Bandit Brother Matt at our first gas stop. Notice the gas price getting cheaper as we leave Chicago? (click on image)
Day One is in the books. I am currently typing this from the Econolodge in Richmond, Kentucky. We put in 474 miles and are right on schedule. Matt and I left home at 6 without issue heading out under blue skies with a slight chill. With the sun raising it quickly warmed up.
Staying with the chronological order, this would be the drama part of the report. We were just south of O’Hare on 294. We were in the left lane with Matt on lead. I see something up head which at first I thought was garbage moving across the highway. As we are quickly approaching the garage, I notice it’s a beaver trying to make it across the highway.
I get off the gas and give Matt some room. Matt saw it as well but he was right next to a minivan. I am thinking the furry creature is going to get hit and spin in front of Matt. Well, he got hit but was barley nicked. The beaver did spin around and ended up in Matt’s path but Matt quickly dodged him with the beaver still moving in the original direction. Talk about your determination.
At this point, I can’t switch lanes because there is another vehicle there. I think I might have got fixated on the animal and not looking to move to the right of my own lane. As I am quickly downshifted and on both brakes heavy, I just clear the little guy. As I give a sign of relief, I hear someone jamming on the breaks behind me. As I look behind me and I see the front quarter panel of an SUV in my mirror. I am assuming the driver was not paying attention and did not see me break at all. I thought for sure I was going to literally get ran over. He was that close. I remember three things running through my head.
1- -FUCK!
2- -My father in law saying, “that will make your butt pucker”.
3- -Ewan McGregor , on Long Way Around, where he got hit on his motorcycle almost in the same fashion, rear ended.
Of course I am OK. No blood, no foul. And now, back to the report. Oh, the SUV did recover and no one was hurt except maybe the beaver.
Triple X ! I give it two forks up!
As usual, we try to avoid the chain of restaurants and go to the ma and pop type places. I added some restaurants from the Food Network Channel. These were from “Feasting On Asphalt” and “Diner, Drive-Ins and Dives”e. Our first and only destination was the Triple X Family restaurant in Lafayette, Indiana, home of the Purdue Boilermakers.
It was little after 10am but we still had a burger each. The burgers were grounded up out of steak. Besides the lettuce, tomato and onion, I add mayo on it as well. It was really good. Triple X is the name of the root beer. I have to say that it is one my favorite root beers for creamy and delicious. The Triple X is the first drive inn in Indiana. When in the area, stop in and look for menu that we signed for the owners. If you mention that you saw them on the Food Network, you get name on the wall.
Here I am standing front the Purdue Football stadium wearing my Wisconsin hat. That just happened.Five minutes later, we stopped at Purdue University to check out the football stadium. I put on my Wisconsin hat for my sister and her husband Shane. I didn’t want them to think that I was changing teams. Overall, Purdue has a very lovely scenic campus with historic buildings and mature trees.
From that point, we hit the road to make some more miles up. We made good time and caught about 10 minutes of rain near our destination. All in all, it was a good day on the bike. I can’t wait till tomorrow. Deals Gap or bust!
We timed this rain pretty well. We just did a 100 mile section and Matt wanted to top off and stretch the legs. Then the skies opened for about 5 minutes. It's part of the game.
|