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Riding the Shovelhead Cross Country

Started by renchinrider, November 12, 2018, 06:20:30 PM

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renchinrider

I'm taking advantage of today's rainy day at home to catch up a few of the writings I've been putting off.  I rode the Shovel to Sturgis and back in September, but haven't had time to write my ride report.  Here's at least the first portion.

I spent most of the summer rebuilding my old 1974 Harley Super Glide so I could ride it to Sturgis to see the Motorcycle Cannonball at their midway stop.  I was at the Cannonball's midway stop in 2014 and 2016, and I hope never to miss one in the future.  Therefore, I booked a room in Sturgis the same day that Cannonball event owner Jason Sims posted the route and stops.

It wasn't until May that I decided to ride the Shovel, however.  For more than 2 years, I've been buried in a project resurrecting our old farmhouse, and my entire life as a motorcycle junkie has been shelved :'( :'(.  But then I read an article that Motorcycle Cannonball participant Erik Bahl shared from AMCA.  The article chronicled the arrival of "Shovelhead Liz" (a rider well-known in AMCA and Shovelhead circles) at an AMCA swap meet in North Carolina.  Her old shovel had blown a head gasket enroute to the meet, and Erik had shared a pictorial story of her overnight repair of the motorcycle in a barn at the swap meet site.

OK:  I was shamed.  If Shovelhead Liz was tough enough to ride her old Shovel all over the country, rebuild it overnight in North Carolina hit the road again at the AMCA meet's conclusion, then surely I could get my Super Glide back in shape to make it to Sturgis and back!  It was time to quit with all the excuses, and get my old bike back on the road...It had been too long! :-[  The Shovel was going to Sturgis, and my project was launched!

The story of preparing the bike is in "Vintage" below, at https://www.motorcyclealabama.com/rides/index.php?topic=2907.0.

I finally had the bike ready to go 1-1/2 days before it was time to leave.  I did a 70-mile shakedown ride, came back with no problems noted, and set about loading the bike for the trip.  Game on! :P



My plan for Day 1 was to travel from Huntsville to Lebanon, MO--645 miles.  I planned to keep my speed around 55~60, and take it easy.  Over the years, I've found that the engine's vibration smooths out pretty well at that speed.  So, to cover that distance, I would need to leave early.

Just before 6 the next morning, I rolled the bike out to the road, kicked her hard in the flank...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/P6Dtgv]


And headed out down the road before any of the neighbors were too badly disturbed by the rumble coming out of the straight pipes! :D

[url=https://flic.kr/p/P6Dtjg]

Live to Ride...or Die Tryin'!

renchinrider

#1
One of the great things about starting out early is missing the morning commuter traffic.  It seemed no time at all and I had crossed I-65, traversed Decatur, and was enjoying cool overcast skies and minimal traffic on AL20, then U.S. 72 on my way to Florence/Tuscumbia...



...then across the Mississippi line...

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...and on to Corinth.  There, I turned north on U.S. 45.  Soon I crossed the Tennessee line...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/29h937f]


and continued north until my first fuel stop in Selmer, TN.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2c3uxPT]
Live to Ride...or Die Tryin'!

renchinrider

By this point, I realized this was going to be a different experience than making the same trip on my modern, easy-ridin' Road King.  The old Super Glide isn't quite as ergonomic, and it vibrates so much more.  But it was also more exciting.  At the gas stop I felt compelled to check the oil, check for leaks, check the chain tension, etc.  With the Road King, I check the oil in the morning before I take off, and rarely feel the need to check anything else besides tire pressure!

I left Selmer and continued north on U.S. 45 until I reached Jackson.  There I turned and headed west on U.S. 412/I-155 until I reached the intersection of I-155 and I-55N.  It was time for another gas/snack/rest stop in Hayti, Missouri.



From Hayti, I traveled north on I-55 until I reached U.S. 60, and then traveled west/northwest on 60 and other lesser roads...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/29h8Yb9]


...finally reaching Lebanon, Missouri! ;D  I had met my goal for Day 1!

I had researched lodging options in Lebanon before the trip, and I headed directly to the historic Munger Moss motel on Route 66.  I rented a room and settled in for the night.  The trip was going great! :)

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I walked back toward downtown Lebanon to get some food, and happened onto a very interesting group of riders at the motel next-door.  Thinking they had come to Missouri for the Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, I approached them.  It turned out they were a group of riders from the U.K. and Italy who had traveled from their home countries to Chicago, rented motorcycles, and were tracing their way along Route 66!  They said they were having a blast traveling the country.  After some conversation, I wished them well and continued on my way.
Live to Ride...or Die Tryin'!

renchinrider

After a great night's sleep, I was ready to get going again.  I had set my route and schedule in order to visit Lake of the Ozarks Bike Fest before bearing west and riding to Junction City, KS.  It took no time to cover the 35 miles from Lebanon to Camdenton, MO...



...then on to Osage Beach...

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...and into the main area of concentration at Lake-Ozarks Harley Davidson.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/29h9ZZ7]


I guess I'm getting too old and I get up too early :(   There wasn't much going on at the time I arrived at the Bike Fest. 

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But I did arrive in time to eat a helping of pancakes and sausage at the Bikers for Christ tent! :P  I was hosted, and shared wonderful company with Tim, who is a lifelong rider, and also a minister.  His wife grew up in Alabama, so we bonded very quickly! ;)

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aWGfdU]
.

After strolling through the attractions at L-O Harley, I went to ride around and check out the sights of Osage Beach.  The summer I was 14 (about the same time the dinosaurs became extinct :D) I helped my grandfather fence a property he had bought about 30 miles from Lake of the Ozarks.  We used to come to town now and then to watch the Plummer Family Opry Show.  There were a few attractions around the lake, but traffic was light, and the town was small and quiet.  That is no longer the case!  I couldn't believe all of the change, and quickly realized that I recognized almost nothing from the time I was there so many years ago... :( 

I also didn't find any other Bike Fest activity going on, so I topped off my gas tank and headed west toward Junction City. 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PUx3jN]


I had made plans to meet my good buddy Dean in Junction City no later than 6 pm, and I had a lot of miles to cover.  I stopped only when necessary for gas...Tim's pancake breakfast stuck like glue, so no need to stop for lunch ;D  I stopped at Fort Scott, KS to fill up, and call Dean to let him know I was on my way.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PUx37o]


From Fort Scott, it was many hours of somewhat monotonous riding across U.S. 54...

[url=https://flic.kr/p/PUx2Zj]


...until I reached Kansas Highway 99, where I turned and traveled north.  After a series of twists and turns, I rolled into Junction City, where I met Dean for dinner.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2c3vQTv]


I've written about Dean before, so I won't repeat all my praises of him here.  Suffice to say, it's always a pleasure to see him and catch up on all the goings on.  This visit was no exception.  It was all the better because he rolled my bike inside the shop and gave it a good going-over to be sure I could make the rest of the ride.  I had been having trouble with my shift lever coming loose, so Dean placed a series of small welds around it to secure it (semi) permanently.  What a relief that I no longer have to wonder what I'll do if the set-screw falls out! ;D

After dinner, I headed over to the Great Western Motel in Grandview Plaza, for a night's rest.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aWGbkU]
Live to Ride...or Die Tryin'!

Nice Goat

I'm not a Harley guy, but it would be really cool to ride an old one to Sturgis and back someday.  Thanks for sharing this!
IBA #63019 - 2022 Yamaha Tenere 700 - 2023 Yamaha XMAX 300
Deep thought: "Pie and coffee are as important as gasoline."

RubyRider

I am a Harley Guy. I'm lovin this report so far. I wanna make it to Sturgis too one day.
If you aint smokin, you are eatin dust!