Contingency and action plan

After a seemingly blessed day of riding, we stopped in St Johnsbury to talk about our plan for staying someplace and getting dinner. We decided to try the inn we had passed a mile back and get a simple, cheap dinner somewhere. As we went to head out, the SV refused to crank.

The same symptom I took it to the mechanic for two weeks ago.

The same problem that killed a new regulator and battery is acting up again. Only this time it's over 800 km away from home. Of course, I was willing to buy a new bike last week to ensure that this wouldn't happen but that seemed like over-reacting and my discussions with the mechanic made me decide to put my faith in the SV.

We were lucky enough to have the breakdown at a gas station with a shop - no mechanics on duty but the woman working the pumps gave me a battery pack to boost the bike and it did start. I got it to the inn, and we agreed on this plan:

1. I'll pull the battery first thing in the morning and drop it at that same shop for a charge and test.
2. While that's going on, I'll try to score a multimeter and a set of jumper cables.
3. We'll head to Montreal, a friendly city by virtue of my sister and her family living there.
4. I will locate the nearest CBR125R and buy it. Of course there will be paperwork to deal with too to get it insured and plated - I want an Ontario plate, which should make things interesting.
5. We'll enjoy St. Jean Baptiste day in Montreal (never done that before!) and then continue East for the rest of the trip.
6. After the trip, I'll decide what to do with the SV. Right now I'm thinking it would be cathartic to part it out.

Stay tuned for harrowing updates!