I packed Monday slowly and with reluctance, looking for excuses to delay. Delay was something I couldn't really do, though. I was supposed to head for the Moonshine Lunch Run, in Casey IL the next weekend. The ride to Amado had needed only 200 miles a day, so I had lots of time to stop and see things along the way, the return ride was closer to 400 miles a day, and would be a chore. Putting it off would not help matters, so finally I started the Ural and rode out of the dust.

The ride back was a chore, the rear brake getting worse, and 3rd gear began to slip occasionally while I was in Kansas. I even broke a fuel line, forcing an early stop in Liberal KS, where signs advertise Dorothy's house from the Wizard of Oz.


This turned out to be a rather run down park, the house and gift shop closed. I took a few pictures


and rode on. The distances I wanted to cover, and a feeling of post expo funk dragged at me.

I stayed in Dodge City for a few hours trying to find somewhere to work on the Ural's transmission, but no one seemed interested in helping. Frustrated I left without even going to the tourist area. A few hours later I decided to divert home instead of Moonshine. I was beginning to suspect I'd dogged part of the third gear, and didn't want to push my luck with the extra couple hundred miles.

Once I pointed the bike a little further north the ride went as smooth as you would like, skipping over third as much as possible. I put the bike back into the garage, went inside and tried to sleep. I guess I did, eventually. I had gotten really used to the tent.

The total trip was just under 4000 miles, I cracked a rim, the rear brake pedal was frozen, the cross over fuel line had cracked (and was replaced), and 3rd gear was acting up. So the bike needs some servicing, but I guess that would be expected, huh?

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I write books about motorcycle travel. Small, cheap, motorcycle travel. Also superheroes.