Day 2, We are Off, NC to GA
Miles: | 422 |
Start Point: | Wilmington, NC |
Sun Rise: | 7:03 AM EDT |
Start Weather: | At 6:00 AM EDT the temperature was 60.7 ° with 94% humidity. The conditions were clear with a wind speed of 5.6 MPH and wind gusts of 7.5 MPH. |
End Point: | Conyers, GA |
Sun Set: | 7:55 PM EDT |
End Weather: | At 6:00 PM EDT the temperature was 83.4 ° with 39% humidity. The conditions were partly cloudy with a wind speed of 0.7 MPH and wind gusts of 4.4 MPH. |
Table of Contents
I said goodbye to Laurie this morning. She went home while I headed west with my group. I will see her again in Phoenix in a week while I cross our great country on 2 wheels.
The day started well. I am the "newbie" in the group. We quickly settled into a standard formation as we headed west towards Conyers, GA. At about the 100 mile mark our leader, George, gave us a break at a rest area. We stretched and talked about bike trailers and avoiding the hazards of 18 wheelers and exploding tires.
We were soon on the road again. The group communicated via CB radios and we moved as one as we shifted from the right lane to the left to pass traffic. We were passing a vehicle when George decided we needed gas and took a quick exit. I had Kit behind me and a vehicle to my right so I missed the exit. I gave George a call to let him know I was ok and that I would meet the gang at the motel in Conyers. They had just covered their bikes when I pulled into the motel parking lot several hours later.
"Ruby" the Gold Wing is doing great. But sometime after lunch I noticed a foreign sound. I turned off the music and started to diagnose the problem. It was a low frequency sound. I thought maybe something on the bike was resonating so I varied the speed. There was no change. The 1800 CC engine in the Gold Wing is rock solid so that was not the problem. It could have been a bearing, drive shaft or alternator problem. Then the sound stopped without me doing anything. I looked up ahead and there was a half ton Dodge with straight pipes pulling a boat. I passed the truck and the sound went away. Ruby, I'm sorry I doubted you.
When I was a kid a well running machine was said to be running "like a Singer sewing machine." Ruby is running like a Singer.
Elevation Changes During the Day
The day started at 19 feet and ended at 884 feet. The highest altitude was 953 feet and the lowest altitude was 7 feet.