Today is super slab day. We need to make a lot of distance to get within striking distance to Toronto. Plus, it's Dave's birthday. Last year, we were in Ouray Colorado and he celebrated by screaming up and down the Million Dollar highway. This year will be much more boring.
Super slab time is on four lane highways and as long as traffic is light, it's sort of mindless but produces a lot of miles per day. The top speed limits are a lot lower than in Texas so we are limited to maximum distance.
Spotwalla shows an almost straight line from Sikestron, Oklahoma to Huntington, West Virginia and we cross the grand Mississippi. The route takes through Missouri and Kentucky. Interestingly, this is one area where gas stations are rare and we get real close to running out of gas.
Dave's dash is flashing, which means " GET GAS NOW". Tom has a specific stop on his mind and presses on regardless. We make a wrong turn. Instead of turning on the desired exit (500 feet down the road), we exit to another highway and the first exit is a ways down the road. When we finally get gas, Dave has zero fuel. The BMW is good for a few more km but this is the longest I have driven between stops.
The Sena head sets are host to conversations about carrying a rotopax fuel container. The trip is always limited by the range of the smallest tank. The ranking is: Honda PC (will be retired before the next trip), Dave's Suzuki Bandit, Mike's BMW, the Concours and finally Jeff's Honda. Jeff carries a siphon hose but he wasn't on this segment.
At a gas stop, Dave buys a scratch and win lottery ticket on a whim, and because it is based on the number 7. He wins .... $7 and buys 7 more tickets, which are promptly shared with the group. Each of us gets one and he gets 4. His first ticket wins so he cashes it in. The register starts binging and it turns out that each of the unscratched number is winner as well - he hauls in $100. Lucky dog.
We end up in Huntingon West Virginia. This is the home town of Marshall University and it's clearly a vibrant community. To celebrate Dave's birthday we want access to some good restaurants and decide to stay right down town. As we roll in, we cross town square and a big band is performing. The music is great. Summer students are everywhere and the town is hopping. It's already dark.
By the time we check in to the hotel and shower (need to clean road grunge off), it's past 10 pm. Guess what; the town shuts down at 10 PM. We find a sports bar that stays open late and get last call for beer, pizza and wings.
We are tired. Riding the bike takes muscle control all the time. The two weeks are taking their toll. We really should have a one day break to rest but this trip was all about miles. For the first time, the though of how nice it would be to finish the trip enters the conversations. We have missed our families and while talking to them each day helps, it's time to be there. At least this trip is coming to it's natural end, after providing another wonderful experience.
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