Day 05 We made it to Indy

Today was to be a straight forward run of about 180km to get from Cincinnatti to Indianapolis. Our route was to take us on some alternative roads, rather than using the Interstate. We had been using the Interstates and were looking forward to a more relaxed run. It also allowed us to make a stop at our bank branch.

We should have known we would be in for a difficult day when Karen uttered "drive" as the only command as we left our accommodation. She seemed to be out of sorts and not providing the usual calls for turns.

We'd been enjoying our run throughout the countryside when on the approaches to College Corner on the border of Ohio and Indiana when signs showed that the road (Hwy 27) was closed ahead. Strange thing was that it appeared the locals were ignoring the closures, so we did too. Jack and Linda on their bike followed us for a little way and got separated from us by some traffic. When we realized they weren't with us any more, we doubled back to where we last saw them. Still no Jack and Linda, so we went further back into town where we might have some phone coverage. We were on our way back to the township of Oxford when we were able to make a call to them. Jack reported their location on Hwy 44 near the town of Liberty. Jack tried to explain which turn off he took, but we got confused. We used all available technology and worked our way through farms and back roads to eventually find Hwy 44. Then it was a push onto Connersville where Jack and Linda had pulled over to wait for us.

Back together again, Karen ignored our request to make a small detour to our bank in Rushville. Time to override her willfulness.

We encountered more road works, more road closures and more detours. How straight forward it would have been if we had travelled the Interstate. Eventually we found our way to our Indianapolis accommodation. It didn't help that they and changed names in between the time of the booking and the time of arrival.

Inside, we checked in and received the envelope containing our tickets. This was the only niggling thought I had in the lead up - I hope our tickets are there when we arrived, that they hadn't been sent to Australia by mistake.

We quickly made arrangements with Jack and Linda to meet up with us and travel in the car to the track.

At the arena, we found some free parking that wasn't overcrowded. We walked through to the stadiums in the heat. All of the stadiums were closed off with ropes and no access signs. We were getting tired of this as the MotoGP Free Practice 2 session had started. So we slipped in to one stadium for a short while until a security officer asked us to move on. Finally we found somewhere to sit. We managed to find some seats way up high near the end of the front straight and the first set of corners. Rather good view from here to watch Casey Stoner take the lead.

At the end of the session, we explored the next level up and found some better seats closer to the start/finish line to watch the Moto2 Free Practice 2 session.

Session over, we walked to where our allocated seats for Sunday are and then through the tunnel into the arena where the merchants were. Honda had a good display of their machines as well as clothing. We treated ourselves to a new Honda shirt each.

We walked for some time in the heat and full sun of the merchants area. A lot of good displays of bikes factory models and custom ones too. Our meanderings took us in the slightly wrong direction to get out to the car. We were looking for the alternative tunnel which we knew wasn't far from where we had parked. Footsore and weary we made it. Back towards the motel, maybe get some dinner on the way.

No options for dinner presented by the time we were back at the motel. We unpacked the technology for recharging. To our horror we realized that we had left the adapter plug in our motel room in Cincinnati. Our electric gear was useless once the batteries wore down. The helpful desk clerk in our accommodation sent us to Radio Shack about 15 minutes away. Jack and Linda decided to come along for the ride and to pick up some dinner, too.

Radio Shack people were very helpful, but sadly didn't have the plug we needed. So we headed for the International Airport to try our luck. About 30 minutes later we had success. Paid a gosh awful price, but at least we were now able to charge up all of our equipment.

Dinner was at Arby's which do burgers and sliced meat sandwiches and salad. Pretty good food all round.

On the run back into town, Jack spotted an old bike in the window of the Yamaha shop. A quick U turn and we were sticky noses pressed up looking at a beautiful red Indian and a square four Ariel and sidecar. A place to go back to when the shop is open.

Tonight we sleep to the sound of motorcycles outside our window. Tomorrow, more MotoGP.

Another on the List

Made it here

Me too

This is a wide one - click to see it in full

First close look at a 2012

Something for Deb

And one for Kath

ZX14 and a paint brush