As I pack up for the next leg of my motorcycle journey I can’t help but think of the fun times and experiences I’ve already enjoyed. I started out by getting the bike from my pops because mine broke down, and my luck didn’t stop there. I came across family and friends of family who helped me out with various items: a tent, small flannel sleeping back, dry bags and a rain suit. The last two would prove itself most needed already in my short journey thus far.

I started my trip heading from the greater Cleveland area towards Toledo, here I got held up for a few days as I soon realized that the 2010 sticker wasn’t on the license plate. After a waiting a few days through the snail mail I finally got my sticker, and I was ready to go. They really need to find a way to email things like that, but I digress. I thought I was ready to go but the rain that morning had other plans. Once I saw some sunlight shining through I took my chance and headed out. I drove maybe 25 miles until the rain started up again so I pulled off and put a bandanna around my face and the rain jacket on. I thought that bugs smacking your face at 70 mph hurt- but rain- that is a different story. After getting back on the road I caught back up with the rain storm. Should have figured that one out myself, so I had to pull off again to put on the rain pants because my furry behind was getting wet. Trust me when I say that the ‘wet dog’ smell goes across all types of animals and it’s not a pretty thing.

I took off with all my rain gear on and ended up on the sunny side of things, which would have been OK if I didn’t have my leather jacket and rain gear on. Nevertheless, I didn’t want to keep stopping so I waited till I ran out of gas – 85 miles later! Driving down 75 S pass Dayton and Cincinnati, I was filled with smog and bad traffic. Kentucky was great but Indiana had other plans for me. I thought coming across the rain earlier was bad until I came across a massive thunderstorm. I had just passed through an overpass, where I regularly see motorcyclist rest under during heavy storms, but the next one wasn’t for 10+ miles, which was also my exit. Waiting on the side of the road did no good as I was getting poured on soaking wet even through I had my rain suit on. Just picture it: with one hand blocking my face and the other pushing the throttle I drove through where winds gnashed about pushing me to the other lane, as I tried to steady myself. Luckily once I hit my exit the storm died down a bit, although it was still raining and I was soaking wet.

Even in the pouring rain, I couldn’t help but smile at my exit sign Santa Claus to the left and Jasper (my destination) to the right. I would have taken a picture but I was afraid to take my electronics out of their dry bag. As I rode to Jasper I battled between having the wet bandanna stick to my face making it hard to breath or pulling it down and having the rain directly sting my fur. All was not lost though, and mother nature has her sense of humor for the moment. I pulled into my friend’s house and the rain stopped. I was here in little ol’ Jasper, where I can now proudly think of myself as a biker: someone who has endured the journey – and this is only my first stop. I have learned one valuable lesson though – ear plugs, my ears haven’t stopped ringing in the two days I’ve been here.

More about my stay in Jasper Indiana later… until then fling you laters.

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