Small Victories

Pure white salt for miles to our right. Faded mountains falling off in the distance. My bike coasts along this stretch of Utah highway being pulled by a highlighter-orange ratchet strap purchased back home from Harbor Freight in all hopes that this cheap product won’t snap. Gomes’ right passenger peg is directly tied to my left foot peg and all I can think about is how much better this is than sitting in a tow truck.  

Just this morning a small victory came our way when Gomes’ saw the UPS truck exiting the our motel’s parking lot. A small package with my name on it was waiting behind the lobby’s front desk, just as I hoped. The old part and most of the bike was already disassembled from the day before at Patrick’s house so it didn’t take long to get the new system installed. Once all together, she fires right up. “We’re in the money gentlemen, lets eat.”

 
We’re at about 3000 miles on each bike since the last oil change and decide to take advance of the gloomy weather by changing the oil in the O’Reilly’s parking lot. The day isn’t getting any younger yet we weren’t sure when the next opportunity would present itself to have the time for an oil change coupled with the fact that today’s destination was only 122 miles away.  

Route 80 is our passage into the future and the landscape was opening up before our eyes. I’m pretty sure my peripheral vision saw ’80’ written on a black and white plaque we flew passed on the side of the road. I have a tendency to add 20 to those types of values which puts me in the triple digits on this stretch of highway that mimics a Willie Coyote and Roadrunner backdrop. I’m overcome with guilt for every RV I shoot passed doesn’t have enough time to get a good look at what true freedom is.

 
Only an hour into our ride and the laws to retain balance in the world we live in come into play. My bike dies. We’re 30 miles from our destination which happens to be where the Bonneville Salt Flats exist. I suppose one couldn’t ask for a better background when stuck on the side of the road but had you told me my this is where I’d capture decent sunset photos I’m not sure I would have believed you.  

I reach the conclusion that my battery is toast, it doesn’t have enough juice to keep the bike running let alone try to get her started. Back to the drawing board we go.