A flash of lightning and my mind immediately begins counting to seven — the time it takes the associated sound to travel one mile. I’ve been doing this for a long as I remember and apply it now as a tool to manage risk while riding home.
First trip to the scooter at the end of the day abandoned as I gazed at the blackening sky. The iPhone displayed an angry orange line of storms approaching quickly and forcing a decision to return indoors.
An hour later, after the lightning and heavy winds it was time to ride home in a light rain with scatter rumbling and an occasional flash of electrical menace. The new windscreen does a surprisingly good job of keeping rain off my body, at least while in motion, and providing a small sense of weather protection. Like the topcase before it the screen has proved a valuable investment.
Stopping at the grocery store I made this picture and posted to Twitter with the message “Necessary stop for groceries. #Vespa waits while lightning crackles overhead. #dumb”.
The current count was 12 seconds.
Almost home, one last stop, one last questioning of the reasoning behind choosing to ride during inclement weather. There is a rigor to it, a testing and questioning, “Are you made of stern stuff?”.
Whatever the answer I arrive home satisfied. And still counting.
Hi Steve
A memory provoking post Sir!
In the Artillery, we were taught the flash to bang method of estimating distance. You observe your arty round explode (flash) count the seconds till you hear the bang, multiply # of seconds x 350 meters and that would give you distance to the round in meters….adjust the next round accordingly.
There’s also the one from the weather service, count # of seconds from lightning flash to where u hear thunder and divide by 5 to get # of miles between lightning and you.
So by the arty method and using 7 seconds, you were 1.47 miles from lightning at that point. Close enough!!!
Dom
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Hi Steve, I wrote a few weeks ago asking about good riding routes in Pennsylvania. Well i just finished a quick 4 day trip from Montreal, through NY state and then Pennsylvania. I rode on 6 and then 44 south and through to Virginia (not the same day) to Skyline Drive and a bit of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I returned through State College and visited Kissell for an oil change before taking 144 north to Galeton…through the same storm yesterday taht i believe you are referring to. Quite the adventure in the middle of the forest when all hell was breaking loose. And no gas in Galeton due to wide-spread power outages. But such beautiful roads…i will certainly return when i can!
all the best,
Derek.
Charlie6 (dom): It’s funny how some simple things get lodged in the mind. I never thought about or questioned the habit — thanks for pointing out the error. I’ll have to adjust. Got an email from a fellow pointing out the calculation error.
I just like to know when I should get off the scooter and hide!
derek: Sorry I couldn’t get anything posted in time for you. The routes you chose though are outstanding rides. There are a dozen more up that way along with a number of eclectic eating establishments.
A variation of Galeton — I arrived in Renovo once almost out of gas only to find the only service station in town had burned down.
Sounds as if your entire trip was beautiful. Let me know next time you’re passing through this way.
All of my motorcycles have had a
clear barn door in front of me. A deterrent to all and sundry that dared to cross my path, or fly into the path.
At one time road without a clear windscreen, never again. I wonder how some continue to do so, perhaps to prove they are able to do so or because their friends may heckle them for acting as a sissy. Once a winged creature encounters
your anatomy however slight, you’ll perhaps think twice before riding with out said protection. ATGATT!