Jun 18, 2014

NB. Not happy with the f

ormatting on this post. Loaded from a different spot. Won't do that again and will  c

orrect this when I get access to a computer, so probably when I get home.

 

 

 

The thumbnail image is the bikes parked up where we had a cuppa this arvo. The empty block where the trucks park is a dustbowl in spite of earlier rain. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We left our hotel by taxi and headed into

the train station in Chicago and for anyone who thinks we take our lives in our hands by riding motorbikes would no longer think so if they  had been in the cab with us! We were well and truly focused throughout the whole ride as we darted from one lane to another at a feverish pace and just about got launched each time the brakes were applied, oh and the indicators were only used twice for the whole trip and that was to change from one road to another. But, enough of that, we got the Union Pacific train to Wheaton then another cab marginally less exciting to the bikeshop to collect the bikes and walked in a couple of minutes before the skies opened up and did it pour!

 

 

 

Norm getting his new bike sorted. He traded last years bike on this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had looked at the forecast before leaving the hotel and there was a band of severe thunderstorms and lightening sweeping in from the north west and heading towards the south east of Chicago and on down south to where we were headed. The temperature plummeted to a tolerable level and we fiddled about and didnt head off until the rain had cleared and were accompanied by incredible black and grey storm clouds for most of the trip and lightening and pouring rain to our left, right and behind us but we got a slight sprinkle only and ended up before getting toSpringfield seeing a temperature gauge saying it was 90F so very unfriendly when stoppd at traffic lights and roadworks.

 

 

 

 

My bike loaded up in the workshop before we headed off.

 

 

The most impressive sights for the day:

 

 

 

Seeing Norms new bike a Yamaha Silverado (1700cc) which looks great

 

Seeing the birthday present Norm arranged for me - driving lights fitted to my bike

 

Jet black skies spread out as far as we could see in front of us with black columns of rain in patches and an eerire pink sky ahead of us underneath the low cloud ceiling as we headed south west and were grateful that each time it looked like we were heading right into the thick of things the road veered in a different direction so we skirted around the storms through miles and miles of undulating Illinois farmland.

 

 

At one point we stopped to put the waterproofs back on and the sky above us had rolling grey and white clouds progressing in a circular direction above us and slightly to the left. The centre of the circle looked empty to the sky above but there was no tornado tail and since there have been many destructive ones in the last few days further south we got the hell out of there. Oh yeah and did we mention there have been floods and earthquakes as well, it's all happening here!

 

 

The Illinois State Capitol Bulding in Springfild as we walked through the heat to dinner around 8pm.

Bits and Bobs:

 

Saw this sign at a servo where we fuelled up this arvo? The only moonshine I've heard of is the illegal stuff so this intrigued me and check out the fuel prices and that is a per gallon price obviously.