More Butt!

On the little side car trip while bike was in storage Kriss and Dan hit up a couple sites.  One of those was Vulcan Monument in Birmingham Alabama.  It is supposedly the largest cast iron sculpture in the world at something like 56 tons.  Getting pictures of it is ridiculous since it sits on top of a 120 foot tower.  There were 159 steps to climb up inside the tower to get to an observation platform below the statue and see the city far below... or you could take the elevator.

Here are a couple pics.

The close up is from the observation platform, butt the platform did not extend far enough on the face side to get a picture from there.  The platform had a metal grate deck, which when 100 feet above the ground was somewhat disconcerting and caused one of our intrepid explorers to 'hug' the tower on the way around.  It became rather interesting when the tower hugger encountered another of the breed going the opposite way around and one of them had to release from the surety of the stone for a brief moment.   

Day 11

Trip has officially turned into a cage tour (that's car or truck etc for those not familiar).

Electrical problem with bike that just can't be fixed in a parking lot with the limited tools I have on hand, not to mention getting all the parts needed. Shops have at least a 2 week lead time on getting any work done, so Kriss and Dan are kind of S.O.L.

So, they had plans and reservations in place for the next week so have rented a car and will do those things. A shop that checked out the bike agreed to store it indoors (locked up) for a week at which time a u-haul will be procured to take bike straight home by shortest/fastest route. 

Riders of bike are bummed to say the least.

Miles today: about 30 on draining battery to get to shop. 

Will not track any more miles but will continue with occasional posts if the now drivers see or do something interesting.  Thanks for following along.

Day 10

Wasted day, mostly. Did manage to determine problem with bike is not the cheap problem :(  Riders having a restful day waiting for Tuesday when motorcycle shops open again.

Miles: 0

Day 9

3 hours later roadside assistance just showed up.

Miles 297

Day 8

Lots more wind today (or rather yesterday as posting the following morning), but only a few sprinkles that didn't even merit putting on rain gear.

Dan was somewhat disappointed after finding online a nice looking Reuben at a walkable cafe only to walk there and figure out that most of the town was closed for this Saturday. Long 4th? Maybe but they were evidently open Friday. :SHRUG:

Miles today: 301, Vernon, TX

Day 7

We decided to call it a day about 50 miles short of the planned stop when the thunder started. Glad we did as a short time after we found and got into a motel room the skies opened up. We were by then sitting in the neighboring Pizza Hut awaiting out meal.
Poor quality pic of the outside activity:

Miles today to Boise City, OK; 269

Day 6

Since this is the PB tour, we played with some Pool Balls while waiting on our pub dinner last night, and this morning Dan put some Peanut Butter on his morning toast.. see pic.

Continued out of Wyoming into Colorado today, much wind but no rain thankfully.  Heading south tomorrow to try and skirt the rain, will see if the national weather service knows what they are doing.

Found a great brew pub tonight, actually open for the 4th.  If you are ever in Yuma Colorado be sure and check out Tumbleweeds Brewery and Wine Company, good beer, good food, good people, and good t-shirts.

Miles today: 317 (that's 1714 for the trip so far for the curious)