NOT riding Route 66 PART ONE
In the Spring I had the great good fortune to be made redundant. I still have five years until I get my state pension, so most intelligent and financially savvy opinion was recommending the husbanding of my limited savings for the future. However, I decided to spend them riding an appallingly big Harley-Davidson across America from California to Florida.
Even so, the trip was only possible because a bizarre set of circumstances left me eligible for a very large discount on the hire of a Harley from San Diego. The deal was restrictive about dates, pick-up/drop-off and the bike I could have. It was perfect, except that I had to ride a top-of-the-range Electra Glide.
At first glance this might not seem a problem, but remember that Harley’s flagship model is also its largest and heaviest. Last year (see MSL May 2020) I rode the lighter Road King, which totally intimidated and often frightened me with its weight and size. But the mean Lowland Scot in me couldn’t resist a bargain, so I ignored the little voice that asked if I could actually ride something this size. I booked it.
The master plan was riding coast to coast, avoiding interstates and mostly