My beloved dr650 broke a valve and the cap bounced around until it punctured the piston in rural Wisconsin. I always knew a breakdown was a possibility on this kind of travel but I had never really thought what I would do about it. In this case cell phone local sheriff to local tow to local U-Haul rental.
My original plan was get a ride home and come back with my trailer. I was only three hours from home at this point.
After a few hours, including attempted hitchhiking, I thought of U-Haul.
I had the truck operator stop at the hardware store on the way to U-Haul rental so I could buy ratcheting tie-downs.
I had called-ahead and rented the truck, they were closing as we arrived, they left before I did.
I had the flatbed operator align his deck with the truck, but I had to roll it myself for legal reasons. I never would have got it up the ramp from the ground myself.
I knew I had to proceed with the plan immediately to succeed before business close
A lot of pieces to think through and I was hot and dehydrated from not bringing water, the Sheriff brought me some. Lesson learned
In the end only a 5 hour delay in my trip.
So happily eating cheeseburgers and drinking ice cold soda in the loud cab of a U-Haul stopping to check the bike every hour. I'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight
