Shovelfest VII Monday

Did I mention that fatigue really slows my picture taking?

Mark and Rob took off together for Texas and Lawton. Super Dave left for his 100 mile run home, too. I changed my oil and finally got my stuff together and took off. The oil change should have happened the night before, but the clutch issue got me in late and took some time and energy. I took off planning on burning down the toll roads and getting home. I think the clutch hung open on me once, but I'm not positive. Dang, it was hot. A little over 200 miles should only be one gas stop, but I think I stopped three times. At the last stop, about 60 miles from home, I kicked and kicked and couldn't make it happen. It was bad enough that some random idiot told me I had flooded it. I have never flooded this thirsty 93 incher. Well, guess what. The kill switch was off the whole time. I always use the kill switch and always check it and the petcock before I kick it, but I guess not always. Kill switch on and one kick and I was headed home. Paul's offer to trailer us to Tennessee for next year's fest sounds pretty dang good.

Shovelfest VII Sunday

Time to break camp. Dennis couldn't get his tent to go flat and Clive tried to help. I think these guys were just looking for a reason to cuddle though.


We rode a while back to Arkansas and it was dang hot for sure. We stopped for lunch at Crumpie's 11-Point Smokehouse in Couch, MO for lunch. Excellent food.


We stopped again in Mammoth Springs for another cool down. It took us all day to make the 400 or so miles back to Dennis and Julie B's place.


Well, it seems my pictures slow down as fatigue sets in.

We had an ice cream stop and a dinner stop.

After the dinner stop, we only had a few miles to go and my bike quit pulling. I thought the belt broke again, but I can fix it myself on the side of the road. I pulled over and still had a belt.  For some reason my clutch hung open. I hammered the throttle and everything hooked back up. I had already lost the group and it was dark in rural Arkansas. I drove a bit more, but I was concerned I had missed a turn, so I stopped. I finally managed to call in and get good directions to Dennis'. I beat the clutch basket with my hammer until I felt better. Dennis then helped me adjust the clutch pressure properly. I didn't replace the springs, when I did the rest of the clutch. Oil is still coming out the mainseal and at a heavy rate. Stay tuned for a post about replacing the clutch springs, adjusting it like Dennis taught me, and removing the screen in my breather gear.

Shovelfest VII Saturday

How does a footpeg leak oil?


I guess that's a boot heel.


Bikes.








The Things' Knuck needs some help, too.


Chris the mayor, took us on the Jeep tour before the boat ride.

This is actually the oldest bank in Illinois, not the one with the big columns.


This is the harbor and the tug boats.


The pilot sits way up there.


Chris makes sure everything is good to go.


Two of these diesel engines make it go.


The engine room from above.


Important warnings.


Mark is impressed.


Renee is ready to go.


This is a side shot of another tug boat for perspective.


Here's the pilot and the control deck.






Rollin' on the river...


The pilot let Trent try the controls and Chris gave instructions. Two throttles keep the RPM's under 1400 because if water goes over the bow you can drive the boat straight to the bottom of the river.


Old Shawneetown from the river. The big bank, the bar, and a few other buildings.


Chris let me drive. Besides the two throttles, there is a set of forward rudder levers, and a set of reverse rudder levers.


It seems wierd compared to handlebars, but it is was fun.


I even got to put it up against a barge. There's brakes so you have throttle forward and backward to make a nice soft stop against the barge.




Luckily, Chris took over the controls right before something broke. He should have known not to let Shovelheaders onto his boat or something would break.


Some roadside repairs were attempted, but Chris had to bring it in with engine steering only and no rudders.


Once we got parked, Chris took us over to look at a tug boat in dry dock. Here's a look at the prop and rudders.


Back to town. You can still hitch a horse on Main Street.


Here's good shot of the big bank. In 1937 the river was at 65 feet and there's a diamond mark about three quarters of the way up one column to show how high that was. That flood pretty much caused Shawneetown to be moved from "Old" Shawneetown to the new location.


An old Texaco


That building was a bank, too.


The bar has good hamburgers.


The Hound-dog on the prowl.


Dean and Liz parked out later in the day.

Shovelfest VII Thursday/Friday

Finally at the party. I think that's Julia's "don't take my picture" face.


Bikes.




Philosophical discussions about relativity, inter-dimensional travel, and other fatuities.




How big was that fish?


Bikes.


Brake problems and a saddle bag with some history.


Jason managed to ride his here. It was a long story and getting it home was even longer.


I should have had the camera in movie mode to catch the cannonball that followed this picture.


More philosophicalitizing.


Off to Cave in Rock, IL.


Hanging out.








On the banks of the O-HI-O.


That's a cave alright.


Tripod selfie with the group.


The Love Shack in Elizabethtown, IL.






Arley tries to avoid the lime light.


Back to the party.


Jason's shovel needs more attention.


A lot more attention.


STAG - Sophisticated Taste Amongst Gentlemen. Huck is correct. Notice that Mr. Pibb has a Bud and Mark has a Busch Light.


Huck moves on to share a STAG with Chris Oldham, the mayor of Old Shawneetown, Clearly a more sophisticated gentleman.


It seems there are really big fish in Old Shawneetown, too.


We ended up meeting up with Chris again at the bar and he gave us a great walking tour of Old Shawneetown. It was really cool and Chris' knowledge and love for the history of Old Shawneetown made it a really unique experience. This is Chris and Renee sitting on the steps of the big old bank.


This is me between the big bank and the Hogdaddy Saloon. It's empty now and I think it's for sale.


Chris is also a Tug boat pilot on the river and offered to take us out on the boat on Saturday afternoon.