Chuck35
Well-known member
Today I popped my thunderstorm cherry.
I am secure enough in my manhood to admit lightening scares me.
This was my 1st commute in armored gear, I felt better knowing some sweet young thing wasn't going to have to gouge the pebbles out of my flesh with a wire brush.
I had 2 route choices. The slab (a good bit east of the SE moving storm), or the back roads I prefer. I decided on the slab, stopped for gas and promptly took the back roads. As luck would have it the storm was waiting for me. I was out in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't see thru my glasses or windshield, 20 mph was an aggressive speed.
My new Joe Rocket jacket proved quite water repellant, The mesh pants...not so much. My work boots repel water rather well, unfortunately they were full.
What good are wool socks when your foot is in a puddle? I remembered there was a fire station just a bit off the beaten path, so I decided to seek shelter.
I envisioned the firemen welcoming me into their spacious garage where I would dry off my bike and tell them how great it is.
Well that was not to be. It was a volunteer station, unmanned and locked. When I pulled into the lot it was raining so hard I couldn't tell pavement from lawn. I managed to park away from their bay doors and still on the pavement. I stood against the building in front of the big metal door and was rewarded with a less wet spot to stand in. This was the low point of my ride home.
The inside was dimly lit and I could hear the radio squawking. I discovered my glove box was dry, so I had a dry smoke to enjoy as i pondered the meaning of life. About this time a fireman drove in at a brisk pace and the big door began to magically open. He was grabbing gear from his back seat and running to the fire truck as I explained my purpose there was just to dodge the raindrops. He didn't seem to mind as he sped off in the big red truck.
It was then that I noticed the ran had lessened and my cigarette was wet. I decided 20mph toward home was better than 0mph standing in a parking lot with a wet cigarette between my lips. Off I went to finish my "trial by flood" the rain got harder before it quit and then I came upon the reason for the radio squawking. A barn was fully engulfed in flames (did I mention I was scared of lightening?) They had 3 trucks there and hoses ran for hundreds of feet.
The remainder of my ride was sunny and dry. Even though I was much wetter than anyone else I saw, I think I may have been happier....What a great ride!
Top that in a cage!
I am secure enough in my manhood to admit lightening scares me.
This was my 1st commute in armored gear, I felt better knowing some sweet young thing wasn't going to have to gouge the pebbles out of my flesh with a wire brush.
I had 2 route choices. The slab (a good bit east of the SE moving storm), or the back roads I prefer. I decided on the slab, stopped for gas and promptly took the back roads. As luck would have it the storm was waiting for me. I was out in the middle of nowhere. I couldn't see thru my glasses or windshield, 20 mph was an aggressive speed.
My new Joe Rocket jacket proved quite water repellant, The mesh pants...not so much. My work boots repel water rather well, unfortunately they were full.
What good are wool socks when your foot is in a puddle? I remembered there was a fire station just a bit off the beaten path, so I decided to seek shelter.
I envisioned the firemen welcoming me into their spacious garage where I would dry off my bike and tell them how great it is.
Well that was not to be. It was a volunteer station, unmanned and locked. When I pulled into the lot it was raining so hard I couldn't tell pavement from lawn. I managed to park away from their bay doors and still on the pavement. I stood against the building in front of the big metal door and was rewarded with a less wet spot to stand in. This was the low point of my ride home.
The inside was dimly lit and I could hear the radio squawking. I discovered my glove box was dry, so I had a dry smoke to enjoy as i pondered the meaning of life. About this time a fireman drove in at a brisk pace and the big door began to magically open. He was grabbing gear from his back seat and running to the fire truck as I explained my purpose there was just to dodge the raindrops. He didn't seem to mind as he sped off in the big red truck.
It was then that I noticed the ran had lessened and my cigarette was wet. I decided 20mph toward home was better than 0mph standing in a parking lot with a wet cigarette between my lips. Off I went to finish my "trial by flood" the rain got harder before it quit and then I came upon the reason for the radio squawking. A barn was fully engulfed in flames (did I mention I was scared of lightening?) They had 3 trucks there and hoses ran for hundreds of feet.
The remainder of my ride was sunny and dry. Even though I was much wetter than anyone else I saw, I think I may have been happier....What a great ride!
Top that in a cage!
