Does riding in fog make you nervous or feel unsafe?
Two days in a row of the thin gray fog of morning. At the same time it’s quieting yet exciting. For me at least. Out of the house an hour early just so I could explore a world shrouded in gray in hopes of seeing an elf or unicorn, the boundless thoughts of young unfurled by fog.
I love it so.
But fog does not engender those reactions in everyone. Some feel nervous riding amidst the diminished visibility while others will never venture out of the driveway.
Fog makes the world fat with possibility. Predictability are shrouded in secrecy behind the thin gray fog. Imagination fills in the blanks painting a canvas of serenity or terror depending on the artist’s state of mind and experience. One rider’s heaven is another’s hell.
I’m in heaven as I witness the quiet splendor of a local park. I’m no longer in central Pennsylvania, I’m at the edge of the moor, or at the edge of the Brandywine in Middle Earth. There is nothing mature or adult in my transformation. I’m free to let go. I’ve traveled far even though this scene is only a few hundred yards from my front door, a place I pass each day on my way to work.
Heading up a forest road left the fog behind as the Vespa moved toward the sunlight burning away the grayness. As inviting as the road ahead seemed I turned around to be lost in the murk.
Riding in fog requires some extra attention and consideration of what’s actually happening in terms of visibility and making choices accordingly. I was asked if riding in fog ever makes me nervous? The answer is yes but seldom. I can remember two times I was concerned about being on the road in the fog. And both times was because of the severity of the fog — thick pea soup where I could literally now see more than 50 feet in front of me. Once, on the road I had my visor up to listen for traffic I knew was hidden from view. More than once I pulled over to consider a course of action and was delighted to emerge into the light.
The second time I was concerned in fog was similar except in addition to the thick nature of the fog I was riding a Kawasaki KLR 650 on an interstate highway where drivers are notoriously overconfident as they hurtle down the highway at the same speeds they travel on a clear day. Finding the first exit was high on my list of priorities.
Sometimes you just need to know when to say uncle.
I never did find a unicorn but did manage to entertain a giant flying fish. In the thin gray fog anything is possible. And for a time I relish the experience which always has to end. In the scooter’s dream (and my own) the ride goes on forever.
Are you a fog rider?
Thin fog is mystic … fog, thick as pea soup, not so much fun. I like to be able to see who’s trying to kill me in traffic!
That makes perfect sense. The quality of the fog is related to comfort on the road.
I love the fog, it makes the familiar mysterious, at least that how it felt as a child. I ride through a regional park every day to work, this is where I most likely the run into it. I Get so excited when I walk out the door & find the fog. Today is overcast, just not the same, off to work I go.
A foggy morning is the time to enjoy a second cup of coffee on your front porch. While it may be exciting to ride it puts a rider at extreme risk of mishap. The wet road, the reduced visibility and reduced reaction time all make fog riding precarious.
Safetgord
For thick fog you’re absolutely correct. Most of our fog is thin with visibility running easily several hundred yards. That’s better visibility than at night. But the really thick, pea soup stuff, that’s better enjoyed from the porch as you suggest.
Fog does add a mysterious, magical quality to whatever it consumes and, like you, I believe it triggers those feelings of wonder from childhood. A rider has to weigh risk against all that though. A lot of the recent fog here did not diminish visibility enough where I felt it was dangerous — hence the title “Thin Gray Fog” and not “Thick Gray Fog”. The later gives pause…
Visibility of you by others….definitely a factor to keep in mind.
I find myself, strangely, missing the fog at Gotthard Pass….
Every ride should start with some sort of risk assessment don’t you think? Consideration of yourself and where your mind is, the machine, the road, the current and future weather, gear, etc. Visibility is another aspect. As I get older I think more about all this stuff…
I’ve ridden in fog, and it has never stopped me . One time I was going south for hours on Highway 1 on the coast of California, and the fog was so thick not only could I not see the ocean tens of feet right beside and below me, I couldn’t even see the edge of the highway I was riding on. It was that thick.
I’ve ridden in torrential downpours, blizzards, thunder and lightning storms, deep gooey mud (the map said that the road was supposed to have been paved), beautiful crisp clear desert sunrises, and every other imaginable weather situation.
I suppose if I was home, I might just stay inside sometimes. But when I’ve been out riding, often times hundreds or thousands of miles away from home, I just keep riding – and I enjoy every minute of it – no matter what the weather brings.
Isn’t that one of the reasons some of us ride – for the adventure? And the weather has always been part of my personal riding adventure.
I agree that weather is part of the adventure though you do need to carefully evaluate what you’re getting into. Each of us has different sets of experience and willingness to take on the risk related to various weather conditions. There isn’t a right decision, only the decision that works for me. No one should feel pressured to ride when they aren’t comfortable. That may be where people get in trouble — following along others — speed, environment, weather, whatever.
Stay safe!
Steve: as long as the fog is not between your ears, the world shall continue to evolve.
Recall years ago, in the early 1980’s traveling in a car in the early morning in the hills of
your home state going from Altoona and Horseshoe curve to the East Broad Top.
Marvelled at the early morning fog in the valleys. And watching as the rising sun burnt off the fog. And I might add the fog and steam at the EBT allowed wonderful images.
The fog remains, the East Broad Top lies dormant due to political squabbles and lack of money to purchase and preserve the railway. Have many photographs of now long gone railway lines in your home state including a certain line that operated from State College.
The East Broad Top railroad has had their ups and downs. Down now I think. I’ve been down to Orbisonia a number of times but never took advantage of the opportunity to go for a ride on that narrow gauge railroad.
There were a lot of rail lines in State College a long time ago. All those right of ways were returned to landowners even though the community has offered them. A colleague who was on the Borough council in the 1960s when that offer was made tried to convince them to take them over. He felt some day in the future they would want them for a commuter line. Too bad they didn’t keep them. For bike paths if nothing else.
Thin fog, as shown, is nice to ride in. Heavy fog is just asking for it. I remember some horrendous pile ups with 20+ cars and trucks while growing up in Calif. The “Tule” fog in the Central Valley could be really heavy and everyone drove too fast.
You’re right about heavy fog and pile ups. We’ve had a number of deadly crashes in fog and snow white outs on Interstate 80. Lack of visibility and speed are a dangerous mix.
Best stay home during those times…