Rain, Thunder — No Problem
There’s something exciting about riding a Vespa in the rain.
A short ride to a neighborhood pub to pick up some prime rib sandwiches for dinner. One of those tasks I see as another opportunity for a little adventure. I could hear thunder approaching and a quick check of the radar map on my iPhone showed the storm already here. But looking at the dark sky and the sparse rain drops allowed me to believe I had a few more minutes.
No surprise that there were no other motorcycles (or scooters) in the parking lot. I saw two riders sitting at the bar. A quick transaction and then back to the scooter. Rain was just beginning to fall as I started the engine.
A few minutes later as I approached the safety of home the rain drops were big. And loud. For a moment I wondered if there was hail.
And then the adventure was over. Two short miles total. And it was fun.
Only on a Vespa.
Ahhh glorious rain. I remember rain. Can you send some our way? Oregon is catching fire, our forests are closing and we haven’t had a drop in over 40 days. Sure we complained about the over 50 inches we got this winter. Just wish it would have been spread out a little more instead of just stopping.
Picking up take-out seem like a great excuse for a quick little jaunt.
I always picture Oregon as green, lush and wet. I forget parts of it are arid and dry to begin with. Add a little drought and it’s bad. I hope you see some soon. We’re not having a lot but enough so far to keep things green. Not like previous years where there were water restrictions and everything was brown by mid-July.
I consider anything that allows me to get on the scooter a great excuse!
I like riding in the rain, but then again I ride the big Burgman with all sorts of weather protection. If I rode a naked bike I don’t know if I would feel the same. At one point in my life I lived in Houston Tx. I would not like to ride in the rain there. The rain in Houston is a whole other beast.
Everything in Texas is a whole other beast!
My dad was stationed at Fort Hood(?) during the Korean War. He didn’t much like Texas. He summed it up this way, “It’s the only place where you can stand up to your knees in mud with sand blowing in your face.”
I was born in a small town in Texas (Mineral Wells) when my dad was stationed there in the Army. We spent about 2 more months before we went back to Western PA and my dad went to Japan on his next duty assignment. Only been back a couple times on business trips – not a fan. Especially Houston!
Well, Texas is a big place and I know there are some unique and beautiful landscapes along with lots of other things Texan. Have never been there myself but hope to visit at some point.
Sometimes all you need is a quickie! Awesome!
Hah!
Looking at where the Vespa is parked with an open environmentally correct paper bag on the floorboards, do I detect new four wheeled transpiration on your property?
Especially the orange floatation device on top of one of the vehicles?
As for the rain, we in Southern Ontario have had more than our fair share. Mind you don’t have to shovel liquid precipitation!
No new vehicles on our property. The photo was made in the parking lot of Kelly’s Steak and Seafood. No kayaks in my future. Got rid of the canoe a few years ago. I’m decluttering.
Ah, hail while riding….a stinging experience plus quite loud within one’s helmet…..fortunately it was only rain for you.
I’ve never ridden in big hail. Only very tiny little pellets.
I’m always wary riding in rain as that was my only accident…heading downtown to the Y just before dusk in drizzle… up ahead on my right some kid in a rice rocket pulled out a few feet without looking to cross the road in front of me…I grabbed the brakes as I swerved to avoid him. Well the Yamaha BW 50 cc shot out from underneath me (little traction from rain) and I came down on my right side hard on my arm and ribs…sliding down the road in the rain for about 60 feet while the scoot slid and spun like a top on it’s side a few in front of me with the headlight doing a search light sweep every time it went by…very surreal. Idiot kid watched me struggle to my feet in pain then he drove off…illegal move! Rode to the hospital…lucky to have only bruised ribs. Brent
I understand how unsettling it can be when you feel the machine slipping away from you. Happens so suddenly that it can shake your confidence. My only drop was in snow, and at a much slower speed, but still it was a bit unnerving. Luckily no injury but is etched in my mind.
Sounds like your experience was far more intense. Understandable why you would be wary in the rain.
Be safe!