Under The Influence?

I truly don't recall being "influenced". I only recall deciding to go on a road trip with my best friend to the Tennessee State HOG Rally. Then being informed "HE" could not go along!

But, influenced I must have been. By the lure of the road. By the thought of chrome and beautiful paint jobs. By the thought of riding my iron horse to the top of the mountain.

So, when "HE" said he could not go I said, "So sorry, will miss you, don't work too hard". And then, I road off toward the sunset. On an adventure. West, then south. Headed for Chattanooga, TN.

Whatever it was that influenced me to take off on a road trip without my ever present security blanket doesn't really matter. The fact that I went, on my very first ever, totally solo road trip is the only thing that matters. The fact that I enjoyed 95% of it more than makes up for not having my security blanket with me.

The trip to Chattanooga was mostly uneventful. The second day I got caught in a Thunderstorm that came up suddenly near Kingsport, TN. Lucky me, an exit ramp was not far off. I got off the highway, parked, locked down and ducked into a restaurant moments before lightning and thunder broke the pitter patter of what had to that point been only a light rain. Since I hadn't eaten, and it was about noon, I decided to take advantage of Mother Nature's fury by having lunch while the storm passed.

I arrived in Chattanooga early in the evening, found my hotel, got checked in, unloaded the bike, found some dinner, showered and fell asleep to dream of what wonders the next day would bring.