Bill Lumberg
Merica
Left Saturday morning. Temps never achieved what was forecast. Didn't break 30 degrees until we'd been on the road two hours. Wife liked my heated gear as much as I missed it. But at least it was dry Saturday. Had a late lunch at a restaurant called The Plantation in Dickson, TN. I highly recommend it. Country food, cooked properly, in quantity, buffet style. The Plantation isn't about slopping the hogs, it's collard greens and catfish (and 40 other things) like your grandma should have made. Visited with family, retreated to the hotel to gear down and have dinner at Ruby Tuesday's. Embrace the fern. (I rarely take photos on trips, but at least I thought about it several times on this one. Perhaps next trip I'll fully evolve and include photos.)
The rain we were originally supposed to have a chance of as we got home Sunday had already begun before we awoke. It would continue unabated for the entire return trip. We breakfasted at Cracker Barrel. I've never been a fan, but on this morning, facing a day in the 30's (with the briefest of cameo appearances by the 40's) with nonstop rain, I think the Barrel breakfast may have made me a convert. In cold weather, anyway. On the last fuel stop of the day (sugar free red bull for me, coca cola for her), we took a few minutes inside the semi-rural market to drink our drinks and thaw for a bit. The owner was visibly disconcerted at two modular-helmeted folks in full riding gear hanging out by his row of illegal poker machines.
Just under 5 hours on the road, in the rain, and we both stayed bone dry. Head to toe. I in my full on aerostich, and the wife in lesser, but still adequate garments (First Gear HT overpants, Sedici Rapido textile jacket). I became a bit chilled in the afternoon, core temp faltering but failing to fall, but not too bad. The wife, her first time in heated gear, showed that she isn't one to endlessly fiddle with the temp control. She set it on full (which for modern version warmnsafe, is roughly akin to working in an aluminum foundry), and wore it that way the entire trip back.
Got home, had a shot of whisky, hung a lot of wet gear to dry, and started a structure fire. Sometimes it takes a long day in the cold and wet to hone your appreciation for the homestead. Stay thirsty, and ride safe.
The rain we were originally supposed to have a chance of as we got home Sunday had already begun before we awoke. It would continue unabated for the entire return trip. We breakfasted at Cracker Barrel. I've never been a fan, but on this morning, facing a day in the 30's (with the briefest of cameo appearances by the 40's) with nonstop rain, I think the Barrel breakfast may have made me a convert. In cold weather, anyway. On the last fuel stop of the day (sugar free red bull for me, coca cola for her), we took a few minutes inside the semi-rural market to drink our drinks and thaw for a bit. The owner was visibly disconcerted at two modular-helmeted folks in full riding gear hanging out by his row of illegal poker machines.
Just under 5 hours on the road, in the rain, and we both stayed bone dry. Head to toe. I in my full on aerostich, and the wife in lesser, but still adequate garments (First Gear HT overpants, Sedici Rapido textile jacket). I became a bit chilled in the afternoon, core temp faltering but failing to fall, but not too bad. The wife, her first time in heated gear, showed that she isn't one to endlessly fiddle with the temp control. She set it on full (which for modern version warmnsafe, is roughly akin to working in an aluminum foundry), and wore it that way the entire trip back.
Got home, had a shot of whisky, hung a lot of wet gear to dry, and started a structure fire. Sometimes it takes a long day in the cold and wet to hone your appreciation for the homestead. Stay thirsty, and ride safe.
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