OK, I am finally getting around to posting this as I alluded that I would in my "Home Safe" post.
Stewart (Roundy77) and I left Chy & Di's at around 9:30 that morning. We headed out on 52 towards 75 through the Chatahoochee (I like saying that word) National Forest. Got through there and had to stop and fuel up. No problem, piece of cake. Pound a coffee thingy and finish my smoke and then head out. Stewart takes off first and I then exit the gas station. Of course I am looking over my left shoulder checking for traffic. All of a sudden I hear this loud "tink - tink" kind of sound from underneath the bike. What the F*#k was that. I look down. I look back. There is this kind wet, slickery looking trail coming from what appears to be my bike.
Immediately pull over to the shoulder. Stewart does turn around and come back in a minute or so (unlike some other folk I know of). We look under the bike and see that my oil filter has a dent in it. We decide I need a new filter and oil. Stewart drives to the Autozone (fortunately nearby and open on Sunday) with a list of oil filters that fit the bike I keep in my wallet (thanks Pat and the Techvault). He returns with a filter, 4 qts of oil and the brilliant man even remembered to grab a small funnel. So I climb on the ground and Stewart stops me again and hands me a pair of latex gloves. Have I mentioned what a great guy he is. Anyhow, I know the filter should come right off as I just did an oil change right before the rally. Lo and behold, it does! Well here is what the filter looked like and the associated piece of road crap that caused the difficulties.
Don't think I would want to have been in that vehicle. Losing brake shoes in twisty mountainous roads must be fun, fun, fun. So just one more gratuitous shot of what it looks like to do a road side oil change on the bike.
Gotta say, got real lucky with the time and place this happened. Was Real fortunate to have been riding with a guy like Stewart. Not sure if I have shown him my true level of gratitude for him being there and providing the assistance that he did.
Lesson learned: keep an oil filter in the bags, at least on the long trips. You can usually score oil somewhere. Even if it is not the right type of oil, it can at least get you to somewhere that you can then do the job right.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you Stewart. Really glad it was you I was there with!
