We had a nice ride to Ormond Beach with Dianna, checking out our new Ion Air 2 Action Cam! After a nice lunch with Women in the Wind's 100th Chapter ... the Ormond Beach Angels at the White Eagle Inn, we headed down to John's Rock-N-Ride in Daytona Beach.
I packed up some of the smaller merchandise I had left there after Biketoberfest, leaving my helmet stickers to make a little extra cash between now and Bike Week. As always, Johnny and I rattle on as we visit ... my 3 pm leaving time turned to 4 ... and was almost 5 by time Rosie and I really got on the road!
It had turned into a beautiful, warm, sunny day in spite of the forecast for thunderstorms! Though I would have preferred to be back to my folks' place in Wildwood by dark, I am familiar enough with the route not to be concerned with the hour.
By time I reached Eustis, the light was fading, making the occassional flash of lightning in the distance quite noticeable. There was a spattering of rain in Leesburg, just enough to make me damp. It was over quickly enough, and so warm, I didn't feel the need to stop to put on layers and chaps!
There's a sign advising to move into the left lane where Route 44 takes a turn off Main Street ... too soon! Thankfully I had not moved all the way into the lane or I would have hit the curb of a median crossing if there had not been room to move back into the through lane! Dangerous! Dangerous spot! Florida DOT needs to be advised to move that sign!
After crossing Route 27, Route 44 again intersects with Main Street on the other side of town. As Rosie and I are making the turn, passing the gas station entrance on the corner, I see the wind blowing the rain! Thank our lucky stars it was blowing straight up the road at us! Had it been a side wind we'd never have held a line!
Though we were barely ten yards past the gas station, the rain was coming down so hard and visibility was so poor, I felt safer just following the car in front of me than trying to make a u-turn to go back and sit it out! I know there are businesses through there with places to pull over. I couldn't even see the shoulder of the road!
Telling myself it was just a few short miles to Wildwood from there, I just prayed there were no really deep puddles! There was so much water running down the road it was like riding in a river as it was! After a couple miles, my fear and desire to find a place to pull off, turned into a teeth grinding determination to just get there!
Thoroughly soaked, shivering and dripping wet, I opened the door to my folks' motor home and announced, "The Drowned Rat has arrived!" We clocked the distance when going to lunch the following day ... eleven miles! It is the worst rain I've ridden in since coming home from the Laconia rally back in "74. It gives me a new appreciation for the guys who made it a point to get me home when I needed to be back then!
Riding back home from Wildwood, we veered off the main drag in Inverness to explore Fort Cooper State Park. Initially meaning to just ride through, I stopped to hike out to where the fort had stood. Reminder to self: Always bring walking shoes and take off riding clothes before beginning "a short walk"!
I packed up some of the smaller merchandise I had left there after Biketoberfest, leaving my helmet stickers to make a little extra cash between now and Bike Week. As always, Johnny and I rattle on as we visit ... my 3 pm leaving time turned to 4 ... and was almost 5 by time Rosie and I really got on the road!
It had turned into a beautiful, warm, sunny day in spite of the forecast for thunderstorms! Though I would have preferred to be back to my folks' place in Wildwood by dark, I am familiar enough with the route not to be concerned with the hour.
By time I reached Eustis, the light was fading, making the occassional flash of lightning in the distance quite noticeable. There was a spattering of rain in Leesburg, just enough to make me damp. It was over quickly enough, and so warm, I didn't feel the need to stop to put on layers and chaps!
There's a sign advising to move into the left lane where Route 44 takes a turn off Main Street ... too soon! Thankfully I had not moved all the way into the lane or I would have hit the curb of a median crossing if there had not been room to move back into the through lane! Dangerous! Dangerous spot! Florida DOT needs to be advised to move that sign!
After crossing Route 27, Route 44 again intersects with Main Street on the other side of town. As Rosie and I are making the turn, passing the gas station entrance on the corner, I see the wind blowing the rain! Thank our lucky stars it was blowing straight up the road at us! Had it been a side wind we'd never have held a line!
Though we were barely ten yards past the gas station, the rain was coming down so hard and visibility was so poor, I felt safer just following the car in front of me than trying to make a u-turn to go back and sit it out! I know there are businesses through there with places to pull over. I couldn't even see the shoulder of the road!
Telling myself it was just a few short miles to Wildwood from there, I just prayed there were no really deep puddles! There was so much water running down the road it was like riding in a river as it was! After a couple miles, my fear and desire to find a place to pull off, turned into a teeth grinding determination to just get there!
Thoroughly soaked, shivering and dripping wet, I opened the door to my folks' motor home and announced, "The Drowned Rat has arrived!" We clocked the distance when going to lunch the following day ... eleven miles! It is the worst rain I've ridden in since coming home from the Laconia rally back in "74. It gives me a new appreciation for the guys who made it a point to get me home when I needed to be back then!
Riding back home from Wildwood, we veered off the main drag in Inverness to explore Fort Cooper State Park. Initially meaning to just ride through, I stopped to hike out to where the fort had stood. Reminder to self: Always bring walking shoes and take off riding clothes before beginning "a short walk"!
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