More on Day 2 Trip to Houston
If anyone were to ask me if riding in heavy rain on an Interstate with lots of trucks, cars, and buses would be a good idea, I would have to say it's a bad idea.However, some of us just ride even when it is totally insane we do it. On this trip that was the case for me. I've been riding for decades, through some bad rain storms. If you're a ride in Florida, during the rainy season, you're going to get rained on.
In all my riding, the rain on this trip was by far the most challening I have ever faced, for no other reason, than to get to Houston in 2 days. WHY?
Heading West on I-10, it started raining half way into Alabama through all of Mississippi and half way into Louisiana
I kind of thrive on intensity, but the rain just got harder and harder and the traffic worse as the weather slowed the pace. The trucks started stacking up, sometimes double stacked ,3 trucks wide,
I only had half my rain gear on, my pants soaked and every way water could find its way through my rain jacket it did. up my arms under my chin and down my back, after awhile I was soaked all over and getting cold. Most the time I was able to keep some space between the other vehicles. Keeping my shield clear became a real battle, ( Note: rain X really helps). I had tucked a rag in the top compartment of my tank bag. Even wet it helped with the fine spray. I would wipe the sheild then turn my head, the shield would clear giving me some vision for a few minutes, then repeat the process over and over. I do brake checks from time to time, to check traction or lack of it .just to make sure I had some control in slowing down. Sometimes when you're on a long ride your mind might wander off, this was game on full attention. There was a time when it was raining so hard the water was building up on the road I began to worry about hydro-planing. At this point, I was saying to myself this is crazy, there were no overpasses, no exits, and not much room on the side of the road to pull off. I got behind a truck and rode in his tracks. I never ride anywhere near the back of a truck but this time it was the only choice. Riding a hundred feet back at 50 miles per hour is not fun. Heavy spray made it hard to see but nice tire tracks to follow keep me upright The truck driver seemed to know I was there, when I passed him later he gave me a wave.
I got all the intensity I could handle.
Lesson: if don't have to ride in a heavy nasty rain storm don't do it.
I have to say that my bike ran without missing a beat, and if you own a ZRX, and are worried about putting pods on. I had no problems.
I made 2 full fuel runs in the rain and when the rain slowly stopped the sun came out.I was soaked to the bone and dry in 30 minutes.
I've ridden in rain, cold, hot but not in snow. Maybe someone will have a story much better than mine to share. It's now nearing the end of May and I will be riding home a week from now.
Next post Riding Houston's Interstate, Riding to Galveston, New friends And with your help maybe some better writing. I'm a rider not a speller but I'm going to write a book so point out the bad.
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