Day 7 - Sunday, August 6, 2018
Martinsburg, WV to Saraland, AL
GPS Distance: 1117 miles
Travel time: 19h 23m
States Claimed: VA, KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL
NOTE: Google Maps route link is the executed route, but not all stops are marked.
I didn’t yet make a reservation in lower Alabama, but this is gonna be a rough day. It’ll take at least a thousand miles - I have no idea how long the day will be.
West (by God) Virginia
Within a few miles, Virginia. Now, this state is notorious for being one of very few places that does not allow the use or possession of electronic detection of radio ranging apparatus that could be utilized by various law enforcement agencies. This is a good one, but so is minding my P’s and Q’s - until sunrise, at least.
Low clouds in the mountains, normal.
The sun is to my back, and will be for a while.
I need two fuel stops in VA - this is the first
Two stops needed in Virginia, soon leads me off the Interstate and onto US-11W thru the eastern end of Tennessee.
US-11W south of Kingsport, TN
This highway leads you to TN-32 and the Cumberland Gap Tunnel along US-25E. The tunnel replaced one of the most dangerous roads across the Cumberland Gap a few years ago.
Tennessee portal of the Cumberland Gap tunnel
Exit the tunnel, welcome to Kentucky - left turn, get gas.
Reverse back thru the tunnel - park ranger decoy car (L) in median with radar.
Back in TN - hard to tell if the clouds have any surprises in them for me.
Stop in Bean Station, TN - enough gas to be certain I make it into NC.
I-40 thru this area - nothing there at all.
Interstate 81, then I-40 and east into NC. I did this route in reverse back in April. For an Interstate, it’s pretty fun - except the slow moving trucks to contend with.
Even though I have a lot of ground to cover, I still need to take care of myself. A break at the rest area just into North Carolina threw a bunch of Spotwalla viewers for a loop.
Even though I have a lot of ground to cover, I still need to take care of myself. A break at the rest area just into North Carolina threw a bunch of Spotwalla viewers for a loop.
Bubbler GPS Android app icon screen
Instead of hitting the ‘sightseeing’ button, I hit the ‘performance award’ button. Hey, it kept a few of you buzzing about it. Honest - that’s what happened.
Gas in NC uneventful. Back on the Interstate, and another missed turn while daydreaming, not while looking at GPS. The next exit was just a couple miles away, so a quick loop back to where I needed to be, and the ride continued onto SC. Gas *and* food at one of my favorite convenience stores. Gas station food here isn’t too terrible, especially when fresh.
Gas in NC uneventful. Back on the Interstate, and another missed turn while daydreaming, not while looking at GPS. The next exit was just a couple miles away, so a quick loop back to where I needed to be, and the ride continued onto SC. Gas *and* food at one of my favorite convenience stores. Gas station food here isn’t too terrible, especially when fresh.
Final major directional change for the day here - head south!
Cross the Savannah River and into Georgia. What day is this? Monday. Another small mental error. I was south of the turn-off to use the loop road (I-285), so then it was just slug thru town - even with a toll tag.
Rest Area - Stopped long enough to confirm a room reservation near Mobile, AL. I don’t think I can make it further today.
Toll lane! I should be able to make *some* time this way…
Nope - no how, no way.
I *don’t* think this is going to last too long…it wasn’t too bad.
Clearing Atlanta, I’m now not on my daily plan - I’m on tomorrow’s plan. The Georgia fuel stop was another off the cuff, Alabama will be the same. I’m now paying attention and hitting the Bubber mark, no longer aligning with the planned stop locations.
Another 'get receipt from cashier' opportunity.
More road and into Alabama. The clouds didn’t show it, but the evening had some entertaining riding to be had.
Hmmm. Those clouds in the distance don't look too bad.
Greenville, AL gas stop - simple, and full.
The next stop should be Florida, then a nice room near Mobile, AL. Just a few more hours of riding…I’m now recognizing some of the towns I was either in or around as I did my SS2000 thru southern Alabama in order to get to Florida and I-10 and my room in Jacksonville. That ride seemed so long ago - not quite two years earlier.
Remember a few photos ago - about those clouds? Well, about the time it got fully dark, one of them decided it was time for a shower. I’ve already ridden in the dark and in the rain on this trip, but this was heavy rain - and very dark.
Remember a few photos ago - about those clouds? Well, about the time it got fully dark, one of them decided it was time for a shower. I’ve already ridden in the dark and in the rain on this trip, but this was heavy rain - and very dark.
No, not fog - rain!
The only shot worth keeping from the Nikon
Unbelievable image caught by the GoPro. Illumination by lightning!
As you see, I had stopped under the overpass to assess the situation. My cell phone was wet enough that to try and operate it right now might not be the best move; I shut it off and put it in the trunk. I’m soaking wet, I’m cold for the first time on this whole trip, and I’m pissed. Hiding under this bridge isn’t the safest thing for me to be doing...I need to make a decision. Since there’s no ramps at this overpass, there’s no way for me to get off the Interstate right here.
Sometimes, a decision is made...and you have to just do it.
What truly has me concerned is the lightning. It wasn’t ten miles away (generally considered safe), but it was about two miles away. I had no idea how big this cell is or which way it was moving. Command decision - gear up, move out!
Even the GoPro couldn’t catch the severity of the rain as I crawled at 30 MPH along the fog line. Within five miles, it was gone - but only this storm cell or the whole storm front?
“Rest Area 1 Mile” - Oh, boy! I can dry up a bit, dry my phone off and assess the situation better!
Even the GoPro couldn’t catch the severity of the rain as I crawled at 30 MPH along the fog line. Within five miles, it was gone - but only this storm cell or the whole storm front?
“Rest Area 1 Mile” - Oh, boy! I can dry up a bit, dry my phone off and assess the situation better!
Imagine riding thru a car wash - only, you can't see much.
Not many souls were in the rest area building. I take a few minutes to dry off a bit - both me, a bit of gear, and especially my phone. I fire it up, then get to the weather radar program.
From what I can tell, the further south I go, the better it will be. There’s a huge thunderstorm complex in the Gulf of Mexico, but it too seems to be moving west.
I have no idea how much time I’ve lost - a few minutes? An hour? I don’t know, now it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to backtrack from AL to FL to get that receipt tomorrow morning.
From what I can tell, the further south I go, the better it will be. There’s a huge thunderstorm complex in the Gulf of Mexico, but it too seems to be moving west.
I have no idea how much time I’ve lost - a few minutes? An hour? I don’t know, now it doesn’t matter. I don’t want to backtrack from AL to FL to get that receipt tomorrow morning.
A rest area! Now I can get my stuff together!
Warm, muggy, drying slowly. Off the exit and onto a two-laned road headed south. Lighting from that large thunderstorm offshore lights up the night. I’m tired, confused and a bit worried I may have bitten off a bit too much.
One highway leads to the next, then a bridge; Florida! The marker takes me to this gas station/liquor store complex. A car with some shady dudes rolled up to the other gas pump on the other side as soon as I pulled up.
One highway leads to the next, then a bridge; Florida! The marker takes me to this gas station/liquor store complex. A car with some shady dudes rolled up to the other gas pump on the other side as soon as I pulled up.
Florida - the welcoming committee made me depart quickly!
Do the fueling job as I’ve done what seemed to be a dozen times today. I’m certain I have enough gas to make it to the room; I’m good - let’s go! I cross the road, headed back to Alabama - Bubbler! Got the mark, now time to flee the scene - and the state!
A different road that parallels the border between Florida and Alabama; much of it lies alongside a rail line. Another one of those places were it might be nice to see what’s around here; the smell was more along the lines of there’s nothing to see here - move along - and so I did.
A different road that parallels the border between Florida and Alabama; much of it lies alongside a rail line. Another one of those places were it might be nice to see what’s around here; the smell was more along the lines of there’s nothing to see here - move along - and so I did.
Atmore, AL
About a 30 mile ride seemed to take forever, but eventually the Interstate. From here, I could again get back to speed and with a little luck, dry up a bit more.
I get to my exit, and frustration sets in. The traffic light wouldn’t trigger green so I could turn left. I had to go right, u-turn and go toward the freeway interchange when the lights seemed to be stuck again; it can't sense the motorcycle! At this moment, I knew my brain was toast. I’m done; tapped out.
I get to my exit, and frustration sets in. The traffic light wouldn’t trigger green so I could turn left. I had to go right, u-turn and go toward the freeway interchange when the lights seemed to be stuck again; it can't sense the motorcycle! At this moment, I knew my brain was toast. I’m done; tapped out.
Getting checked in - do I hit WH for food?
As I pull in to the street that led me to my lodging for the night - the culinary beacon of the south - Waffle House - was on the corner. After checking in, I turned right around, got on the bike and rode the 100 yards to WH.
Yup.
I wasn’t into breakfast at that time ‘burn me a burger’ At that time of night (morning) it seemed to be appetizing - what do you think?
The normal end-of-day routine seemed to take forever. I told my wife that I should be home sometime Wednesday.
Microtel - Saraland, AL Today's goal accomplished!
When checking in the guest service person mentioned that breakfast began at 5:30am, rather than the typical 6am. Good - maybe I can get my system back to normal before I get home.
THE RIDE CONTINUES - CLICK HERE!
I am enjoying your story! Coincidently, I was driving my two-seat "Touring Car" in LA [Lower Alabama] a couple of weeks ago through Greenville, AL and then south on the I-65 to Mobile, AL where I was spending the night. I too hit a wall of water from a huge line of massive thunderstorms paralleling the interstate. At 30-35 mph with the windshield wipers on High I could barely see the taillights of the preceding car. Fortunately the "Touring Car" has adaptive cruise control so it pretty much kept a second and a half to two second interval behind the preceding car. But every once in a while though the downbursts would be so intense that all forward visibility would drop to ZERO for a second or two at a time! I tried to trust the Adaptive Cruise control but I just couldn't and I would tap the brakes and slow down even more while hoping the car or Semi behind me did the same. Fortunately, it was only three miles to the next Rest Area, probably the same one you stopped at. More than once during on those last three miles to the Rest Area I found myself holding my breath with my body all tensed up. I consciously had to force myself to breathe and my body to relax. In the downbursts it was even hard to navigate off the interstate and into the rest area. Even at 10 mph it was hard to follow the turnoff into the Rest Area with the rain now almost continuously obliterating the view. I did make it to a parking spot and gave I thanks to the Good Lord for helping me to safety. For the next 20 minutes I sat in the "Touring Car" in the Rest Area with high winds pushing over the trees, thunderclaps shaking the car and lightning striking all around the rest area. I was thankful I was in the "Touring Car" and not on the GS. I don't think I would've survived had I been on the GS. My experience on I-65 south of Greenville, AL was truly frightening!
ReplyDeleteWell again, I am enjoying your 48/10 story. What a great adventure! Good for you! And fun for us followers.
WFM
Roswell, GA
During daylight hours? Probably not so bad with a frog-strangling rain event, but only having that fog line to help me navigate was the challenge. When you get in those situations, you're stuck - there's no easy way to make the problem go away.
DeleteIn the eleven years since I've returned to motorcycling, that was probably the second time I'd ever camped out at an overpass. I felt less safe sitting there than I did while moving to be honest, but not by much.
Glad you're enjoying the story!
I just looked at my travel notebook and I encountered the thunderstorms along I-65 four days after you on August 10th. The line paralleling I-65 was truly massive. I'm thankful I was able to get off the Interstate. I can't imagine what it would've been like had I been stranded underneath an overpass had I been on the GS.
DeleteI had exactly two choices I could make - and I didn't like either one of them. The one I chose was the least dangerous, but only by a whisker.
Delete