Modern Vespa

Global Warming may be fact or fiction but right now the possibility that it could be real is frightening. Below in black are the August temperatures in Dallas to date and the temperature projections for the remainder of the month are in bold. The last week of July was also all 100+ degrees. Add an addition 7 to 10 degrees for the real heat index. Example, today will be 105 but with the humidity it will feel like 114. Last night at 11:30 the temperature was 95.

The effects of these continuous days of heat are cumulative on the mind and spirit. The saying that it "feels like an over" is not an expression here but instead it is a reality. Spend more than a minute or two in direct sunlight guarantees that you will be covered in sweat. Walking on a sidewalk means you not only will feel the simmering heat coming down from the sun but also will feel all the heating radiating up from the concrete under your feet. This radiating heat continues throughout the night.

The local news is full of stories about the sick and elderly should stay indoors or how to recognize the signs of heat exhaustion or where the unfortunate can get a free fan or shelter for the night.

Many people's air conditioners have not been able to keep up with the heat or are breaking down from trying to. If your AC is working, then your electric bill is going through the roof. Food or cool, let me think about it. To get into a car that is parked in direction sunlight becomes a maneuver that must be made with care. Do not touch the dash, or steering wheel, or seat belt without a quick touch to make sure it won't burn you.

Are people a little less friendly and a little more lethargic? What do you think?


To personalize, when I take the family dog out she can't make it to her favorite "potty" spot. She ends up flopping over in the grass panting with her tongue out and her hind legs quivering. Yet she can't quite accept that the grassy area half that distance will work just as well. I end up picking her up and carrying her.

And of course I still ride in full gear. I think maybe some of it is plain orneriness. Some of it is a natural disdain for the wimpy and a refusal to join the ranks. Some of it is a (probable) misguided attempt to support our troops by not putting my butt into a big air conditioned gas eating vehicle, while they serve in even hotter conditions while wearing full battle gear partly to keep oil flowing to be wasted by people who don't care or want to think about their actions. Some of this sentiment is fueled (pun intended) by knowing my step son is getting ready to go back to the Middle East to serve his second tour there.

No I'm not completely reckless in these commutes. I wear an ice vest and two types of bandannas that are packed with ice and refrigerated each day. But I still at times feel like the proverbial snowball that is where a snowball shouldn't be.

So what is the point of all this? Really, just to say that it is hot, it is really hot.

This too shall pass, just not quick enough.


Sun
8/1/2010 104°
Mon
8/2/2010 103°
Tue
8/3/2010 102°
Wed
8/4/2010 101°
Thu
8/5/2010 104°
Fri
8/6/2010 106°
Sat
8/7/2010 100°
Sun
8/8/2010 99°
Mon
8/9/2010 100°
Tue
8/10/2010 100°
Wed
8/11/2010 102°
Thu
8/12/2010 103°
Fri
8/13/2010 102°
Sat
8/14/2010 102°
Sun
8/15/2010 105°
Mon
8/16/2010 105°
Tue
8/17/2010 104°
Wed
8/18/2010 104°
Thu
8/19/2010 104°
Fri
8/20/2010 105°
Sat
8/21/2010 103°
Sun
8/22/2010 102°
Mon
8/23/2010 102°
Tue
8/24/2010 101°
Wed
8/25/2010 100°

Yup. It's been hot all right. Heat index here in central Illinois has been up around 110' the last few days. Since I hate humidity, heat, and direct sun, I've been avoiding going out on my scoot during the height of the day. But I've had some great morning and evening rides. Went out last night about 7:30pm (temps in the high 80s--heat index close to 100). Rode for nearly an hour. Gorgeous. And the scoot's been running great. Had it topping out at nearly 80 mph on one stretch of back road. Amazing. But I'm definitely looking forward to some cloudier days and cooler temps.

75 and sunny down here at Venice Beach..

this has been the coldest summer on record for los angeles (or was for a while, dunno if it still is but it's definitely been lame)

It was 105 here in Southeast Texas, Yesterday. Feels hotter today.
It's brutal.

Wow! That's crazy

It's been "like taking a sauna" here,
but I'd prefer that to "like being near a blast furnace" any day

I hope it passes soon

I feel your pain. We are in the same boat. However, our temperatures in Austin seem to be a few degrees cooler than yours. Must be the larger mass of concrete in the DFW area. I went for a ride last weekend. I went early to beat the heat; however, a little before 10am, the scooter was already registering above a 100F. Last night in our car around 9pm, the car temp gauge was measuring 100-109F. The pavement is staying brutally hot. I would hate to fall, because you would probably burn yourself. I quit riding to work when I have to run errands during the day, because I come back a giant, sweaty sponge. My mesh jacket and pants are definitely helping though. The hot air feels like a hair dryer when you are going down the road

Everyone stay cool and hydrated. Don't let the heat cloud your judgement. Don't let the sweat in your eyes ruin your visibility.

Global warming means I can ride the scooter in the winter here in Chi.

Yeah but you have to summer near the north pole and bring a swim suit.

San Diego is having the mildest summer I have ever experienced here.

The world has weather patterns that change. That's why we have stories about weather to share over the generations.

I mean what (besides scooters of course) would get us through those awkward conversation moments without the dear-ol' weather to discuss??

Political opinion alert:

The joke used to be "everyone complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Now we live in a dangerous age where governments are wishing to charge us and change our way of life claiming to be doing "something" about it. Why not just throw virgins in the volcanoes like the old days - it's the same concept and will net the same weather results.

Oh-oh, all down hill from here

OY. (<---- sweating, not blushing)

I'm just having fun - I just don't take any of it too seriously (or myself)

Sorry for any worries to the contrary .

You're cool. Just know we could all get into a major dispute that will go no where. The point is, it's really hot here, whatever the reason.

I almost found out today (about really hot), but stayed on the mountain top and just looked down at the hot desert instead. I can't imagine riding in your heat in my leather jacket - I'd meeeeeeeeeeeeeeelt.

I think it was about 70 degrees in my town today (Mira Mesa) and about 90-ish inland where I rode, but just fine while moving. Just a bit sweaty in the leather jacket at stops.

Yes - the longer the hot spell, the shittier they get

Too much cold can be as bad as not enough - best way to beat the heat is to keep fluids up, and reduce radiant and conductive heat load, and or reduce internal heat production (ie less physical work).

chilled things can reduce heat loss, not enhance it. A cool day in summer.

In Sadelaide - temps can peak at 43-44c, further north 47c is not unheard of. Luckily, it is dry heat, not humid heat.

Keep up the fluids, keep out of the sun, and keep the air moving!

Enjoy it - it will soon be cold!

Vespa air conditioning: wear a wet t shirt under your summer riding jacket. It works for up to an hour, depending on humidity.

17ºC/62.6ºF, gale-force winds and 1½"/38mm of rain in the last twelve hours - would you like some.

It's about twenty three degrees celcius with clear blue skies here in the uk today, and my vespa is sat outside waiting for me.

Over a hundred for that long wouldn't suit me, but is it really that unusual for one of the hottest states in the middle of summer? I'm sure it doesn't happen each year, but is this a one in five event or a one in fifty?

Hope it cools for you soon.

Well... that might work in Texas
However, if you're wearing a tee shirt under a riding jacket these days in SC
then TRUST ME, it's already wet

Myself, I gave up on the riding jacket after the 3rd local shop clerk in a row
asked me if I was feeling a bit too cool (in that very polite concerned tone
that they reserve for those that they suspect of being completely insane)

Did about a 3 1/2 hour road trip out of Houston on Saturday. NW to Brenham, E to Lake Somerville and then back home.

Was seeing 109 on the temp guage running at 70 mph! It was like riding in an oven. Got to say that the swimming pool felt really good when I got home...

The temps you all are talking about are pretty much the norm for 4 months of the year here. A quick dive in the swimming pool is the fastest way I've found too cool down after my commute home from work. I'm just glad that we typically have less humidity then you most of you report.

-Craig

As they say, it's not the heat; it's the humidity. Having lived in AZ, I can assure you that I'd much prefer 100' in Phoenix to 80' (and 80% humidity) here in Illinois.

I won't disagree with that at all. I grew up in the south east and I've experienced the humidity. I'll take the dry heat. But either way, the best way I've found to cool my body down (regardless of humidity) is the pool.

-Craig

Are you sure you didn't have your high beams on?

Talk about hot!

It's not even a one in five. As far as I can remember, the last five summers have been this bad, probably more. We always get several 100+F days in August. Many years I remember hearing that we had over 30 100+ days. I think last summer, Austin went over 60 days without rain too.

Edit: Here's a link showing the last 3 years. Haven't found anything further back yet.

http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KTXAUSTI66&graphspan=custom&month=5&day=1&year=2007&monthend=8&dayend=16&yearend=2010

It was about 125 today in the Persian Gulf, and it wasn't as hot as it has been.

The desert would suck. Plus, it's not totally like you are choosing to be there. Luckily, you don't have to live there forever, but a lot of other people do. I think the sand storms would be my breaking point. The heat I could probably handle.

It's actually been "cool" this summer.

I rode home from a rally yesterday. It was in the low 50's and dew when I woke up but by the time I got it was 95F, with about 30% humidity.

It's Soooo Hot!
The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground.
The trees are whistling for the dogs.
The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
Hot water now comes out of both taps.
You can make sun tea instantly.
You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.
The temperature drops below 85 F and you feel a little chilly.
You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.
You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.
You actually burn your hand opening the car door..
You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 am.
Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"
You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.
The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper. and of course sour cream, diced onions and a few serving spoons of chile.
Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs.
The cows are giving evaporated milk.
STAY COOL!

Northern California has been having an unseasonably cool summer this year, it's only gotten above 80 degrees a few times. We froze our asses off riding up the coast to Guerneville on Friday, it was only 55 degrees and very cloudy. Personally, I believe this is a direct result of global warming, which is only one aspect to the overall climate changes that are happening worldwide. But how does a record hot summer produce a cold snap in California? Well, let me explain.

The weather patterns generally move from north to south on the west coast, which brings cool air from the Arctic down the Pacific coast. But if the rest of the world is heating up, why would that make our weather cooler? Easy - ever hear of a swamp cooler? Basically, you take a big block of ice and blow hot air over it; the ice absorbs the heat from the air and melts, and cool (or even cold) air is produced. I believe that's exactly what's going on at the poles right now, and the more that the world heats up, the greater the swamp cooling effect is on areas that receive the cold air that is produced as a result. But once the poles melt and the swamp cooler effect stops, the west coast will be hit with a huge heat wave that will completely roast it and result in massive wildfires, much like what's going on around Moscow right now. Very very scary stuff... personally, I'm not looking forward to it.

Well put Bagel!

Gotta LOVE those polite southerners. I have a friend who always says "bless their heart". Translation? F'$@k them!

Around here, the "bless their heart" thing seems to mean
that there's an unspoken second part to the statement

Like: "Well, bless her heart for trying" might really mean, "Well, bless her heart for trying...
but that helmet's not likely to do her much good, since it's on backwards"

(Moving down here has been SUCH a learning experience)

The sandstorms are bad. You can feel them coming well before they get here because the concentration of dirt in the air (looks like fog) will increase and your eyes will start to burn like hell. Your nose will get stuffed from all the dirt it is filtering. Once the actual storm comes you have to get in a vehicle or something, and you will have sand everywhere, no exceptions. The sweat helps it stick

That sounds completely miserable!

Have you recently returned from there?

I thought the Devil was down in Georgia Looks like he's moved over a few states. There's an old song by somebody with that title in case anybody thinks i've gone crazy this morning Sand storms blow, no pun intended. We had a bad one in Riyadh once. I woke up one morning covered in fine sand along with everything in my Villa Guess the building's weren't made very well but that said it can get into the smallest of cracks. Got caught out in the Empty Quarter in one once also while camping and that was no picnic. Had to dig out and push my friends old willies jeep We used to go to the Red sea every weekend to dive and snorkel and a new woman from Boston had just been hired and i invited her to go with us. She didn't want to go in our car since i was a single female with 3 unmarried guys and it's against the law in Saudi to be with single men unchaperoned. They never bothered me but she went with someone else (married couple) and they hit a really bad sandstorm about 20 miles before the sea and rolled their jeep. She was killed instantly So sad. So be careful out there.

Although I am a believer in global warming, extended heat spells happen all the time. Chicago has been really hot this summer, but last summer was very chilly--in fact, it never hit 90 degrees in July 2009.

Weather is different than climate.

Here's my favorite Southern joke.

There are 2 older sisters sitting on a porch of a big plantation. One is going on about how wonderful her life has been, how rich she is, how big her house is, how wonderful and handsome her husband is, etc. The other just sits and listens. The first sister stops and says "usually you would be cursing me out and hitting me by now". The second sister says "well, I've been to etiquette school and they taught me to say "how nice" instead of "fuck you"".