Guy Boutin's Motorcycle Touring and Travel Pages

Adventures in Sport Touring with the Honda ST 1100, 1300 and the BMW 1200RT

Exploring North America...One Road at a Time

Day 10
May 6th, 2009
Econo Lodge
Gatlinburg, Tenneesee

After a good night's sleep I was up and about at 6:30.  I pulled the curtain back to take a look at the skies.  They were dark, and rainy.  I brought up the weather on my Iphone and my heart sank; a huge glob of rain covered most of the southeast, and the area I was riding seemed to be the heart of it.  It was raining from the Mississippi River in the west, to Central Alabama in the south.  It just wasn't raining in Gatlinburg yet, but with a short ride west I'd find it.

"Where did this rain come from?  It wasn't in the picture when I went to bed."  It was no use to fret over it, I needed to get home today.

I used the luggage cart to bring my stuff down and loaded the RT.  I put the Zumo in the cradle and booted it up so it could get started locking on a signal.  The covered parking didn't impede the unit, it had a signal in less then 20 seconds.  I didn't bother to return the room key, and left it for the maid.

The dark, rainy skies cast the city in a gloomy mood as I headed out of the parking lot back to Main Street.  My custom route begins on SR 73 and runs to Lenoir City where I pick up I-75.  I can use this route no matter if I'm starting from Cruso or Gatlinburg (like last fall).  The village was still asleep when I turned on Main Street.  It was raining where I was going, and there was nothing I could do about it.

          The village was still asleep when I left.

I've run this route many times and I still enjoy it.  My first motorcycle trip here was in 1981 on my 78 Gold Wing.  I was in town for a 10k race, and this is the route I used.  It also rained that tour on the way home.  In fact it rained from Sweetwater to Chattanooga, but today I'll have to endure it all the way home.

I left the city, made the right turn at the visitor center, and headed out of the park.  I've documented my time on this road many times, so won't go into much detail here, but the ride was quiet, and the woods green and thick.  I did stop for a few pictures at a never before turnout, just to say I took some.  When I was finished I secured my camera and Iphone in the MotoFizz bag instead of my coat pockets, to protect them from the rain I was sure to find at any moment.

             Lazy Smoky Mountain morning.

The dismal clouds and sky dampened the ride out of Gatlinburg, but I stayed with it by thinking about the present, not by what lies ahead.  I've ridden many miles, every area of the country, I should be use to inclement weather, but I don't think I've ever had as much bad as this tour.  The air was warm and muggy, so at least it wasn't cold.  If it had been I would've stayed in.

I surprised a small black bear coming out of a curve, but it didn't seem to speed him up much.  He just ambled on across.  There was also a lot of wild turkeys prancing on the shoulders and roadway.

A few miles after stopping for pictures, it started raining.  "Well this is it."  I resigned myself to being wet all the way home.  Gas was less then half tank.  "I'll stop when the light comes on."

The road emptied on U.S. 321 near the Foothills Parkway and I rode into Maryville in a tough rain.  ABS on a bike in these kind of conditions is a blessing, I'll never own another without it.   Traffic was moderate through the city on this workday.  On the other side I moved the screen high to block the rain at highway speeds.

I stayed on 321 to I-75 where the custom route ran out, so I tabbed the home icon on the GPS.  I went down the ramp, and started looking for a spot to enter the flow.  Traffic was low.  I could see the big trucks ahead of me laying spray far behind their trailers.

Now that I was heading south, a tough cross wind into play, it raked me back and forth.  The new tires gave the RT a solid feel in the wet, and I felt good at 70 mph.

Coming around 18 wheelers was the worst, the road spray limited my visibility and it was hard to see ahead, and it was here one of the scariest plays that has ever happened to me took place.

I was clipping along when I came behind a big rig passing 2 others.  I was in a combined road spray of 3.   It was really hard to see, so I focused on the taillights of the truck in front of me.  He was taking a long time go around,  I was boxed by one on my right and in front.  It was raining hard and windy.  Suddenly the truck to my right, decided to come over.  He put his flasher on and started moving on top of me.  I was not in his blind spot (know better) but with the one headlight out, maybe he didn't see me in the thick road spray.  I don't know.  I rolled off the throttle and let him in.

He fell right behind the truck I'd been following, only a few feet off his bumper, and it was then I saw the trailer of the lead truck start to go sideways, it was an unusually tall trailer.  I don't know if it was from hydroplaning, or a change in turbulence when the other rig fell so close behind him, but it was definitely getting sideways.  "Oman this is bad," I backed way off and started putting space between me and the rigs in front.  "If it goes over, truck number 2 is gonna ram him, and I'll have 2 downed rigs to deal with."  I started looking for a place to go.  The trailer kept coming around, and any second I was sure it would hit the ground. "When it hits the ground, gonna slide a long way, so I should be able to get by, or off to the side."  My mind pictured how the incident would play out.  "I'm good! I'm good! Give em space, put some space between all this and you and youi'll be ok!  I'll have to pick my way around it, because if I stop I'm sure to get run over from behind."  Raced across my mind, I glanced back to my mirrors, and currently didn't see anything, but I knew they were back there and coming.  Just when the trailer looked like it would go, it started getting back in line.  "There ya go!"  There ya go!" I shouted in my Arai.  He still had the left lane bogged down, but at least he was on all 18 wheels.

A few miles later he finally went back over and I was able to pass him.  An 18 wheeler at 75 mph puts out a lot of spray.  When I cleared him it was good to see the highway again.  

I'll remember the image of that trailer going sideways for a long time.

Near Athens, the reserve light came on.  "I'm gonna shoot for Chattanooga before gasing up."  I knew I could do it.  The RT has a huge gas tank, and gets over 50 mpg.  When the light comes still have over a gallon of gas.

"I gotta start thinking about how to deal with Chattanooga in this storm and how I'm gonna work around all those trucks."  There was no real magic in it, just have to be smart and crafty.

Soon enough I entered the north bound suburbs of the city and all the associated construction.  I stayed in the number one lane, and tried to keep at least 3 seconds to the car in front of me.  Traffic was heavy.  In a driving rain, motorists were still clipping long at 70+, many talking on cell phones.  My biggest worry was the guy behind me.  "If I have to stop quick, he is subject to run over me.  If a see a backup move to the shoulder."  It was impossible to keep 3 seconds, someone would see it, and grab it.

I went up the long hill that guards the north side of the city, in a line of cars,  picking my way around trying to keep space between me and everyone else.  I left 75 for I-24 and followed the curvature of the Tennessee River west to I-59.  Lookout Mountain was shrouded in fog and rain.  By now the reserve readout to empty had gone to the --- display.  I wanted to ride on to Rising Fawn for gas, because it would be easier getting off and on, but thought the better of it, and took the Lookout Mountain exit where I filled up at a Kangaroos station.  I took in 13 dollars worth.  Most expensive fill up of the tour.  

I pulled out my Iphone and responded to a text from my son, who had asked where I was, I shot back, "Chattanooga."  I got back on the RT, with the notion to ride the last 200 miles non stop.  I wanted out of the rain.  I did a last minute check on the radar.  "I might run out of this south of Birmingham."

There was a lot of standing water in the area, so I carefully guided the RT back to the interstate.

At last I made it to I-59 and traffic thinned out considerably.  "I made it through Chattanooga in one piece", I kept saying over and over.  Now I could sit the cruise, soften the shocks, and roll up the miles toward home.  "I'm gonna try for home non stop."  The only question will the gas hold out.

I carried on south past the hills and farms looking for home.  The rain continued unabated, but by now I was use to it.  Not much has changed along I-59 in 35 years.  Ft. Payne is more active, but not much else.

The RT has the best stock seat of any bike I've owned.  I can ride it tank to tank (for me that is 300 miles) if I so choose.  Sure my butt will get a little stiff, but not to the point I have to get off.  Custom seats are probably no better than the stock, unless you're willing to go with a big buck Russell the stock is as good as any.

It was a reflective ride as the miles churned out.  The rain was easing up, and my mood was good.  "Isn't this where I came in?"  As I passed the Gadsden exits.  I checked the GPS and it said my arrival time was 12:45.  Debbie goes to lunch at 1pm.  "I'm in the mood for Chinese, I'll surprise her with my early return and call when I get in town and ask her to meet me for lunch."

The 50 miles between Gadsden and Birmingham went by slow.

At I-459 I swung south off 59 and vectored in on I-65 South.  The rain at last stopped, but it took me a few miles to notice it.  The pace was quick but I was up for it.  I went pass the U.S. 280 exit and thought about my son, I  could literally see his office as I came by.  "I'll call him later."

I went to I-65 South and covered the last 60 miles home uneventfully.  But wouldn't you know it, started to rain again as soon I left the interstate for U.S. 31 and the last 5 miles home.

Because I'd been thinking about Chinese food all day, I proceeded straight to my favorite for lunch.  I pulled in the parking lot in a light rain, and set the stand after a 363 mile day, with one gas stop, "dang, rode like Uncle Phil today."  Total miles for the trip was 3,133.  "Hmmmmm that's more then I thought it would be, I guess I rode more backroads then anticipated."  I went inside and found a booth and called Debbie.  "Hey I'm back, meet me for Chinese when you go to lunch."  "Hey!  I was worried.  I asked Chris if he had heard anything and he said he got a text you were in Chattanooga.  I knew how bad the weather was."  "yeah I'm fine, just wet."  "Ok I'll be there in a minute."

A few minutes later I noticed a pretty lady in a Honda Civic pulling in, she lit up the restaurant when she stepped in.  "Heeeey" as I kissed her as she got in the booth.  "I was so worried, I saw all that stormy weather up in Tennessee."  "You should know by now, I'm not going to do anything dumb, and I'm always watching."  "Yeah, but I'm just glad you're home."

We had a good lunch, and when it was over I rode the 1 mile home, still had a quarter tank of gas, "Don't why I was thinkin I might hafta to have gas before home."  I pulled in next to the Honda, but left my bags on the bike.  "I'll get that stuff later."

I enjoyed a nice home cooked meal that night while I watched some of the shows I missed on Tivo.  After supper, I retired to my study to edit the pictures from the tour, and start this story.   It was still raining, and the sounds of pitter patter outside, that a few hours ago I hated, now had a relaxing aspect.  The lonely light from my study softly eased out my window into the night.

I was winding down when my wife poked her head in, "coming to bed?"

"be right there"

"good to be home," I thought as I switched off the light on my way out.

Comments?  drop me a email  Firfytr@aol.com 

Epilogue

The next day I unpacked the RT and got the washing machine going, and stored my camping gear till the next trip.  I also washed and shined it up.  It was a mess.  Looks like a new one now!

The headlight and tailight are still out.

It continued to rain off and on for 2 more days. When the weather broke I took the ST out.  The bikes are so different from the other, that switching them around gives entire different experience.

The RT averaged over 50 mpg for the tour.