the first couple of hours on the trail, then the clouds moved in - along with tornado warnings. The sign for the beginning of the trail was no where to be found. I lost about an hour trying to find the missing sign and inquired with anyone I came across. One Amish man, in a horse drawn carriage, ignored me – not interested in my travel pursuits – technology and motorcycling far from his mind and lot in life. Unfortunately, my only other source I scared off too. A teen in another horse drawn buggy sped away through the fields – could it have been the Scott Psycho hologram goggles?

I found myself in a very thick wooded area with a stream crossing. An hour later, slowing down for the widest of streams, I noticed that the bed was algae covered granite. At this point, it was too late, my front tire was shot and over I went - in the water! Luckily, I remembered to hit the kill switch (or the engine would have sucked in uncompressible water) resulting in a bent drive shaft. I try to lift the bike and find I am only able to turn the handlebars, so the bike is, at least, parallel with the water. Still being pulled down by the current - I lift again and, surprisingly, I have enough leverage to upright the bike. I try to the ignition, POP, it dies! I try again – it sputters and rumbles to back to life! I walk it in gear and put out the kickstand. Shook up - I check out the bike and everything looks good. Thankfully, the maps missed the water by a few inches. My knee is a bit sore, but I carry on down the trail and get to Olive Hill. There is a gas station that looks like it is 50 years old and hasn't seen one repair. I consult the map and see the next leg of my trip requires me to ferry my motorcycle across the river. I asked the gas station attendant about the boat and she told me it hadn’t run in over two years - due to another bridge further down river being constructed. I note there is a different route to get around the river - crossing near Savannah, TN. Rain starts again and I decide it is time to get a room for the night.
On each page you will find the music I had along with me on my RCA Kazoo MP3 player. A must have for long trips. I could load up my CD collection into mp3's and have 75 songs form the long sections. Tomorrow I will meet Sam Correro. Happy Trails!

Kevin Basso

I WISH I HAD TAKEN MORE PICTURES, BUT THE RAIN
MADE ME KEEP MY DIGITAL CAMERA IN MY POCKET.