Well, the weather was not a player, and the roads were good so you know if you have been following the trip, something had to go wrong when things are going so well.
We were 9 miles south of Clarendon, TX heading toward Childress when Bates bike started acting up, dash lights flickering and such then as we decided to turn around to find a shady spot off the road, it died.
We were in the median turnaround having to troubleshoot and work on it. Found the battery had “cooked off” and we were lucky to find a new battery just up the road at Floyd’s auto supply in Clarendon. While we waited, Bates help me top off my Primary with oil. I think the main clutch seal has started leaking, thus the oil I found under the bike this morning.
Charles showed up and we installed the battery and off we went. What a blessing to have found a battery, AND that Charles was willing to come help us! Thank you Charles!
Had a 45 mile detour off the highway due to a chemical spill, but made it to Childress for lunch and to check in other electrical issues Bates was having. He had no running or brake lights as the fuse kept blowing. Bike was running, so we knew we had a short as with the Aux light issue a few days ago so off we went. Figuring to add it to the list of stuff we had to fix after getting home. As we said earlier, we knew our bike’s were never going to be the same again, but that comes with the extreme conditions we had to ride in to do Alaska.
Less than 15 miles from home at 287/156 his bike died again. We got off the highway, and I towed (yes, we had a tow strap!) him to a Church parking lot (A sign that He was again watching over us!)
Lamar and Easton drove over to get Bates and his gear and I followed them to his house. I then road the last 4 miles to Home to the welcome of family and friends! (Dave was there when I left and met me when I finished!)
Going to drop a new battery in his bike this morning and get it home. We now think the voltage regulator is faulty, but we have plenty of time to figure this one out. We will be doing it at home, out of the weather, no bears, no rain, no cold, no traffic, no extreme temperatures, no place to be, no one to check in with, no expectations!
