Modern Vespa

So the weather forecast this weekend called for a 40% chance of rain.

I decided to go up to Asheville, enjoy some lunch, and a leisurely ride on the parkway. The first half of the morning was beautiful the second half was an adventure.

So here I am on the parkway almost to 276. I was gonna head south from here and head home to Greenville since it is almost a straight shot. I had a little rain no biggie.

I get to Brevard and head south on 276 and prayed I was gonna make it home. The skies opened up and dumped on me. There wasn't much traffic thankfully. I was doing around 10 mph with absolutely nowhere to pull off, until. I came to the Raven Falls parking area. What a blessing this was. I got a chance to get off the bike and stand under one of the covered hikers check in stations.

I did check the weather many times that day. But once it started raining I had to put the phone/gps/weather device away.

Once the weather let up I was able to make it down the mountain slowly and safely.

Many will say why didn't you pull over. Honestly there wasn't anywhere to pull over and I had no way of knowing how far it was to the nearest pull off.

So I stopped at the gas station in Cleveland SC and rested and drained my boots.

So I learned some lessons that day. If the weather report says chance of rain 40% they really say chance of rain 100%. I also learned to know my route better. Thing is I drive this route often, in a cage. So I am familiar with it to a degree. I also need better rain gear. I gained some experience and a few more gray hairs. Above all else, I didn't fall, and I lived.

Now to have words with a friend of mine who prayed for a storm this weekend. Anyone know a bail bondsman in South Carolina.

Remember, we are talking probabilities here. You flip a coin. 50% chance of either side before you do it. Afterwards, it is 100% whatever it came out . Pretty much the same with rain. Once it starts - there it is.

LOL, I hate probability. It has been my luck that probability will bight me on the seat every time.

I was lucky I didn't have an accident. When your stuck on a mountain and your visibility is nil and no where to go what do you do. For me, it was continue forward, slowly and I was rewarded with somewhere to pull off.

Otherwise,

It was a beautiful day on the parkway. I met a lot of people who had questions about the MP3. I even met a nice lady who has ridden on Piaggio planes and jets.

Seriously thought about making a details card the size of a business card.

In NJ the 30% rate is pretty rain proof, 40% and up for sure at least a light shower at sometime of day. Last time I ran the "dragon", forecast was slight chance of rain. So I wore rain gear all daylong, not a drop! Some GPS with xm service have weather maps available, but $$ monthly charge added. Have the cheaper level on one gps and cost about $35 a month.

I have my cellphone moutned to the bike for gps/weather etc.

However, I think I would have been better off with a fish finder and a trolling motor.

Thankfully the rain was warm. I may have been wet, but I actually enjoyed myself when I could see again. I am also glad it is warmer in South Carolina by 5-10 degrees.