01-14-2019, 02:31 AM
Back in the early 70s on a cool day in May two friends and I decided to go to Mosport Park, about 200 miles from home, to see the motorcycle races. It got so cold we were stuffing newspaper under our jeans and making wind breakers out of garbage bags to cover our ski jackets. We were frozen by the time we reached the hotel in Bowmanville near Mosport. I was supposed to visit a girl friend in Toronto, another 50 miles away, but decided to thaw out and sleep in the hotel instead.
The next day was pleasant so I went to Toronto and picked up the girlfriend. We spent the day watching the races. But just as we started back to Toronto it began to rain heavily. Neither of us had rain suits so it was a miserably cold and wet ride on a busy four-lane highway.
The next day it was cold and pouring rain. The makeshift garbage bag rain suit shredded just as I left Toronto. It did not take long before my ski jacket and jeans were soaking wet. By the time I reached home I was stiff and blue.
Had a bath in lukewarm water to start with, but added some hot water several times as I slowly thawed out. It took over an hour to reach a normal body temperature.
After that experience I bought a banana yellow rain suit, rubber gloves to slip over my leather ones, and a back pack for long rides.
The next day was pleasant so I went to Toronto and picked up the girlfriend. We spent the day watching the races. But just as we started back to Toronto it began to rain heavily. Neither of us had rain suits so it was a miserably cold and wet ride on a busy four-lane highway.
The next day it was cold and pouring rain. The makeshift garbage bag rain suit shredded just as I left Toronto. It did not take long before my ski jacket and jeans were soaking wet. By the time I reached home I was stiff and blue.
Had a bath in lukewarm water to start with, but added some hot water several times as I slowly thawed out. It took over an hour to reach a normal body temperature.
After that experience I bought a banana yellow rain suit, rubber gloves to slip over my leather ones, and a back pack for long rides.