Across America by Motor-cycle. C. K. Shepherd
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C. K. Shepherd
Across America by Motor-cycle
Published by Good Press, 2019
EAN 4057664576491
Table of Contents
CHAPTER II NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA
CHAPTER III PHILADELPHIA TO WASHINGTON
CHAPTER IV EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT
CHAPTER V ACROSS THE ALLEGHANIES
CHAPTER VII CINCINNATI AND ONWARDS
CHAPTER VIII INDIANA AND ILLINOIS
CHAPTER IX STORMY WEATHER IN MISSOURI
CHAPTER X RESULTS OF A BREAKDOWN
CHAPTER XII THE ROYAL GORGE OF ARKANSAS
CHAPTER XIII IN SOUTHERN COLORADO
CHAPTER XVI THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY
CHAPTER XVII THE PETRIFIED FOREST OF ARIZONA
CHAPTER XVIII THE GRAND CANYON
CHAPTER XX I REACH THE PACIFIC COAST
CHAPTER XXI LOS ANGELES TO SAN FRANCISCO
PREFACE
A few months after the Armistice of 1918 was signed, when the talk of everyone concerned was either when they would be demobilized or what they would do when they were demobilized, two young men were exchanging views on this same subject in the heavy atmosphere of a very ordinary hotel somewhere in London.
One was wondering how near, or how far, were the days when he would see the old home-folks once again "way back in Dixieland."
The other was wondering what form of dissipation would be best suited to remove that haunting feeling of unrest, which as a result of three or four years of active service was so common amongst the youth of England at that time.
"How about getting married?" suggested the one.
Then followed a long pause, wherein the other was evidently considering the pros and cons of such a unique proposition.
"Nothing doing," he replied eventually—"not exciting enough, old man." Another pause—"And when I come to think, I don't know of any girl who'd want to marry me even if I wanted to marry her." And as if to give a final decision to any proposal of that nature, he added—"Besides, I couldn't afford it!"
"But I tell you what I will do, Steve," said he, "I'll go back with you across yon herring-pond and have a trot round America."
So that was how it happened.
Two or three months later, when I arrived at New York from Canada, I purchased a motor-cycle and set out to cross the continent to the Pacific, and I have it on the best authority that this was the first time an Englishman had ever accomplished the trip on a motor-cycle. If it is so, I don't wonder at it!
The whole trip, which covered just fifty miles short of 5,000, was undertaken quite alone, and although spread over about three months, constituted a day or two short of a month's actual riding. For the benefit of brother motor-cyclists who may be interested in such details I may add that I dispensed entirely with the use of goggles from beginning to end, and except at stops in large towns on the way I wore no hat. I think that when the motor-cyclist gets accustomed to doing without these encumbrances he will find the joys of motor-cycling considerably enhanced.
The total number of replacements to the engine alone comprised the following: Five new cylinders; three pistons; five gudgeon pins; three complete sets of bearings; two connecting rods, and eleven sparking plugs.
The machine was entirely overhauled on four occasions between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and on three of these by the recognized agents of the manufacturers. The engine cut-out switch was the only part of the machine that did not break, come loose, or go wrong sooner or later. I was thrown off 142 times, and after that I stopped