Florida here I come.

Well, it's Spring by the calendar, but Mother Nature keeps spitting on that. It's been quite cold and rainy for the past 2 weeks. Not that Maryland doesn't need the rain, but there was a winter weather advisory for Western Maryland 2 days ago. That's just wrong.

Happily, though, I brought my bike in for a check up on Tuesday, so it hasn't been painful not to be able to ride. I should be able to pick up the bike today aaaannnnd then I'll ride it in the cold like I have been anyway.

Saturday I've got a practice run with the guy running the Saddle Sore to Florida on May 8th. Of course, it's supposed to be a high in the low 50's with rain. And, well, why not go to West Viginia where it'll probably be a little colder? Oh, right! and then drive home after dark. That sounds like a plan. I'll have all day Sunday to thaw and the folks are cooking dinner, so I should be ready to work by Monday. If I can't swing that then I shouldn't be trying a Saddle Sore.


So, this guy Hoagy...is certifiable. It looks like a really good match. :) We've been emailing/talking, but Saturday is our first meeting and ride. He couldn't be more exuberant if he was on drugs. He goes by 'Hoagy the Harley Riding Hobo' and he often rides to raise money for kids.

Saturday he's coming from WVA to meet me just to ride, though I'm sure he's checking to see that I won't be his albatross heading to Florida. I think I'll check out and as long as they don't feel like they have to stick with me, the run to Florida is gonna be awesome. Hoagy says you'll either get hooked or never try another one again. We shall see. :)

Tonight, Denise (Lefty) will be heading to York to pick up her brand new Motto Guzzi, already dubbed Fuzzy. Jen, she of the Boulevard S40 who doesn't have a license yet, and Vicky, she who got her HD 883 yesterday will be following Denise to York. (Jen won't be riding.) I'm hoping the bike will be ready in time for me to join them. So, the whole gang has bikes and we're ready to go...somewhere. OK, well all except AM who just bought a new house, so we'll see about her later. She may fly down to Florida to join me for the ride back up the coast, though...

Now to call the shop and see when I can get the bike!

Not quite Spring yet...

Well, I dropped my car off at the shop last night thinking how great it was that I had the bike to get to work and could leave my car to do its thing and not have to wait... and then this morning I checked the weather. I knew it wasn't going to be warm, but I didn't realize that 'possibility of flurries' was on the schedule, either.

I learned a few things from this morning's ride, though, so it wasn't *pointless* discomfort.

First, I am really impressed with the Fieldsheer jacket I got in February. There are little annoyances about it, like the neckline cuts into my throat a bit. (If I don't velcro it then the feeling that my head is slowly being severed goes away.) Another velcro issue is that the velcro strip running the length of the zipper attaches itself to the velcro on the sleeves making getting dressed much like trying to get plastic wrap to unstick from itself. (If you're not moving around or are zipped up it's not a problem.) Even so, I'm very happy with the jacket. It was about 34 F on the ride in at 55-65 mph and my torso was still comfortable. I wasn't *warm* like when it was 50 F out last week, but, with just a tank top on, the quilted liner and jacket kept me from being cold. And that's well worth headless plastic-wrestling.

Second, I have begun work on a scientific formula to determine whether one should travel faster and endure the resulting increase in discomfort caused by increased wind chill or reduce speed/windchill, but need more time to arrive at destination. Contemplating an earlier exit off the highway this morning, I chose to continue at max speed and numbness in order to arrive more quickly in front of my office space heater. The idea of being uncomfortable a minute longer than necessary, whether mildly or seriously uncomfortable, seemed a nugatory consideration. Someone really should commission a study and let me know.

I will also share some other discoveries:
A bike with a windshield is warmer than a bike without,
A car in need of an oil change is warmer than a bike with a windshield.
Drumming frostbitten fingers on your grips to increase circulation hurts.
Chaps increase comfort against wind, etc, except where they don't cover.
Legs serve to funnel cold air directly to said unprotected area.
A bike's engine gives off more heat in warm weather than in cold, thus you will not be able to warm your hands at stop lights in the winter, but you can roast marshmallows in the summer.
And, any awe or mystique parking lot bystanders may have upon seeing you riding your bike is immediately quashed if cold muscles and frozen joints cause you to walk funny after dismounting.

Well, I can only hope that we'll get into the 'low 40's' today for the ride home. Let the lessons continue!

Let the Madness Begin!

Ok, so the Iron Butt Association isn't only about how far and how fast.   There's also a Master Traveler pin to be had that represents having traveled to at least 50 national parks in at least 25 states/provinces in less than a year.  Ok, so that's a measure of how far, how fast, but you're missing the point.  This one actually encourages stopping to smell the flowers.  Ok, it *allows* for smellage. There are some wonderful stories of Travelers before me and the attempts to balance the thrill of the race, the desire to best a friend and the discovery of what you might actually gain if you stop to take in the sites.

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a tad competitive.  I also have a short attention span.   I'm hoping that between these two chemically treatable traits, I can successfully fill my book with enough colorful cancellation stamps to join the ranks of the insane and become a member of the Iron Butt Association.  There's also the Saddle Sore 1k, which will give me another shot at membership this year, but that one's not planned yet, so we'll just have to see...

So, to kick off my commitment, I stopped by a National Site to pick up my Passport To Your National Parks book to make it official.  I intend on becoming a Master Traveler.  There still remains the question of whether I'll go above and beyond for the MT Silver, but that can be decided along the way.  MT Silver includes parks in Maine, Florida, Washington and California.  There's also the MT Gold, but you have to go above a certain parallel in Alaska and find a national landmark and I'm just not as competitive as I am cold-averse.

There happened to be a 1997 Intruder in the parking lot at the Visitor's Center.  I got to chat with the owner while I made my purchase and he pointed me to the stamping station.  It was too cold to ride today, though, so I'll go back for the stamp (and maybe the tour) when the weather warms up and I can do it on two wheels.