Sidetracked: Turkey Scout

"Be Prepared!" The Boy Scout motto is a good mantra to live by. Unfortunately, even as a bona fide Eagle Scout my adherence to the wisdom often undulates.

"Flat again! Come get me." These words, texted to the rescue team (my wife), articulate a reluctant tossing-in of the towel after a completely unnecessary ordeal. Three days earlier I was on top of my game, dancing through the creeks and hollers of Arkansas astride my BMW R 1200 GS. I've always said that an adventure rider makes a thousand important decisions every day and they must all be right. Now, here I sit beside the interstate with trucks flying past at warp speed, staring at a lumpy string of patches that was once a 21-inch inner tube. A discarded grandfather clock lies broken in the ditch beside me, as if to say, "Not your day either, huh?"

Neither of us belongs here. If you know a little about BMWs, you might ask why I have an inner tube in my wheel at all, let alone a 21-inch. The R 1200 GS uses tubeless tires in a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear combination. Please, grab a cup and allow me to explain.