First off the picture was taken a couple of mornings ago on the way to work and the sun appeared for a few moments just after dawn and I just had to stop and take a picture. It’s like that with a scooter, you just see things that you miss in a cage.
I forgot the camera today so I couldn’t photograph all the great stuff I saw. Those great images all got away. I’ve been working on a few posts but none are ready for release yet but I did want to share a few observations about the commute today. When I left the temperature was near 50° F with a slight breeze and heavy sky that was crying tears of rain and mist. The ride was uneventful and I arrived at work on time and in good spirits.
About mid-day I could see that the wind was picking up and a quick check of the weather forecast showed a storm front coming through with up to an inch of heavy rain and winds gusting to 60 MPH. I went outside to check my Vespa and since it was parked right next to the building it seemed safe from a fall and if it did fall it would go against the building.
When I left at the end of the day the rain had passed but the wind was howling. I was buffeted around just walking across the parking lot and the ride home was probably the most challenging of my Vespa career. More than once as I was moving through traffic at slow speeds I had to put a foot down to keep from being blown down. The wind was unpredictable and the direction kept changing. I stopped at the library and had to park the scooter on the street but not until I determined the wind direction and parked with the nose of the scooter into the wind. I feared returning to find it sprawled along the street.
The Vespa gods were with me and it stood up fine. The remainder of the trip home was even more difficult as I entered the faster traffic that is not fazed a bit at the wind. I on the other hand had to drop my normal speed by 15 to 20 MPH at time just to stay in my lane. I was fortunate that I hit lights a few times as they were turning yellow and I didn’t have a lot of traffic behind me for short periods.
I was relived as I turned into the driveway unscathed and sat for a moment thinking about the ride. Compared to the snow and ice I’ve been on this gusty ride seemed out of control and almost unmanageable. Good to be home and have a cup of tea.
Steve, I’ll raise a cup of tea to you. The unpredictability of wind always puts me on edge.
Every house that I’ve ever lived in has always had a stand of tall timber within reach of falling limbs, or worse, falling trees to contend with. Wind bothers me.
I haven’t found any joy in riding in a strong wind yet either.
Have fun,
Bill
Ever since we lived in Kodiak, my wife hates windy days. A big, Sitka Spruce fell on our house during a storm. Scared the daylights out of her. Amazingly, didn’t do any damage, but made quite the mess!
John
Hey, I have no problem changing lanes. I just like to know where and when, that’s all!
Glad you made it home all in one piece! I riding in the wind.. even when a big truck passes or is near I get nervous. Steve, we got 4′ of ice/sleet and about 5 ” of snow on top of that. I am dying to get my scooter out just to take a picture of it in the snow…. i might sit on it and think what would Steve do.. I know the answer is take a ride. I will have to see how much courage I have and how much as melted by tomorrow 😉
Bill: We have a stand of 80 foot spruce trees on two sides of our house, all big enough to reach the house should they fall. Last year we had six dying or dead ones removed. I always worry about one crashing into the house. I like wind but like you say the unpredicatability does put a person on edge.
combatscoot: Kim worries about the trees. I hope she never has to find out how that feels like your wife did!
irondad: That’s for sure. It can knock you far.
maggie: careful out there! Ice is bad news.
Ride safe