September 7th I get up kiss the wife goodbye and climb on the America 8:30 am. Stopped by the office took care of a couple things and on the road 9:30 am. I did not have a route planned, just point the bike south. I stayed on the back roads most of the way. First stop was for gas in Orleans Indiana at 12:00 noon and 137 miles. Gas, Drink, stretch and off I go. Stopped at Corydon Indiana for a sandwich and then south across the Ohio River and in Brandenburg Kentucky. Through Elizabethtown now I am ready to stop for gas again at 131 miles, Bonnieville Kentucky it has to be an omen. I pulled into Star Tel Systems owned by Don Wyatt in Glasgow Kentucky at 5:30 pm. Got cleaned up and Don and I went out for supper. Don offered to put me up for the night so back to his place and we finish off a bottle of Buffalo Trace.
September 8th. I thank Don and his wife for a good time go to Don's office to say hey to David Wyatt and then off I go to Bowling Green to see and old friend. Stopped and grabbed some fish and chips for lunch and then found my way to the Aviation Heritage Park. As I pull into the parking lot there she is. An F111F tail 74 178. My four and a half years of Air Force service was working to keep this bird in the air. I really wanted to see her, but I did not realize the emotions I would feel as I walked up to her and run my hand down her lines. I walked around her a number of times. I sat under a small tree's shade in 95 degrees for half an hour contemplating how we both got to this point in time.
Back on the road to YOTA's place. I stop under the 65 underpass near Franklin Kentucky to get my bearings. I discovered in Kentucky they do not want you to know where you are going until you get there. Adairville Kentucky is one of those places. I arrived at
Adairville, I fill up at the gas station and ask about the address. They ask who I am looking for? JR somebody. We met on line. No one knows. I stop in at the police station. The lady behind the glass. Oh, you are looking for JR Hunt. The officer steps forward. I have to ask, So you know him? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Am I going to die? Volunteer Fireman and EMT he is a good guy. I follow their directions, passing another Triumph that I will later find out was Paul, and find the turn into the drive. Three Drives? I am in the wrong one. I throttle the America and up the hill I go. This is either going to be a great entrance or a total dumb ass move...................I make it.
Getting off the bike I meet Charlie and Jessica. Paul finally shows and then JR gets home from work. Short introductions, a quick shower for JR and off we go heading to Lexington Kentucky. We get as far as Campbellsville Kentucky by the time night overtakes us. Paul and I share a room at the Motel 8. We find out that to pool is closed so supper and then a Jar appears? We drink it and get to know each other better. I go to bed. At some time during the night I got up to visit the bathroom. My first thought? I hope this pain between my eyes is gone by morning.
September 9th. It is so off we go to Woodford Reserve Distillery. We had a little rain on the way over, but it felt mighty good after 2 days of 95+ heat. That was fun. The Distillery was nice and we got some stock for later. We grab lunch and it was gooooooood. Off to Tennessee we go. Did you know JR was a friend of the Beetles? He showed them that Long and Winding Road. By the time the sun is setting on us we find ourselves in Spring Hill Tennessee. Howard Johnson here we come. Damn, no pool they have a movie theatre. We have a couple new bottles of Woodford Reserve and chairs on the front stoop. Paul told me he needed a room of his own tonight? I asked him if it was my snoring? He said no. I pressed him. He admitted he did not get much sleep the night before. Damn I guess my wife is correct. I snore so loud I can wake a deaf man.
September 10th. Off we go to do some White Water Rafting at Cherokee Rafting in Ocoee Tennessee. We spend the next 6 hours on the water with Jimmy Johnson. Yes folks that is right our guide was no other than Jimmy Johnson. He steered the raft and we were the engine. We almost lost Paul a couple times, but we all made it back to base camp alive. We climb back on the bikes and make it back to Cleveland Tennessee for the night. Look another Howard Johnsons, and a bar with food and a bar. Back to Charlie’s room and more alcohol. I am starting to see a pattern forming here?
September 11th. Cleveland Tennessee 9:30 am and a day that has come too soon. We all saw some great roads, great water, great food, great whiskey and shine, and great people. Now after a short breakfast it is time to head our different ways. As we are riding along I see a sign that says welcome to Tennessee? Somehow we dipped down into Georgia. My America was the smallest bike so I kept falling behind and the group kept waiting on me to catch up. This time I see Paul, Charlie and Jessica split away. JR and I hang together until Franklin Kentucky. I stay on Kentucky 31W as long as I can then back across the Ohio at Brandenburg Kentucky. I stay on the backroads till I cross over to Scottsburg Indiana and on to US 65 at dusk. At Lebanon Indiana I stop for a sandwich after saving a car in the parking lot. It was smoking and there were 2 kids standing there with fire extinguishers and another trying to open the hood. I get off the bike and with my helmet and gloves still on I pop the hood. Then I holler at the kids not to use the fire extinguishers. You see when I bent over to open the hood I smell anti freeze. No fire just a busted hose. Ok mark off my good deed for the day. I walk into Wendy’s and order a spicy chicken sandwich with a cup of chilly. Back on the bike and almost home. I take State Road 52 into Lafayette. I stop 2 miles from home to fill up the bike and call my wife Emma and tell her to open the garage. A few minutes later at 11:00 pm and 558 miles home, my adventure is over.
I left home on September 7th on an adventure. I had 1466 miles of pure enjoyment. Good times, good memories, and great fun. Most important were the 4 strangers I met in a trailer outside Adairville Kentucky. The people I met on a website forum called Bonneville america.com. Thank God they were not serial killers. They are JR, Charlie, Jessica, and Paul and they are my friends, and we shared these memories together. It was a special time and it belongs to the 5 of us. The only thing left to say about the great time we had together is………………What?
Kentucky Rally Pics
