Let’s Try Again

After adding to yesterday’s blog update, the Cannonball Staff announced that the Stage from Tennessee to Alabama would be cancelled due to weather and road flooding. So we loaded up the van and headed south on I-65 through some heavy rain. After about an hour of downpour, the sun peaked out and temperatures rose into the upper 80s with corresponding humidity. We got to Trussville and set up camp for more maintenance activities. My partner in keeping Lydian going is Vern. A hard-core motorcycle enthusiast, Vern has ridden in 2 prior Cannonball events including 2018 when he and I rode Detroit Hendersons together for most of the way (he was on a Model Z from 1918 and I was on Blue Bird from 1917). This time he and Nancy are running the Sprinter and the two of them give me great support. Thanks to both!

Some of the riders got to visit the Barber Motorsport Museum yesterday and really got their fill of vintage motorcycles. Others worked on fixing lingering problems…success came to an Indian Scout whose magneto finally got sorted out by re-indexing the pinion gear. Lydian got some adjustments to the brake light bulb socket (vibration had loosened causing intermittent contact) and we went for a leisurely ride around the neighborhood. The range of engine designs and conditions is remarkable and looks don’t always indicate quality of performance. I have been taking photos of other bikes along the way and here are two:

We should be starting off under heavy clouds this morning and riding into rain in Mississippi with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. Stage 11 is 288 miles so fairly long day. Rain suit ready. Oil, air and gas set. Odometer working. Let’s go!