Day 4 - McCloud to San Francisco, let the shame begin
Day 4, the day everything went downhill... Yesterday (Day 3) Terry and I had noticed that my bike seemed to have a bit of an oil leak. It was hard to sort out exactly where it was coming from but it didn't look bad and with a careful eye on things we thought I'd be ok to make it back home where I could give it all a proper investigation. While packing up on Sunday we still felt that way and so with confidence I loaded up and got ready to go.
Note that at the same time I noticed what I thought was just a big ass zit on my back. While putting on my jacket and gear I could feel it there but didn't pay it much mind. This "zit" would turn out to be something much worse once I got home, something had bit me and things would turn out quite ugly in a few days, more on that later... :|
I helped get their gear all packed up and when things were sorted I left first, bidding my friends goodbye and off I went to get on I-5 for another dose of slab work back to Williams where I'd again cut west for something more enjoyable. Off I went with a smile, feelin' the good vibes after a fun weekend... that didn't last long.
I hadn't even reached Dunsmuir and my oil pressure light suddenly came on in full, the bright red dash light kick starting my "awww fuck" mood that would hang with me for a while. I quickly pulled off I-5 into a gas station to give things the once over. For starters, the oil leak seemed noticeably worse, quickly, yet when checking my oil level it seemed plenty fine although a bit lower due to the leak. I topped off on oil and the pressure light went off, I decided to ride on and see how things progressed. I shot Terry a text to let him know my situation, they were only a few miles behind me now, complete with a truck and trailer, although it was already chock full of bikes. I pulled back onto I-5 and we rolled together (thank god for the radios we have too!).
Once again things didn't last long as only a mile or three down the road the oil pressure light started to flicker now and then, and eventually it was on again, bright and staring at me, saying "get the fuck off this bike now". I again pulled off the road, this time with Terry and Sandy and Jack with me. We pulled into a Shell gas station to see what the hell we would do. This is is where Terry shows just how awesome a friend he is...
One thing was clear, my bike should not be ridden home. Terry steps up and offers to tow my bike back to his house in Davis, and he'd then tow it to a KTM shop near his work in Sacto the next day. On top of that he offered me his BMW as my ride home. Dude, hero points to the max, not only would he tow my bike home and to the shop, he'd do without his bike so I could get my sorry ass back to San Francisco.
With shame, anger, frustration and a growing desire to just get the hell home, we did the deed so we could all get on our way...
Sandy asked how I felt after having to pull over yet again, my answer should be clear
Let the unloading begin...
...so the re-loading could get done
Sandy wouldn't stop asking how I felt, my answer, even with their gracious help, was the same, I was bummed out
Let my 300+ mile test ride of a BMW GSA begin!
After a long slog back, with an increasingly painful "zit" (not!) on my back, I made it home and celebrated a safe arrival
It had been a great weekend, except for that breakdown. But if you're gonna break down 300+ miles from home I suppose it's best to do it when your friends are behind you with a trailer and a bike they're willing to lend you. I have many reasons to love and thank Terry, Sandy and Jack (we've been friends since childhood), this is just another one on the list. Thanks y'all!
I was at home, the KTM was off to a shop in Sacto (turns out it was just a bad oil pressure switch, an easy fix) and all was good, I thought. That "zit" on my back was not a zit at all, but an infected bug bite... read on and watch out for some gross pictures.
