Flying debris was everywhere as the winds were picking up and blowing from the North/Northwest. I headed out and straight into some strong gusty winds, hitting me on the right side and causing me to lean Brigitta over or be pushed into the adjoining lane. I hate wind from the right side, left side...not so much.
I got to "enjoy" these windy conditions for several miles until at last my chosen route home had me heading in a southerly direction. Now with the wind at my back, all was quiet and relatively still. I chose a route that avoided much more exposure to southbound winds on my right side and the rest of the ride was great.
The rain continued and grew in strength, there was buckets of the stuff! And yet, it did not bother me. I was dry with my waterproof liner under my riding jacket, my pants were getting wet but I was heading home so no matter there. The rain was falling thickly but gently with almost no wind. It was great!
So great in fact in evoked in my minds eye that scene from that old movie where Gene Kelly is dancing about in a rain-soaked street, singing that well known song: "Singing in the Rain".
I was finding the whole riding in the rain experience, after those wicked wind gusts coupled with rain, so peaceful in comparison that I tried singing the following lyrics. Really, I was having such a good time, rain coming down in buckets, that I was weaving in my lane (safely), as I am prone to do when enjoying some nice tune when on the highway.
So I give you here, the paraphrasing of the first verse of the song, sung to the tune of "Singing in the Rain":
Riding in the Rain
I'm riding in the rain
Just riding in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm doing what I love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Every cager from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I ride down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just ridin',
Ridin' in the rain
I'm riding in the rain
Just riding in the rain
What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again
I'm laughing at clouds
So dark up above
The sun's in my heart
And I'm doing what I love
Let the stormy clouds chase
Every cager from the place
Come on with the rain
I've a smile on my face
I ride down the lane
With a happy refrain
Just ridin',
Ridin' in the rain
8 comments:
Interesting that you feel less comfortable with the wind from the right. I feel the same and I haven't really figured out why. I can also make tight left turns all day long but feel uncomfortable with tight turns to the right.
Richard,
yeah, isn't that weird? I hope irondad will chime in with the answer...it's some correlation to the fact that you are probably right-handed like I am.
I find, on tight right turns, that my wrist does not turn quite right to allow a smooth turn....
Great Song
Dear Charlie6 (Dom):
I read your post tonight, and had to laugh. I don't mind when the wind blows from the right, but dislike it when it blows from the left. By the same token,after a few hours on the road, my left turns all become loose.
I occasionally don't mond getting caught in a real cloudburst, though lightening strikes are a very real danger. At least twice, I have been caught in real thunder/boomers at night, where it was necessary to switch the flashers on (and even more necessary to thread my way around cars stalled in standing water). My vision isn't what it used to be, and riding in the rain at night cam be somewhat challenging for me.
Still, it does feel good when you pour into the garage, with a gallon or two of nature's wettest running off you. I sometimes sing too -- Wagner's Flight of the Valkyrie.
Fondest regards,
Jack "reep" Toad
Twisted Roads
cpa3485, thanks...it was an easy adaptation....
Jack....dang how much rain do you get that it floods out cars? That K bike of yours must have air intakes high up like a GS!
As to singing The RIDE of the Valkyries...do you don a helmet with horns on it? Gotta go for the full effect you know....
Did I hear someone mention my name? I don't want hijack your blog. There's a lot of people who prefer left turns to right turns. Perhaps it's post material!
Like you, I dislike wind from any side. Sophie handled it okay. With Elvira it always feels like the wind is hammering us. Weird.
hey Irondad....yes, lend us your expertise, in a posting if need be....
knowing why right turns are harder for me than left turns is the gateway to better right turns.....
This is great. Keep sharing :)
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