Modern Vespa

I am so sick of cloudy raining humid days I could scream. Seems like Houston has had less sunshine in the last few months than I can ever remember in the 25 years I've lived here.

It was my intention to ride to Atlanta for Photoshop World leaving Saturday. Okay, I rethought that briefly last week when I saw it was supposed to rain all day Monday (80% chance of rain) on my final leg but though, what the heck this is supposed to be a practice run from the cannonball and you've ridden through rain, sometimes heavy rain when you went to Photoshop World in DC a couple years ago, its only one day. Now they are telling me "heavy thunderstorms" starting Saturday in Houston and moving east just about the same speed as I'd be doing on the scooter. So now it is 3 days of heavy thunderstorms instead of 1 day of "rain". Great, can we have proper April weather, pretty please?

On the plus side despite the winds yesterday I requisitioned the Sports City from my son and rode it for a bit before dropping it off for new belt, rollers, air filter, installing USB power point and euro turn signals in prep for the cannonball. Surprisingly it handled the winds much better than the heavier GTS I also took out for a bit yesterday. Since I am having to take the car instead of the scoot to Atlanta I may just have to ride on my next Oklahoma trip April 22nd even if it means a long day in the saddle with my brother on his BMW - he'll insist on a single 500 mile day instead of breaking it up as I'd prefer since the meeting isn't until 1:30.

Welcome to my world. We've had a bunch of really hard rain and heavy winds. 50 to 60 gusts. Also a Tsunami advisory. Haven't done much riding the past few weeks but am hoping to get a long ride and some fun in tomorrow. Will ask my magic 8 ball if it's supposed to be nice like the weatherman said. Sorry you can't do it. CB'S coming up soon.

Rain? What is that.

Don't give me that. Monday morning in Muskogee I woke up to 51 and rain. Sunday I was regretting driving up despite the 500 miles each way. Monday morning relieved I hadn't.

I'll trade you our 6 months of snow and cold for your rain any day.
We had a 60 degree teaser day that melted the last of our snow, but have 2-8" coming tomorrow depending on who you listen to.

It snowed 14" on freakin' MAY 2nd last year

Yeah, the eastern part of the state did see some; most of the rest didn't get enough for a good glass of water. We'll try to do better for you this next time!

If it makes you feel any better, I've never visited Houston and not been rained on at least once during my stay. The sidewalks have moss.

Yeah, we got the tail end of that storm as rain and wind here in Chicago. Got some big storms this morning.

The upper midwest has been miserable. I'd rather have that warm rain from Texas that this winter. It was really really bad here too.

Define "warm rain"? IMHO 38-54 is not what I'd call warm which is most of what we've had this year. Also, I don't particularly consider thunderstorms with lightening to be appropriate riding conditions.

we get a lot more cold and rainy days over here,i would love to live in some of your citys with loads sunshine
i dont ride in the rain ,so i dont out get much on my scooter.

Yesterday Here in Utah we had it all. Started with gray and rainy. Then Sunshine, then hail, then sunshine, then big flake blizzard and winds. Stayed in the 40's
Its like we did all the seasons in one day. Welcome to Utah springs!

More thunderboomers predicted for the weekend AND they will be moving east along with me so car it is. I do intend to rent a scoot for a bit on a detour through Pensacola Beach so I can at least click Florida off my ride map.

Checking out options for renting a "moped" in South Carolina so I can maybe click that one off with a j hook after the conference before returning to Houston.

Lawdog - keep your rain on the west side on my next trip and everyone can be happy. Just remember we don't want no stinking rain June 9-10.

I'm hearing about all kinds of tornadoes thru the mid section. Be careful everyone.

One of the reasons I'm taking the car.

No stinking rain June 9-10. Got it!


P.S. Have a safe and fun trip back east. Too bad you couldn't ride out there this time.

Flash flooding here through tomorrow. I'm sure Atlanta will get most of what we have. Tough decision to leave the scooter home, but good call.

That does not keep you from riding, does it?

Here it is like a lot of sunshine but not in the Winter. I know what you are feeling. Even though it is now officially over. Hope you have a happy Spring.

Thunder boomers with tornado watches, yep that keeps me from riding Good thing I made it to the Dock in Pensacola Beach while they were still renting scoots and it wasn't raining. So got a scooter fix in Florida which definitely makes me appreciate the quality of our scoots Weird looking Chinese reverse trike there that steered clear of in favor of a Zuma knock-off

In southern Alabama and was woken up several times during the night by thunder and heavy rain. Still hearing it so while yesterday I was regretting at times not riding this morning kinda glad for the cage. Rained hard enough I may even move the car under the portico before putting my stuff back in the trunk.

Actually- the 2-3 inches we're expecting today will be a blessing- the pine pollen has been so thick I've been walking around all weekend with a sore throat.

It'll all be washed away by the time you get here.

Do drive careful, there is a lot of deep standing water in places on the roads this morning.

We are supposed to be getting it later today and tonight. Glad I have my Frogg Toggs with me.

We've had flash flooding across Central Alabama overnight and road closings/delayed school openings this morning.

Your Frogg Toggs will get a good workout if you guys get the weather we had overnight.

Beautiful weekend until i detailed the scooter. Put him in his shed all nice and shiny. About an hour later the wind came up and it rained buckets. Supposed to go to a Dr appt in Honolulu this morning. Not on the scooter. My friend/roomie is sick and i get the car. I hate driving cars tho. Will be much easier because i need to get my new Heidenau tire on my spare rear rim. Now i can just throw it in the trunk. 8)

Well I am now in Atlanta and about to take a nap before this evening's Photoshop meet-up. Rain wasn't as bad as I expected based on the forecast but I was definitely glad I took the car.

You were better off than I was coming through Mississippi yesterday evening. In a rental cage coming home from Kalamazoo, MI and was slowed to 40 to 40 MPH and in ne area had to dodge trees that were already down on I-55. It took me 2 hours to go about 80 miles. Instead of getting home by about 7P I didn't get home till 10:25P just ahead of a thunderstorm and as a severe thunderstorm warning was issued.

I've never had to slow down like that before.

I was safely tucked up in a motel room by the time that mess reached me in Alabama. Woke me up in the wee hours and pretty much kept doing so until I gave up. Had a nap after I checked in my hotel in Atlanta to make up for the lack of sleep, needed it too

Almost here. Getting gas. Gotta go!

We have had a terrible drought, so I wish we had a wee bit of rain. Yet...... 80 degrees today, do great scooter weather all this week.

Figures, now that I am stuck inside at sessions and events fro 8 in the morning until late at night the sun is out and the weather is gorgeous. Looked at Eagle Riders website and got excited to see the BMW scoot on their list of rentals. Only to be very disappointed to discover it was only available in Munich. I had visions of a nice little run to check off South Carolina and maybe get a few twisties in ;-(.

You could always rent an Eagle Rider's Harley to check-off some real estate.
Hope the good weather holds for you.

I haven't shifted anything with a motorcycle shift in 4 years plus I'm still having some problems with my left ankle. It received a screw and washer in the same accident last year that resulted in a plate & screws putting the 18 pieces of my right leg back together. So I don't want anything big and heavy, especially if I had to remember how to shift. Somehow after I stalled out the bike the first few times in front of them they might not want to let me rent one anyway. They used to offer MP3s at some of their locations and that I would have definitely rented just to check one out.

If I could rent a MP3 I would be all over that. They look like so much fun.