Ha Ha! Missed me!
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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Ha Ha! Missed me!
Last June I took a trip to Northern MI to visit family and complete an Iron Butt ride. The trip up there was great; I couldn't have asked for a better day for the ride. To top it all off, as I was rolling into Sault Sainte Marie, the Canadians across the river were having fireworks so I got to watch the fireworks show for the last nine miles or so of my ride.
Unfortunately, the ride back turned into an impromptu Iron Butt. I had ridden from the Sault to Paradise, then to Hell, and then figured on dropping down to Columbus OH where I was planning on spending the night just beyond the city somewhere on Rte 33. When I got to Columbus, it was apparent that a storm had just passed through, with a few branches down and a few areas without power; I filled up with gas and headed for Route 33. When I got there, there were no hotels to be found--none of them had power. The storm that had passed was a derecho, and it was unusually devastating--and I followed it (and the power outages which meant no gas stations) all the way into Virginia.
Just got back on Monday evening from a trip to Northern MI and the first story I see today is Unusually massive line of storms aim at Midwest.
The rain was bad enough on Monday. I'm so glad it missed me this year!
I was better prepared this time with a bit of spare gas in the saddlebag, guess Mother Nature figured she'd give me a break.
For those riding through the areas affected, take care--last year it was completely devastating through about four states. If you're riding on the backside of it and heading east, I'd suggest taking a bit of extra gas and filling up at every gas station you can find that is open: Ravenswood WV to Lexington VA is about 230 miles and there were no gas stations with power anywhere in between.
Unfortunately, the ride back turned into an impromptu Iron Butt. I had ridden from the Sault to Paradise, then to Hell, and then figured on dropping down to Columbus OH where I was planning on spending the night just beyond the city somewhere on Rte 33. When I got to Columbus, it was apparent that a storm had just passed through, with a few branches down and a few areas without power; I filled up with gas and headed for Route 33. When I got there, there were no hotels to be found--none of them had power. The storm that had passed was a derecho, and it was unusually devastating--and I followed it (and the power outages which meant no gas stations) all the way into Virginia.
Just got back on Monday evening from a trip to Northern MI and the first story I see today is Unusually massive line of storms aim at Midwest.
A gigantic line of powerful thunderstorms could affect one in five Americans on Wednesday as it rumbles from Iowa to Maryland packing hail, lightning and tree-toppling winds. Meteorologist are warning that the continuous line of storms may even spawn an unusual weather event called a derecho (duh-RAY'-choh), which is a massive storm of strong straight-line winds spanning at least 240 miles.
I was better prepared this time with a bit of spare gas in the saddlebag, guess Mother Nature figured she'd give me a break.
For those riding through the areas affected, take care--last year it was completely devastating through about four states. If you're riding on the backside of it and heading east, I'd suggest taking a bit of extra gas and filling up at every gas station you can find that is open: Ravenswood WV to Lexington VA is about 230 miles and there were no gas stations with power anywhere in between.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
Some of the most powerful memories I've got from riding for years and years, are those when I unexpectedly got caught in weather, or stressing type situations. I've had thousands of beautiful days, great rides, and memorable pristine rides, BUT the memories that are the strongest and deepest in my mind, are those where I really had to adapt to deal with the elements that were thrown at me. This ranges from snow, sleet, and rain, to wind and hail. Each of those events are seared in my memory, while the good times just kind of linger gently. Might sound crazy, but that's the way it is with me. You'll remember this one, thanks for sharing.
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From: N Ft. Myers, Fla
Glad you're unscathed, and bigskyhd is right, this is the trip you'll remember. He'll you'll probably add some to it over the years, I'd like to hear it as you tell your grand kids..."I was dodging falling trees, live electric lines, and even had to jump a huge crater that a bolt of lightning threw at me, but I wasn't scared"
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Florence, MT (Bitterroot Valley)
Glad you're unscathed, and bigskyhd is right, this is the trip you'll remember. He'll you'll probably add some to it over the years, I'd like to hear it as you tell your grand kids..."I was dodging falling trees, live electric lines, and even had to jump a huge crater that a bolt of lightning threw at me, but I wasn't scared"
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
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It was definitely interesting--both times.
Last year's trip I did a writeup in the "Road Trips" forum. This year, reason for the trip was a funeral, so not a whole lot of sightseeing along the way.
The trip back to VA this year did involve a few wrong turns and County Roads in WV though. Have you ever found a narrow, wet, paved County Road turn into a narrow, wet, dirt County Road five miles in from the main road with no good place to turn around? Considering it was the middle of WV, the road was filled with nice tight turns on both the steep uphills and downhills and would have probably been a really fun ride on a dirt bike or mountain bike--the Ultra? It was more of a butt pucker--especially in the pouring, monsoon like rain. The one uphill I was just praying that the bike wouldn't stall or stop, because I could feel the rear wheel slipping a bit, when I let off the gas slightly to let the wheel catch, the engine started lugging (I know--wrong gear to start the hill in), and the hill was steep enough (and slick enough) that backing down it would have been a disaster.
Lived to tell the tale, and just happy that I didn't have to deal with the aftermath of a derecho this year.
Last year's trip I did a writeup in the "Road Trips" forum. This year, reason for the trip was a funeral, so not a whole lot of sightseeing along the way.
The trip back to VA this year did involve a few wrong turns and County Roads in WV though. Have you ever found a narrow, wet, paved County Road turn into a narrow, wet, dirt County Road five miles in from the main road with no good place to turn around? Considering it was the middle of WV, the road was filled with nice tight turns on both the steep uphills and downhills and would have probably been a really fun ride on a dirt bike or mountain bike--the Ultra? It was more of a butt pucker--especially in the pouring, monsoon like rain. The one uphill I was just praying that the bike wouldn't stall or stop, because I could feel the rear wheel slipping a bit, when I let off the gas slightly to let the wheel catch, the engine started lugging (I know--wrong gear to start the hill in), and the hill was steep enough (and slick enough) that backing down it would have been a disaster.
Lived to tell the tale, and just happy that I didn't have to deal with the aftermath of a derecho this year.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Michigan 15 Minutes East Of Hell
Yep ... I got caught in the aftermath of the storm on the Saturday morning of the weekend that you're talking about ... We were headed for Lima for the Flat Track Race .... There were more down power lines and tress laying all over the Interstate ... It was a real mess.
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