102 Heading home again!

Not a lot of room for error!

April 1, 2014 Leaving Manchester our only thoughts were to enjoy the rural roads of Tennessee and Kentucky as we headed to Columbia KY for the evening.  Motorcycle club David & Shannon had agreed to put us up for the evening.  They had listed on the site that they had tools and maintenance items.  With this in mind we stopped at a Walmart on the way to pick up oil and filter for the cycle.  We crossed into Kentucky a little after 1pm taking a few minutes to catch a picture of their welcome sign to mark our time.  A pleasant day this is the type of riding we enjoy.  Our GPS led us right into downtown Columbia, pretty impressive building in the center of town,   An ambitious couple they were running two automotive related business's one at their home site where we arrived and the other across town.  As soon as David had the shop empty he gave me the space and the necessary tools to get my oil change accomplished.   There home is at the top of a very steep hill overlooking their business, great location.   While getting to know each other plans were made for dinner.  They had an idea however it involved some riding to get there, they assumed since we had been riding all day we would opt for a closer destination.  You know the answer already, don't you?   The ride was wonderful!

  We followed David and Shannon thru the country side to Lake Cumberland state park.   Overlooking the third largest lake in Kentucky we were just in time for a buffet.   They are fun people and enjoy riding.  Unfortunately the sun got away from us and we rode home in the dark, not our favorite situation especially with the woods full of forest rats (deer). 
    Having said our thanks and farewells the night before,  the next morning they left the house for work leaving us resting in the lower level bedroom.  Hope we see them again. 

We made it up here last night , should be a piece
of cake going down. 

     I don't think our heart was into riding today.  Our thoughts were on home and the weather we might be facing.  We were wandering with a little homeward direction.    Stopping at a unique diner with a rock and roll theme.  Jerry's J-Boy, great people, we enjoyed the food and atmosphere.  While there we made a couple of phone calls home.   There was a snowstorm in the forecast back home.   As soon as we left the restaurant we put on some extra layers of clothing set our GPS for home, jumped on the interstate and put on some fast miles.  We stopped for the night in Joilet Illinois.   The next morning it was pretty chilly but we were dressed for it.  Shortly after our noon meal Ruthie started feeling ill.  We stopped by Portage Wisconsin. Less thank 3 hours from home.  Not sure if she could continue or if we would have to spend the night and continue in the morning.  I checked on lodging while Ruthie decided  A  couple of hours later sometime after 4 pm we got back on the highway.   Ruthie is quite the trooper most others would have accepted the comfort of a
nice motel room.  The Temperature was in the lower 30's however for some reason when we turned West on 90 by Tomah Wisconsin the temps started rising all the way to the Lacrosse area reaching a high 36.   A welcome change was this going to continue all the way to our house? 
  Not a chance, as soon as we crossed the Mississippi river  the temps started to drop again.  The ice covered bluffs on the side of the highway reminded me of the warning I had given as we rode by them a few months earlier when we were heading in the opposite direction.   We reached home around 6:30 with the temps around 30 degrees and a mist starting.   
     Some of these pictures will show some of the beauty that accompanies the harsh weather. 
     So there you have it another successful winter adventure.
 Summary:
5 wild horses
14 States visited
1 gay and lesbian campground, almost.
Over 14,000 Miles
Campgrounds
Bike week
Delicious Strawberry shortcake
House sitting
3 time shares purchased
3 time shares shared
2 new brake pads.
1 Tyrone palace
One new front tire
Many new friends and adventures.

Home safe!
I think we will do this again.