Cruising through Georgia on a foggy day noting a storm system is forecasted just south of me the next day. I had just passed by an area where there were many trees broken and leaning apparently after hurricane Helene had recently passed through.
After getting through Douglas I found a campsite on higher ground in anticipation of the rain and where I could spend the next day off. It rained a lot that night and I into the day tapering off by noon.
Then camping amost perpendicular to Plains, Georgia the news came on my day off that President Jimmy Carter had met with his final demise. The journalist in me started checking the routes thinking I could probably get some video of the motorcade when it headed to Atlanta.
I figured I would have to go a long day or two to be in place where our routes would intersect but when they finally announced the funeral schedule he wasn’t being moved from Plains until the end of the week. So now just the opposite was true and to be in place either in Atlanta or along the way I would have to stall out for two or three days.
Unfortunately, the extended weather forecast was now predicting deep freeze temps the first of the next week which I wasn’t really prepared for. Camping out in 10° and riding while 25° or less with a strong breeze when you’re not prepared can be dangerous so stalling out just wasn’t a good idea.
So, new plan, beat the weather home. After looking at the maps I figured if I hightailed it, pushing for extra mileage each day, I could get home on Sunday afternoon ahead of the colder temps.
©2024 Jim Porter Casey