A Widow's Ride

Every great journey starts with a single, sometimes tentative, step. For me and my scooter, that initial phase was all about breaking it in properly. No high-speed thrills or epic mileage right off the bat. Instead, I embraced the art of the “ride to eat” – short, low-speed jaunts to local culinary gems.

One standout was Pop’s Cafe in Hanceville, AL. They’re only open mornings to early afternoons, and their daily dessert special is a must-try. On that particular day, a slice of their lemon meringue pie was the perfect reward for a new rider. Another favorite was Reeve’s Peach Farm, where their turkey berry sandwich with cream cheese and homemade strawberry preserves became a delicious routine. These short hops weren’t just about the food; they were essential for getting to know my new ride, feeling out its quirks, and ensuring everything was running smoothly.

Once the initial break-in miles were logged and the first oil change was done, it was time to stretch my scooter’s legs – and my own. Each ride became progressively longer, designed to build endurance and comfort in the saddle. To keep things interesting, I started incorporating roadside attractions into my routes. Websites like roadsideamerica.com became my trusty co-pilots, helping me map out routes and discover quirky points of interest. I’ve now checked off the Giant Statue of a Boy, the Iron Man: Ancient Billboard, and a 20-foot tall Large Copper Frog. These short rides were helping me get comfortable, but I knew I needed to push further.

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Pushing the Limits: The Tuskegee Airmen and Beyond

The next step was a more substantial ride, about 150 miles south, to explore the history of the Tuskegee Airmen. The back roads leading there were a joy to ride, and the experience of learning about their profound impact during WWII was truly humbling.

As I mentioned in my last post, my overnight camping and riding trip led to a fortuitous encounter with fellow Iron Butt rider, Kith. His advice was invaluable, particularly the suggestion of carrying a half-gallon of water to frequently refill my hydration bladder. They were right – staying hydrated on long rides is crucial, and fumbling with water bottles can really slow you down.

With these last-minute additions to the scooter, it was time for one final, crucial shakedown ride. I needed to map out a substantial loop – somewhere between 400 and 500 miles – to truly test my setup and my endurance.

Originally, the plan was to meet up with my friend Robert, a fellow scooter enthusiast from Maryland on his Honda ADV160. We’d planned to meet in Georgia and then ride the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway the following day. Unfortunately, back-to-back storms forced Robert to stay home for storm cleanup. With another storm looming and Memorial Day Weekend driving up hotel prices, I decided to pivot.

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The Long Loop: Checkpoints, Gas Cans, and Confidence

My new plan was a large loop from my house, touching a bit of the Natchez Trace before circling back a different way. I plotted strategic stops, just as I would for an event like the Scooter Cannonball, complete with checkpoints and bonus points. I set out at 6:30 AM, hoping to beat both the storm and the heat.

My first photo stop was Kansas, AL. Having passed it before, I always wanted a picture with the sign – because, well, we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore! I then deliberately rode past the “Welcome to Mississippi” sign, practiced missing a “bonus point,” and did a U-turn to go back for the shot.

Next up was Houston, MS, before hitting the Natchez Trace Parkway. Houston wasn’t much of a town, which led to my first practice run with the spare gas can. Lesson learned: in rural areas, always stop for gas even if you have a quarter tank left; the next station could be a long way off.

With a full tank, I navigated onto the Natchez Trace Parkway. This road brought back fond memories of riding it during the height of COVID with my friend Mark, staying at Bed and Breakfasts to support local businesses. But this time, it was just a brief visit.

My route then took an unexpected turn when I saw a sign for Louisville, MS. I knew I had to pivot for a bonus picture next to the city sign. With that obligatory shot out of the way, it was onto my next checkpoint: Philadelphia, MS. As I reflect, it’s funny how many of my checkpoints and bonus points sounded like I was traveling across different states, when in reality, I was staying within Mississippi and Alabama! It wasn’t intentional, but it certainly became a theme.

On the final leg home, I desperately needed gas and a restroom. Again, the back roads offered limited choices. I was hesitant to leave my scooter out of sight with its multiple GPS devices, so I kept pushing, hoping for a safer stop. Once again, I had to pull over and use my spare gas can.

Finally, after 525 miles and 10 hours in the saddle, I made it home. I was incredibly proud of myself. The ride boosted my confidence immensely, and to my surprise, I wasn’t as sore as I thought I’d be – just a little tired. I know it was only a single day, and the Scooter Cannonball is an 8-day endeavor, but this shakedown ride proved I can handle the distance. Plus, I managed to skirt most of the storms, with only a bit of rain at the very beginning of the ride.

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The Call That Changed Everything: It’s Go Time!

And speaking of that shakedown ride… it turns out, I picked the perfect day for it. Less than 24 hours later, on Sunday, Motoshipper called me up. They were a week early, asking if they could come pick up my scooter in a couple of hours!

There was no turning back. Knowing I’d prepared as best I could and there was nothing more to do, I told the driver to come on over. Suddenly, it was a scramble to pack up my spare tire and other essential parts that wouldn’t fit on the plane. The reality is hitting me now – it’s getting real!