Seeing a small lightning bolt in the hourly weather forecast is discouraging. Weighing the chances of things coming true against first hand observations of the sky is one of the skills many riders seek to perfect. In my case there’s less science and more rationalization involved as I try to justify rolling out of the garage and going for a ride. Unless the count between seeing a flash and hearing the thunder drips below 10 I usually will ride. It’s a poor method to engage in thunderstorm management.
My friend Paul and I had planned for a leisurely afternoon ride yesterday until the forecast threatened thunderstorms and rain. At the last minute the sky appeared stable and our path moved us away from the growing darkness in the southwest.
Agriculture is in full swing in central Pennsylvania as farmers paint the landscape with furrows and tire tracks and their methodical patchwork of brown and green. I’ve been photographing places like this since the 1970s and they have not lost their magic.
Paul opted for his new Piaggio Fly 150 over his Ducati on this ride. For backroad travel it has more than enough power. Each time we would round a gravel covered bend I would think about the riders who what to aggressively attack those curves. No pretty pictures in those scenes.
Looking east toward Union County, Pennsylvania which is just beyond the horizon. This area of Penns Valley used to be decidedly rural but is giving way to more housing developments and mini-estates. One of the things keeping the landscape agricultural is the large Amish community but even they seem to be changing — paved driveways, manicured lawns, and solar panels spread across roof tops.
Riding on these little country roads is like dreaming during the day — awake and aware but able to entertain a wide range of “what ifs”. Paul and I moved along with a general direction in mind but with no other agenda other than seeing what would unfold before us. Green dominated the earth while heavy skies watched over us. Thankfully, the weather forecast threatening rain delivered it elsewhere.
Millheim is closed on Tuesdays. The cafe, restaurant, art gallery and butcher shop, all closed on Tuesday. The left the pizza place as the only choice for a snack before riding off toward Penns Creek and wandering home. No thunder, no rain, no pressure.
Just a simple ride in the country.
Weather management is always an issue, first thing I do in the morning is check my weather app to see what is possibly in store. For me its usually rain, generally anything over 50% I bale and take the car. Love the pics! I like meandering down quiet roads that is where I find the most soul calming peace,
As I think about weather I’m not sure I have any rigid cutoff for riding or not riding. How I feel has a lot more to do with it. Rain, snow, fog, heat, it’s all different. Of those four heat is probably my least favorite.
Riding in the country is certainly soul calming. Can’t get enough of it!
I also check the weather app first thing in the morning as well but usually just the temperature. Heated liner, fleece liner or none. As they say around here “If it’s raining, it’s warm enough to ride”.
Pizza place, eh?
No pizza for me though. Dry bread with some sandwich vegetables and a slice of cheese. Adequate but not pizza…
Yesterday morning I had to travel about 30 miles to a business meeting. The weatherman had forecast scattered thundershowers. When I came out of the meeting, it had just started to faintly sprinkle. I didn’t care. It was warm. Then within a mile or two it started to pour, and apparently the storm was tracking the exact same path as my return trip, as it poured on me for the entire 30 miles back. For some reason I really didn’t care. It didn’t bother me, and riding behind a full fairing nothing much got wet on me except for my helmet anyway. As I’ve been riding for 45 years, I’ve always said that all I have to do is ride (or wash my car), and the rain will come. I’m sure I’ve ridden thousands of miles in pouring rain by now, and I have just learned to keep a positive mental attitude, be careful, and increase my following distance. It has gotten me to wherever I’ve been going, safe and sound, every time.
I think you’re right about attitude being a part of riding in the rain. As my father used to say, “You won’t melt boy.” So I ride without much concern when it’s warm.
As the temperature drops it’s a little different but as long as I’m able to stay dry it’s still not much of a concern.
Be careful out there though. Traction certainly changes. Not sure what you’re riding but “fairing” almost implies something big to me.
Nice set of pics, Steve. Been hoping for some lightning storms here….no luck so far. Been wondering how the time-lapse app would do, or perhaps straight up video.
Straight video would probably be better for lightning. You have a lot of long horizon vistas in Colorado. You should be able to shoot an approaching storm and still have time to get out of its way!
Just don’t become a URAL-based stormchaser — that sounds a little crazy.
Isn’t it just something when you take a chance on the weather or just get caught with a day that starts fine and then goes all to hell. I like that exhilaration that comes with knowing I am x far from home or destination and it is just me and two wheels so I just have to cope with it. They also make for some of the best bike/scooter stories to hear and tell. Is your friend’s new Fly 150 an ie or does it have the 3v engine? I bought a Vespa Sprint 150 earlier this year (love it) but might have bought the Fly for economy reasons except the 3v Flyis not available in Australia yet. I owned the older model Fly some years ago (still with carburettor) and found it to be near bullet proof and one of the nicest handling scooters I have ever ridden. Loving the photos and reflections. Cheers
I have the same reactions Fred to being caught in a change of weather. It is exhilarating to be faced with an unexpected challenge.
I’m not sure which model Paul has — never really looked that close at it.
Thanks for your kind words about the photos and reflections — I’ll try to keep things interesting as rides unfold.
Love that first cloud shot. We don’t seem to have the large ‘thunderhead’ clouds in our area. Very rare to have thunder or lightning in/around Corvallis.
Thanks for sharing and I hope you are feeling better.
We get a wide variety of skies and resultant light because of the kind of weather changes that pass through central Pennsylvania. I don’t look up enough!
Feeling good and may be back to work this week. Another adventure.
A bit off topic; I see the Creamery retail outlet at State College has celebrated its 150 birthday this weekend. Recall you did an extensive article on same a while back.
No more ice cream from there in your present condition, eh?
I’ve been pushing the Creamery for years to add hot dogs to their offerings. A colleague told me he talked to the Creamery manager who asked how I was doing. When he heard I was OK he told my colleague to tell me that he had just ordered a hot dog machine but when he heard about my heart attack he cancelled the order. Nice to have friends…
My favorite ice cream is Death by Chocolate. That selection has new meaning. I’ll probably reduce my ice cream intake to zero. A dark day in my life…
Steve, nice pics, as always. Interesting choice – the Fly 150. Must be a night-and-day difference in riding compared to his big bike. Do you think Paul would write an article about his experience with the Fly for your website?
Not sure how Paul feels about writing. It requires a person to sit still for a bit! I’ll ask.