Jun 20, 2014

Photo deprived today, too many other considerations which is a shame. The terrain progressed from flat broadacre farming on a large scale to gently hilly tree covered terrain and the temperature felt marginally cooler as we climbed up off the valley land though still hot and humid which is taking a bit of getting used to. We are hoping some of that is our bodies trying to acclimatise from our southern winter selves to northern visiting selves and our toleration level will improve...though we're not convinced but that said we won't be letting it spoil our enjoyment of the trip.

We headed off in reasonable time before the temperature was very high and decided to see if we could source a generic GPS holder for my GPS unit. The GPS unit I usually bring died just before we left home so bought another but between when I bought that and when I asked our bike guru over here to source a mounting bracket for it they were no longer listed as available here. As plan B we decided to ask the kids to post a bracket from home over to here and in the meantime as plan A see if we could source something which would work. The third shop we tackled before we left Springfield we got a generic holder which Norm is now in the process of fitting. I'll charge the unit up each night but it wont have access to power through the day and it remains to be seen if I can tap the screen for instructions through the plastic cover but at least if we get separated I'll be able to navigate my way to where we are going....in theory. Mmm.

By the way Graham M, this photo is for you of a Victory we saw in the shop where we found the bracket...and some mesh gloves which are much cooler

Norm is really enjoying the new bike, it gets along well, runs smoothly and is both lower and less heavy than his Triumph Rocket at home and the rear tyre is also not as wide or have it's own idea of where the bike should go so will work well to down size to that when he is ready (not yet) but having said that he is having some teething troubles which being in the trucking business we are well aware is part and parcel of new vehicles until they get a few miles on the road before they are sorted. Yesterday morning his clutch linkage dropped off, thankfully as we were leaving the car park so he braked and stalled the bike before he got on the road then re-attached it adjusting it up again a little later until he was satisfied with it.

The second thing, he spent the day yesterday dealing with a slipping grip handle on the left grip as the glue to attach the grip heater didn't take. He ended up with 100mh tape on that until he can get it dried out and get some super glue on it.

The third thing, when we got in this afternoon he discovered he had no headlights or driving lights so he has been trying to sort that after a phone call to the bike shop. He now has headlights but there is a short somewhere in the driving lights and he has used the only spare fuse he had so it's off to a bike shop in the morning to get that sorted by the looks of it so I doubt we will get to see much of Jefferson City other than when we are on our way to the bike shop and heading off. Ah well, you can't see everything and we had a great ride today and in spite of forecasts didn't get wet which was good since it poured rain in Springfield overnight.

 

Norm sweating his butt off in the underground garage doing the autolec thing.

Yay!!! Norm has just arrived back in the room with a triumphant grin. He found the short and has taped it up but will still try and find some fuses in the morning.

Last two night's Accomodation: 

The State House Inn, 101 East Adams Street, Springfield IL, 62701

An average hotel. Comfortable public areas and effective air-conditioning but the room had obviously previously had smokers using it and it still smelt strongly of that. Lovely shower and the bed (on my side) was comfortable and Norm's sagged towards the edge. Got what we paid for but it was close to the Capitol and a couple of walking distance dinner options.

Forgot to take a photo and couldn't get one from the website.