Pilgrim’s Progress: Vol 6, Day 4,5,6; Sioux City to Aberdeen Mack and I took advantage of the continental breakfast offered by the hotel and headed out of N Sioux City, SD up 1-29. The weather was clear and the speed limit was 75 so we made great time to Sioux Falls where Mack turned west toward Sturgis while I held to the north. Less than three hours later I reached Summit, SD where I turned west toward Aberdeen. I was early due to overnighting in Sioux City rather than Omaha so I decided to stop at a Dairy Queen in Groten, about fifteen miles from my destination, for a coke and wifi so I could continue writing and begin posting my trip logs, since I was already three days behind. I made a couple of Facebook posts and got back on the road to meet my old friend from Huntsville, Gary Famias who I had not seen in 35 years. Arriving at Gary’s place, before knocking on his door, I turned off my bike to make a quick phone call and discovered my motorcycle would not re-start. Immediately a bad feeling washed over me, I knew exactly what the problem was and it wasn’t good. My Harley has a proximity switch for the ignition …. The electronic key fob must be near the bike in order to start it, however once started, the bike will continue to operate away from the fob. The key to my saddlebags and trunk are on a ring with the fob. I knew I had likely locked the trunk at the DQ, left the key in the lock and headed for Gary’s, dropping the key and fob somewhere along the way. My spare was at home and it was too late in the day on a Saturday to get it overnighted, I needed to leave Aberdeen early Tuesday. There is an override procedure and code in my owner’s manual LOCKED IN THE TRUNK along with my clothes and equipment! Gary drove me back to the DQ in hopes that it had dropped in the parking lot and someone had turned it in …..NO LUCK! We started to trace the route back when I spied something shiny between the two westbound lanes, sure enough it was the key and fob. The fob had been run over and broken but the key was ok and with it I got the manual and used the override procedure and code to start the engine. Whew! I will be able to get back on the road. Stop at the next Harley Dealer to get a new fob and have it programmed tocok. my bike. (If Mark Ray is reading this he is shaking his head – it’s not the first time I’ve done this stunt…. Gary and I had a great visit, he is a wonderful storyteller; over the years he has perfected a variety of accents which he uses to embellish his stories. We both laughed ‘till our sides Hurt. I slept well and ate even better, Gary is a good cook. He is 72 but keeps himself busy taking hunters out and training hunting bird dogs in the off season. We spent a little time running his dogs through their drills and he gave me a tour of the town of Aberdeen. Lots of rich farmers in the eastern part of the state due to the ethanol legislation ….. corn was $2 a bushel, now it’s 6 and everyone has switched to planting corn…plowing up much of the virgin soil on replacing many of the other crops. It is interesting that up here, where it’s made, ethanol-free gas is readily available and a big seller …. The locals say it provides much better mileage as I proved to myself on the long drive across the state. I seem to get about 36 mpg with ethanol and 41 without it. It felt great reconnecting with Gary, I had forgotten how much I appreciated his friendship when he lived in Huntsville. It will be hard to leave, but it is about time to strike out into the unknown. Keep smilin’, The Large Leprechaun
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 04:44:30 +0000
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