25 July 2007 heading for Jack D

I got up around 8 and got my gear ready, got gas and went to the freeway entrance at a good viewing point so I could see the boys. I called them to explain where I was and it work fairly well. Lards was the first to arrive but he shot off to go and get an Eski (or cooler) while the film crew came and did some more filming. Finally Craig and Macca arrived after which Macca set of to gain some headstart.

Macca is taking it easy with his older bike and does around 65 miles per hour, while we (like the rest of the traffic) do 80 and sometimes 90 miles per hour. Every now and then I have to open up to 100/110 mph (160/170 km/h) to catch up after getting caught in traffic.

It is pretty busy on the roads here but traffic is not as bad as in Houston. Traffic has gotten a lot more aggressive and dangerous compared to when I came to the US for the first time, 20 years ago. People are not as polite as they were and most dangerous are the women on the phone while driving. They are soo distracted that they drive through red lights, don’t indicate, don’t yield or wait in front of green traffic lights……. And EVERYONE seems to be on the bloody phone here.

Today we did a lot of riding, some 440 miles to Lynchburg Tennessee. We also had the first rain on the ride and the temperature has dropped a bit. Lards and myself rode through a 30 second shower that caused a car to spin off the road right in front of Lards. I couldn’t even see it because of the spray !!! And after 30 secs everything was dryzabone……… Very strange.

The last half hour of my trip (we got separated again) I had some rain and had to put the rain gear on, after which it dried up of course ;). Later I found out the guys stopped at the rocket factory in Huntsville. Since I didn’t know about those plans, I continued and my Tom Tom again did its work perfectly, getting me into Lynchburg around 5. This allowed me to secure the last rooms in the Country Inn, the only motel here. After a refreshing shower, I kicked back and waited for the guys to arrive. A Subway dinner and diary update. Unfortunately still no internet in the motel so no chance to look at emails or update the blog ;)