Click!

Click...a sound you never want to hear.

The sound of a bike atarting never starts with 'Click'

In all the miles around this country I have riden, I am have never ended the day with the bike on a flatbed. I guess there is a first time for everything.

The day started early as Jeff and I rode from Bryce Canyon. Within 2 hours of riding the tempreture had increased by 50 degrees. No this is not a typo. 50 degree increase within two hours. We made great time across what can only be described as riding across the bottom of a seabed. It was great fun but very hot. The road was not in good shape but we still made good time. We pulled into the Grand Canyon entrance at 1:00. We would have the full afternoon at the Canyon. We paid our entrance fee. We were very low on fuel but the gas station was only 1/4 mile ahead.

Click

When I went to turn the bike it was completly dead. Not a thing would work.

Jeff called BMW and they quickly determined it was the battery. I had fried the battery in the heat. Now, in the middle of nowhere how we were going to get the bike running again? To cut a very long afternoon short, we had to get a tow truck, load the bike up, and get it towed to the Grand Canyon Village. Cathy and the RV moved to the camp site. It was a bit of luck that we were planning two days at the Grand Canyon because as I type this I am waiting on a service guy with a battery from Les Vagus. According to the plan he is leaving at 5 this morning to have the bike running again by 10. I just hope it is just the battery. If not, it will be a long tow truck ride back.

We all got up at 4:30 this morning and went to watch the sunrise at the Canyon. It was fantastic. We have a rest day planned today to explore the park, although it will be by bus until the bike is running again.

I was lucky. If the bike had broken down in the middle of ride, I could have been in some real trouble as I did not have any water with me and we had crossed some very remote areas. From now on, water and spare fuel will always be part of my riding gear when traveling in these very remote areas.

The adventure continues...