END OF THE RIDING SEASON

[Rocky_imp]

My riding season has come to an end. When I left home at 10AM this morning is was a balmy 10C/52F with 32KPH/20 MPH wind gusts. I was dressed in my usual layers of cold weather clothing and wore nylon winter mitts. A little clumsy, but they kept my hands warm until lunch time, when I could change to my leather insulated gauntlets. After lunch it climbed to a scorching 18C/64F.

I have about 100 back road maps that range from 1 to 1 1/2 hours of riding, and their reverse routes. Today I used several of the reverse routes. What a pleasant surprize. It was like riding completely new roads. Although I was in cruise mode, the reverse curves were a new challenge. Because a lot of the deciduous trees have already lost their leaves, there were views of previously unseen lakes and other scenery.

I do not usually ride on weekends to avoid the tourist traffic and dang motorcycles. This afternoon I spent a lot of time waving a passing bikes. I think every motorcyclist in the area realized this was our last mild day. Highs for the next week are in the 40sF with numerous days of rain.

I rode a long as I could, but dark skies, increasing winds, and the impending rain chased me home after only 286 kilometers/178miles. Had I been able to ride another 248 kilometers/154 miles, I would have made my 11,000 kilometer/6835 mile season average.

Overall it has been a pleasant summer, and I thoroughly enjoyed my new CB1100 EX. But unfortunately the time has come to put my summer toys away.

Yes, unfortunately, the season is almost over for me too.
We've been having amazingly mild weather for this time of year, but one of these days reality will hit and it will be over.
Probably next week I'll be thinking of mothballs