Monday 3-7-94 4:00 pm

Almost finished with motorcycle. Clutch not working right. Make final adjustment.

Monday 3-7-94 7:00 pm

Clutch still not working right. Will make final adjustment after board meeting.

Tuesday 3-8-94 12:30 am

Make final adjustment on clutch.

Tuesday 3-8-94 7:00 am

Test run on motorcycle. Oil leak at gauge and clutch not working right. Fix oil leak and make final adjustment on clutch.

Tuesday 3-8-94 9:00 am

Go to bank, pick up travelers checks, on the road at last. (Will make clutch final adjustment at motel in the morning.) Sun is shining, a little cool, leather feels good.

Tuesday 3-8-94 5:00 pm

Slidell, Louisiana, check into motel. Motorcycle in room on trash bags, shower, dinner across street at 76 truck stop.

Wow, what a day of good riding, weather great, motorcycle runs great (except for slight clutch problem). Will make final adjustment in the morning.

Wednesday 3-9-94 7:00 am

Make final adjustment on clutch, ready for another great day of riding. Weather is outstanding. Through Mobile, Pensacola, pull into Crestview, Florida for gas and breakfast. As I pull into gas station, who do I see? The Traumatic Trio from the NW chapter, Scuzzy, Fuzzy and Muzzy, (a.k.a. Rod Leggett, Greg Goodin and Pete DiOrio).

I got gas and had breakfast, they waited for me, and the four of us headed for Daytona.

We rode together for the rest of the day until they stopped to eat. They were going to Daytona that night while I was going only to Lake City, Florida and then Daytona Thursday. My motel room at Daytona was rented for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. So I rode on to Lake City. Again checked into motel, motorcycle in room on trash bags, shower and good dinner, (will make final adjustment on clutch in morning).

Thursday 3-10-94 7:00 am

Again weather is outstanding. I make final adjustment on clutch and get on the road to Daytona. I have breakfast on the way and hit highway AIA (Atlantic Avenue) at Flagler Beach, Florida and head south to Daytona Beach. I am on highway AIA, one block from Main Street, five blocks from motel when motorcycle stops, engine quits. Whoa, this is not clutch problem, check it out. Push motorcycle into parking lot of souvenir shop. I immediately see large sign "Customers Only - All others will be towed away at their expense." Oh well, I unload motorcycle and check out problem. Battery is dead, I go into souvenir shop and explain my problem to store owner. He says ok, so I call a cab to take me to the Harley shop for a new battery. While I am waiting for the cab, who do I see passing by, again the Traumatic Trio, Scuzzy, Fuzzy and Muzzy. At the Harley shop I get my battery and once again, and for the last time in Daytona, I run into Scuzzy, Fuzzy and Muzzy.

I get back to my motorcycle, install the battery and again I am on my way. I get to the motel, Georgia (wife) has a wee scotch drink waiting for me.

I unload motorcycle and check it out to find out why battery died. I find that voltage regulator is not regulating voltage - that is the problem.

I lock up motorcycle for the night, Georgia and I walk to Main Street. Man, what a crowd, shoulder to shoulder. We hit a couple of bars on Main Street, Dirty Harry’s, Froggies, standing room only. We wound up at Schooners on Atlantic Avenue. We could get a seat there. Got back to motel around 12:30.

Oops, forgot to mention I picked up voltage regulator at Easyriders store on Main Street.

Friday 3-11-94 9:00 am

Installed voltage regulator and made final adjustment to clutch.

Today is souvenir day. Rode motorcycle down Main Street to Boot Hill Saloon. Found parking place by cemetery, across the street from the Boot Hill Saloon. We walked up and down Main Street, bought shirts and stuff for the folks back home. Rode motorcycle back down Main Street to motel, decided to make final adjustments to clutch before parade Saturday.

Back at motel, took a break, sat around pool, watched ocean, relaxed.

Friday evening, time to hit Main Street again. Same crowds, same bars, same good times.

Saturday 3-12-94 9:00 am

Same hangover.

Wow, today, Rathole bike show, Steppenwolf concert and Main Street, (also make final clutch adjustment).

Hung out at pool first part of day. Checking out bikinis, ocean, bikinis, bikes going up and down beach and bikinis.

Then on to the Rathole bike show. Bikes were outrageous. Many out-of-state customs.

On to the concert - serious decision - Greg Almond or Steppenwolf - chose Steppenwolf. Girl singer opening act was great. Then came John Kay and Steppenwolf. We were standing in front of stage and it was outrageous, fantastic and outstanding, and just plain damn good. John Kay sang many songs from his albums, including "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" and a number of new ones. It was great. Then on to Main Street, again?

Same bars, same crowds, but this time there was a difference. Many in the crowd had a different expression on their faces, as I’m sure we had. A dull, blank, tired, expression that said "one too many nights on Main Street". Nevertheless we made the same bars and had the same good times. We again wound up at Schooners where we met a real life Beavis. Weird dude, had Beavis name on front of GWRRA T-shirt. I’m sure his girlfriend was active in the Feminist Movement. Back to motel.

Sunday 3-13-94 7:00 am

Made final adjustment to hangover - had Bloody Mary for clutch. Whatever. On to parade.

About a million motorcycles gathered at Bellaire Plaza for parade to speedway. Parade started at 9:00 am, very slow, stop and go, clutch dragging, engine overheating, (will make final adjustment on clutch at speedway).

Millions of people along parade route, all wanted to do high fives. Finally arrived at speedway. Right hand sore and numb from high fives. Unable to make final adjustment to clutch.

At Harley Heaven, had beer and bar-b-que, hooked up with Willie G and Nancy Davidson, and generally had a good time. But all good times must come to an end. Put Georgia on plane to Houston, and I rode on to Orlando, Florida to spend a couple of days with my son and his family. (Will make final adjustment to clutch there.)

Wednesday 3-14-94 7:00 am

Time to head back to Houston, after 2½ day visit with son and family.

Uneventful trip to Marianna, Florida except for engine sounding like thrashing machine.

At Marianna, Florida, check into motel, get motorcycle into room, have good dinner. Will not make final adjustment to clutch, it will get me home. Instead worry about why engine sounds like thrashing machine.

Thursday 3-15-94 7:00 am

Heading back to Houston. Engine still sounds like thrashing machine. Make it to Slidell, Louisiana.

Check into motel, motorcycle in room, have good dinner, wonder why engine sounds like thrashing machine.

Friday 3-16-94 7:00 am

Last leg to Houston. Engine still sounds like thrashing machine. Hope it will get me home. Arrived in Houston around 2:00 pm.

Interesting note! I forgot to mention earlier, at one of my many stops at Florida’s rest areas for a wee scotch drink, I was advised by security officer that all of Florida’s rest areas have 24 hour security guard. Gates to picnic area are locked at 4:30 because of recent shootings.

Saturday 3-17-94 10:00 am

Replaced broken chain guard on motorcycle, engine no longer sounds like thrashing machine.