The MZ is ready at 10 pm, two rear wheel bearings replaced. The workshop owner gives me a bible and says, one hand on the top box, a prayer that I'll be safe on my journey and that I'll find Jesus. And thus I set off again, spiritually protected, just like ages ago, when a Shinto priest did he same for me when I rode my Nimbus around Japan.
Honda Ruckus quickly became a cult scooter, with people extending the weelbase by moving the engine unit rearwards. Predictably the Chinese got into the game shortly thereafter, by building a pre-stretched version.
Owner of Crossroads Motorsport (whose name I embarrassingly forgot) holding a neat Fulmer helmet, signed by the company's founder.
Expecting to get soaked eventually, I make a run for it, trying to get as far as I can before the skies open. Despite a very strong headwind, the MZ runs fine and fast if there's a steady stream of trucks overtaking us. If not, soon all my attention is on how to take advantage of the calm offered by trees, when fighting the sidewinds that appear next. Then I'm all over the road, in an entertaining just more than troublesome way, as the MZ & trailer has large sides for the wind to push. Fortunately the promised rain and thunder stays south of my chosen route, because I like the thought of getting zapped even less than riding through the downpour I can see in Indianapolis, to my right.
There seems to be three speeds for me: 42-45 mph in 4th (uphill/headwind), 48-51 (normal conditions), and 55-60 (downhill/slipstreaming/riding in truck wake). It goes so well that I decide to spend a few hours at the museum today, this being possible if I skip lunch and don't take too many photo breaks. Not that I can ride back for photographing interesting sights here on the freeway.
Smartphone camera lens doesn't do justice to the size of the Peterbilt. Those things are huge. Also note doggie in the window...
Everything goes perfect until I reach Dayton and very suddenly get caught in a rainstorm. Then I completely lose my way trying to find the museum. The phone map is suddenly being difficult too, so nothing to do but instead head for the cheap, prebooked motel. Cheap as in 'really crummy', and with equally worn or troubled looking inhabitants that probably live there, rather than being passing through. Anyway, there's a bed, wifi and a tumble dryer, which is all I need tonight.
Tried to get a picture of the lightning, but to no avail.
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