One time, I was out with "The Saint" and we went to Great Falls, MD, west of DC. Saw a pair of bald eagles there, the old canal locks and the falls. On the way back we started to get rained on. I had only one rainsuit (oops).
So, damp but not soaked, we pulled into The Olde Angler's Inn, a DC icon at the time (hope they've gone under since then). They had a covered porch area and the heavens opened.
Then the fireworks started. We saw the lightning hit the ground in the parking lot, and then a railing further out! We figured, "OK, maybe we should sit down to dinner". There was NO way we were going out in that--I wouldn't be writing this now!
The OAI staff treated us like dirt, totally uncooperative. We were on a motorcycle, we must be scum. My fiancee (now wife) wanted a cup of coffee to get rid of the chill. The idiot obnoxious waitress brought her coffee--in a wine glass. They kept telling us that the wait for a table was getting longer and longer. We figured "this bites" and decided to leave as soon as we could.
Finally, when the lightening stopped, I put on the rain pants and gave "The Saint" the jacket--I was behind the fairing but there were no lowers.
Of course this was back in the mid 80's and it had been hot so we weren't wearing leathers or ballistics--just in shirtsleeves. I've learned a little in 20 years.
I took the LONG way home, avoiding the high bridges--like the Key Bridge. It poured like a waterfall the whole way, and there was STILL some electrical activity but further away.
I have NEVER been so happy to get off a bike! Amazingly, it was my old '81 POS 650 Maxim--and it, for once, was completely reliable.
Of course, we never set foot in The Olde Angler's Inn again.
