The Rascal Diaries: 6/21/14 Rascal Meets the Rain

A sunrise at 5 that only a solstice can manage brought us onto Parvins Mill Road. A southerly front pushed us north as we crossed the Commodore Barry into the West. For hours we rode the edge of the front - dark clouds to the south, blue sky north. Teasing us, the weather pulled us under an overpass to finally submit to rain suits. Heavy rain forced us to commit to a rest stop in mid Pennsylvania.

The goddess of rest stops (Ms. Starbucks) warmed and relaxed us. Soon, other bikers dribbled in to escape the weather. Together we reminisced about our worst encounters with Mother Nature and how proud we were to have survived to tell the story. Most of the riders were on long distance trips. We are not alone in our passion and every year there are more seasoned travelers with their own stories.

A break in the rain shot us out the door and back on the PA Turnpike. Tired of tolls, we headed onto route 70 into West Virginia and a real rest stop with tables for our first picnic. The sounds of idling tractor trailers was soften by a great Amarone we brought to kick off our journey.

For the rest of the day, clouds ripe with rain hovered over but never opened. We rode dry into Ohio and began to feel the effects of 12 hours in the saddle. Just outside of Buckeye Lake we turned into our hotel. Recommendations for a " happenin' place" down the road landed us at the crossroads of route 40 and 13. A bikers "paradise", riders circle the 12 mile lake trying to hit every bar in one day. There we sat dining "al fresco", watching every form of vehicle ever made, gun their engines as they rode through the intersection over and over again. I have heard that winters are harsh in Ohio!

Tomorrow .....well who knows. It will be another adventure for sure.