211 miles, took me about 5 hours with a breakfast stop in Elsie. i was actually pretty cold since everywhere west of that first tunnel on Hwy. 26 was covered with fog, and the closer i got to the coast the more it turned into mist. i guess the worst part about this loop is that you have to really put your time in on 26 to get to the good stuff, but its totally worth it once you get there. a couple years ago Hwy. 53 was repaved along its entire length, so the surface is really smooth and clean. there are a couple sunken grade areas that have developed, but overall its still a damn good stretch a road. if you take a couple turns around Mohler you can link up with Miami River Rd, pretty much a continuation of the North section, but not as smoothly surfaced. there was heavy fog and mist through here today, but little traffic.
i managed to get the CB wound up and overtake a couple trucks, too. you still got it, baby! that little bastard has got to be one of the most reliable bikes ever. it is showing its age here and there, though. i've popped out of gear a couple of times and the shift lever often doesn't return to center after upshifts. then there's the oil leaks. and the plug fouling. and the sticky forks...
