July 9, 2008 - Wednesday - Day 9
USA/MEXICO/CANADA
DOUBLE CROSS COUNTRY
& THE TRANSCANADA HIGHWAY
-- OR BUST - SUMMER 2008
Miles Today - 380 - Total Miles - 2316
Average Daily (Travel Day) Miles - 290
10am- 6pm - 8 hours
Marianna,FL to Baton Rouge,LA
(-staying at a Days Inn -)
(FL-AL-MS-LA)
- A FOUR STATE DAY - PASSED 2,000 TRIP MILES - GREAT GOOD FORTUNE -
- PASSED INTO THE CENTRAL TIME ZONE -
Once again the day didn't begin too well. After about five minutes of the lady at the desk looking for one, I said to her, “Hmmm, maybe you ought keep these plunger things a little more handy…” It was a little problem with the toilet that was quickly resolved.
Most of the motels offer as part of their come-ons, a breakfast in the lobby. But there is usually nothing, and I mean NOTHING that is not overly fattening, full of hydrogenated oils or good for you in the least.
As on most trips of this nature, I sleep well and deeply and awaken fresh, with strong legs, and ready to roll. Other than a little neck ache from sleeping funny a couple nights ago, I feel about perfect. And that pain was gone by the end of this day. I think the good feeling must have something to do with the great outdoor air and the travel.
It's great walking up to the bike in the morning and taking the cover off - and beholding the wonderful shininess of the red and black! It's worth the time I take in cleaning it the day before. One of my goals is to finish the ride, and have someone say, “That bike is so clean it just couldn't have been on a 10,000-mile trip!!!!”
I would have liked to have left a little earlier, but the whole day came into play wonderfully and so I sure don't have any complaints.
It was virtually clear skies as I took off at 9:45am.
The new Kawasaki and I are becoming more in tune. I still don't feel the kinship and oneness as with the Shadow, but then I've ridden that many more miles. (Not to anthropomorphize too much, but I'm sure the Shadow is sitting under the carport at home, and just wondering where the heck I am…) And because of the bigger size, this bike is a little harder for me to handle on the tight turns. I find myself duck waddling, for want of a better term. (A term I attribute to a motorcycling friend from my first days on the Savage, Tom - of the inimitable team of Ali and Tom.) Duck waddling is when one just maneuvers the bike by straddling it with both feet on the ground and moving it around that way - slowly, and it frequently looks awkward.
Out on the clear wide clean highways this morning I tractor-beamed onto a guy pulling boat-towing devices of some kind. I just tucked in right behind him as he charged along at about 90mph and followed him for about 50 miles.
The rain began much earlier this day than on other days. At around 11am the on-and-off-again-for-10-minute showers began. And this continued until the last part of the riding day. It never got very hot this day as I streaked across the Gulf states. I know I will be wishing for these cool dousings once I get out west. Also the weather systems will likely be much larger out there. So the burning sun periods and the drenching rain sessions will be much longer in duration.Was once again hopscotching through the weather systems. And riding along the fringe of a number of the storms.
While at a pump I saw what was to me an unusual sight. A fellow rolled in on a Honda Shadow and without even getting off the bike proceeded to do the credit card thing, get the pump nozzle, and fill his tank. I got a picture, and then went over and told him it was the first time I'd seen anyone do that. We chatted for a bit - a little about the weather - and he said he was a soldier at the nearby base.
It was drizzling on the highway as I rolled near Spanish Fort, Alabama, just east of Mobile. There was a Best Buy there and I decided to make one last stab at finding that charger for my little Sony camera. This charger thing has been just one of my little challenges. I have a number of cameras with me so it wasn't a necessity really. But the little Sony was handy to grab while on the bike and take pictures while riding. I had gotten good at it, so there was little safety concern, and being a photographer, I hate, of course, to miss anything that would make a good image.
So I wheeled over to the Best Buy in the Eastern Shore Plaza as the storm clouds thickened above. At first I made the wrong turn off the ramp from the highway - and it was an awesome sight: all of the sky from end to end was pitch black and with lightning strikes!! But the store wasn't in that direction, and I thought, “Glad I don't have to go that way.”
The fellow at the door of the Best Buy directed me to Crystal back in the camera section. As I approached the woman she appeared to be working on some paperwork. She turned with a real friendly manner and the young lady with the great smile and wonderful model-like cheekbones asked if she could help me.
Whenever I'd stop over the last number of times in the tech store, I'd be real playful and have fun with the sales folks about the possibility of the charger being there - “I KNOW you have it. I'm SURE you have it!! It's GOTTA be here!!! You're gonna have it, I just know it!!!” I'd say with mock earnestness and cheery optimistic disposition as they searched. Without exception they'd smile at my earnest enthusiasm and hope, and then turn to me with disappointment in their eyes. This was the case here, too… except Crystal didn't stop there. She opened a cabinet, and right there was the old charger I needed. The one I desired. The one I craved…. But there was one problem. It wasn't a sale item. I said to her with mock seriousness, “You've got me drooling, now, Crystal. There must be something we can do….”
She COULD have told me to get lost. But instead she told me wait a few minutes while she checked with her boss. I waited anxiously.
She came back and said that not only could I have the charger, but I could have (what is a $50 item) for FREE!!!!!! I literally, and somewhat dramatically, and I'm sure embarrassingly to Crystal, got down there on the floor on my knees in thankfulness, exclaiming great gratitude. It must have been a funny scene to anyone in that store seeing a man in a bright yellow motorcycle suit down on his knees looking like he was proposing, for goodness sake!!! Both Crystal and I laughed at the silliness…. But I WAS grateful. We chatted a bit about the trip, and I gave her my email address and the site address so she could contact me for the picture that co-worker Forest subsequently took of me, Crystal, and Manager Tripp.
I said to Crystal at one point, “You know, I know it's not appropriate because you don't even know me, but I feel like giving you a hug!”
As we said good-bye, I think Crystal and I felt a good feeling pass between us. She had been in a position to help a complete stranger in need. And she did help. She didn't have to - she could have just told me that charger was unavailable... But she had a good spirit within her - as did manager Tripp. And I felt a need to give her more than just a verbal 'thank you', and she could tell that I wanted to give her a hug thanks, and I could see in her eyes it was okay, and so we did…
It was a good life moment there in that aisle of the huge electronics store.
Not only was the stop good for the charger, and because the time in there was during a particularly heavy downpour that I missed, but I also got a Best Buy plastic bag on my way out of the store that perfectly covers the tank bag as a rain cover.One good thing about the spurts of rain is that as the big drops crash against my windshield they clean off the accumulated bugs that have splashed bloodily there.
On the way into Ocean Springs there was a gigantic dark cloud storm system with a rain downspout that was just mesmerizing. I took some shots from the bike, but then even stopped to get another shot with the other camera just to be sure I got it - so you KNOW it caught my attention. The dark cloud seemed to cover a couple states it was so hurricane big!! I rode along the edge of that storm and the drops nibbled at me along the way.
Had lunch in Ocean Springs, which is about fifty miles east of Mobile. That Waffle House was on the very edge of the storm. (I just love those pecan waffles!!) I had my laptop fired up wirelessly through my Verizon card and replied to a bunch of emails. I'm keeping all caught up on emails just like at home. Sometimes I have more than 50 (some spam, some business, some trip-related emails), and because of being a fast typist, I'm able to whittle them down pretty quickly. I enjoy hearing from everyone who “are along on the ride with me”. Especially those with questions or who point out something I may have gotten wrong or omitted.
Almost stopped for the night in Hammond,LA… but the pricing wasn't quite right, and something just didn't “feel” right about the place. So I continued on another 40 miles or so and found a nice spot in Baton Rouge. That would put me closer to Houston where I get to visit with a Bill Peaks. He's a Haverford alumni guy (as I am) known through the great Class of '59 discussion group, and recently met in Atlantic City before leaving on this trip. By traveling more miles today, I should get to Bill's earlier, and so have more time with him tomorrow.
Checked into the Days Inn here, and the friendly person behind the counter of suspicious, dubious and perhaps unknowable gender said I could put the bike right by the front door.
After getting the gear in the room by 6pm I went across the way and enjoyed a good Subway meal and had the computer along for catching up on the news and getting caught up on emails again.
Had a good Skype session with Charlotte, friend and client, from home. It was the first Syype session with a reader other than Ellie, and my apprentice and friend, Tom. It was good chatting with Charlotte and her husband - they have cheery attitudes. I think of the technology and how it's progressed through the years on my trips. I mean, the best I had before was the occasional expensive phone call and postcards! What a world!
While munching on some microwave popcorn, I once again reorganized all the gear, and got a little pile - including the video camera - to be sent home. I can do video with my other digital cameras so there seemed little use in having the bigger camera.
As the day closed in, and sleep came quickly, I smiled a LOT about this day - remembering the good stuff, and finely appreciating, and caressing the thoughts of all the kindnesses that came my way.
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***** joel perlish, joel perlish photography *****
"anything you can picture"
401 colfax road, havertown,pa 19083-1314
joelperlish@aol.com * joelperlish@mac.com * web: www.joelperlish.com
* dial 610-789-POSE(7673*
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