Survived a hellacious ride
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 135
Likes: 1
From: Nashville TN
I rode from Calgary, Alberta to Nashville, TN July of 2004. Before I moved I'd wrecked my bike and neither of us were able to ride...Dr. calls and said I was good to go, so I called and told my son to make sure the bike was ready to go and booked a flight, one way...All the way through Southern Alberta, Montana, and Wyoming it poured, sometimes hail, sometimes freezing rain.
I pulled into the Blimpy's/Sub shop in Billings and almost dropped the bike, my hands were frozen in spite of great gloves and heated grips, my rain suit had melted and I was soaked. It was so bad, that when I made it inside (just a step above crawling) they wanted to call an ambulance, because my lips, hands and ears were turning blue...it wasn't even 11 AM...I just wanted to be warm, a nice old guy went to Walmart and got me some thick fleece crap to put on and they poured hot cocoa and soup down me. I hung our for a few hours, everyone was so nice, they even put my boots and gloves in tinfoil in the oven to dry out. LOL
About 2 PM the rain cleared off and I tried again, only to break down just outside Sheridan, WY, these 2 awesome guys stopped to help and said something about a hot shower, so I followed them home after they got the bike running. They ROCKED! Not only that thy gave me the best compliment EVER!
Dave said, "you aren't just a biker chick, you are a REAL biker." Totally made my day!
I did make it home, and made some new friends, and had a few great stories!
I also figure that I'm allowed to choose NOT to ride in the rain and not be called a wuss.
I pulled into the Blimpy's/Sub shop in Billings and almost dropped the bike, my hands were frozen in spite of great gloves and heated grips, my rain suit had melted and I was soaked. It was so bad, that when I made it inside (just a step above crawling) they wanted to call an ambulance, because my lips, hands and ears were turning blue...it wasn't even 11 AM...I just wanted to be warm, a nice old guy went to Walmart and got me some thick fleece crap to put on and they poured hot cocoa and soup down me. I hung our for a few hours, everyone was so nice, they even put my boots and gloves in tinfoil in the oven to dry out. LOL
About 2 PM the rain cleared off and I tried again, only to break down just outside Sheridan, WY, these 2 awesome guys stopped to help and said something about a hot shower, so I followed them home after they got the bike running. They ROCKED! Not only that thy gave me the best compliment EVER!
Dave said, "you aren't just a biker chick, you are a REAL biker." Totally made my day!
I did make it home, and made some new friends, and had a few great stories!
I also figure that I'm allowed to choose NOT to ride in the rain and not be called a wuss.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 126
From: Manassas, VA
Luxury.
I had to take my socks off and put my thumbs through the existing holes in the socks' heels, at 5 AM, with sleet and freezing rain. Then, my headlight died, just before I hit a "mill and pave" section of the road, with coal trucks coming the opposite direction. Plus, I got dissed by an Amish buggy, passing me while displaying the one-finger salute. His girlfriend, pointed and laughed.
The patrons at the Waffle House I managed to find, were less considerate, covering their coffee mugs and children's eyes, as I came through the door. The waitress, did not call me "Sugar" or "Hon", and took my Grand Slam order while standing about six feet away from me.
Damn fun, though.
I had to take my socks off and put my thumbs through the existing holes in the socks' heels, at 5 AM, with sleet and freezing rain. Then, my headlight died, just before I hit a "mill and pave" section of the road, with coal trucks coming the opposite direction. Plus, I got dissed by an Amish buggy, passing me while displaying the one-finger salute. His girlfriend, pointed and laughed.
The patrons at the Waffle House I managed to find, were less considerate, covering their coffee mugs and children's eyes, as I came through the door. The waitress, did not call me "Sugar" or "Hon", and took my Grand Slam order while standing about six feet away from me.
Damn fun, though.
yep, I've ridden in that kind of rain very frequently. I hate it. When you can't see a thing in front of you and there's no place to get off the interstate you just have to pray. I haven't experienced hail thank goodness.
Good job OP, it's quite scary.
Good job OP, it's quite scary.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 600
Likes: 231
From: Dewey, Arizona 86327
Yeah, hail Did that one wearing real light gear on two laner with no shoulder. My chest and arms looked like I was a leopard for about a week after with all the little round bruises.
