Is it raining yet

Last year I made one helluva run down into Mexico..posted it on the
newsgroup, as I recall..That was the one that got me caught in those
beautiful mountains between Zacatecas and Guadalajara.. Sheesh, what a ride
that was..

Anyway, a couple of my good neighbors saw me coming back into the park,
after my little airing out ride yesterday.. After several weeks of being
idle, they'd all made bets about whether the Green One was going to need
lots of attention before it hit the road, again..

Well.. one of those guys mentioned that it was a lucky thing I'd got out
before the rain hit today.. hmmm.. They've been forecasting and talking rain
for several weeks, now.. who the hell knows..

The conversation then digressed to the Mexico run, last year.. Someone
suggested that it was my own damn fault, getting caught in that storm like
that.. Poor weather planning, they said.. You know.. they were exactly
right.. Then too, in retrospect, I never have paid that much attention to
weather projection for a trip.. If it is too damn cold to ride, I've been
known to delay a trip.. If I got caught on the road and a blue norther got
me, I'd compensate, somehow..

That's about the kind of situation I was in on that Mexico run.. Going south
from Zacatecas, about the time I hit those beautiful mountains, the weather
cut loose with a vengeance.. It got dark as pitch, the wind started kicking
up real bad and the light show was something to behold.. I compensated
somewhat by slowing down a little.. Thunder crashed and seemed to roll along
with me, while me and that old Green Vulcan made our way toward
Guadalajara.. The highway was slick as snot and visibility was risky..

Then I noticed how dark it was .. The electricity grid had shut down for
that entire area of Jalisco (that's the state I was in) The first Pemex
station was on the north side of a little Pueblo (town) named Jalpa
(pronounced Halpa) That Pemex station was dark.. no power.. Guess what.. no
power, no gas.. those pumps don't do gas unless they got juice.. Holding my
breath and crossing my fingers, hoping they'd have power on the other side
of town, I went on..

Knowing that this would be my last chance, I pulled into the only Pemex left
in Jalpa .. Either stay for the night, waiting or be stranded on the
highway.. There were a couple of guys still working in the station and they
were curious about some crazy Gringo who'd even ride a motorcycle in the
kind of storm that was raging.. Hey.. what could I say.. we chatted for a
bit and one of them came out with a siphoning hose, filled up a gas can from
his pickup and filled up the Vulcan.. Even though they'd tried to persuade
me to abandon the road for the night, I pulled back out, after I saw a big
rig with lights like a Christmas tree..Drivers in three of those big rigs,
realized what I was doing and they kind of clustered around me, to escort me
through those dangerous curves in the mountains..

We made it on into Guadalajara outskirts, power on, etc. and I pulled into
the first Pemex that was lit up..Jeez.. what a ride, what a storm and I was
soaked, with two boots full of water..

Well.. after all that, I'm sitting here this morning, the Green One is on
the patio, still covered and I'm debating with myself about whether to air
it out again, today.. The talking weather heads are predicting rain,
vaguely.. Maybe .. Maybe Not.. Ain't life a bitch.. Regards..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

light sprinkle in Lipan about 10am, then nothing but sunny skies here.
we really could use some rain.

r.

 

: Last year I made one helluva run down into Mexico..posted it on the
: newsgroup, as I recall..That was the one that got me caught in those
: beautiful mountains between Zacatecas and Guadalajara.. Sheesh, what a ride
: that was..

I had an experience with weather in Mexico, myself. The rain didn't bother me
near as much as what the rain did after it hit the ground.

I think I posted the story here, but I can't remember. If anyone is
interested, it's here (in 3 parts):

<http://groups.google.com/group/rec....rge+pollard+ensenada&rnum=2#8740c80d9d77aab9>
or <http://tinyurl.com/8fwex>

<http://groups.google.com/group/rec....rge+pollard+ensenada&rnum=3#6d3662c0a5328623>
or <http://tinyurl.com/7a7jq>

<http://groups.google.com/group/rec....rge+pollard+ensenada&rnum=1#b1f28d778855b329>
or <http://tinyurl.com/c9bqb>


: Anyway, a couple of my good neighbors saw me coming back into the park,
: after my little airing out ride yesterday.. After several weeks of being
: idle, they'd all made bets about whether the Green One was going to need
: lots of attention before it hit the road, again..

: Well.. one of those guys mentioned that it was a lucky thing I'd got out
: before the rain hit today.. hmmm.. They've been forecasting and talking rain
: for several weeks, now.. who the hell knows..

Been damn dry in North Texas, and down in Austin as well.

: The conversation then digressed to the Mexico run, last year.. Someone
: suggested that it was my own damn fault, getting caught in that storm like
: that.. Poor weather planning, they said.. You know.. they were exactly
: right.. Then too, in retrospect, I never have paid that much attention to
: weather projection for a trip.. If it is too damn cold to ride, I've been
: known to delay a trip.. If I got caught on the road and a blue norther got
: me, I'd compensate, somehow..

If you want to get somewhere, you have to take the weather as it comes. (Today
I crossed Vail Pass in a blizzard just before it was closed for a couple of
hours to clear all the wrecks. I was in my truck.)

If I'm just on a day ride, I usually won't start a ride in the rain, but if it
hits me while I'm out and about, oh well.

: That's about the kind of situation I was in on that Mexico run.. Going south
: from Zacatecas, about the time I hit those beautiful mountains, the weather
: cut loose with a vengeance.. It got dark as pitch, the wind started kicking
: up real bad and the light show was something to behold.. I compensated
: somewhat by slowing down a little.. Thunder crashed and seemed to roll along
: with me, while me and that old Green Vulcan made our way toward
: Guadalajara.. The highway was slick as snot and visibility was risky..

: Then I noticed how dark it was .. The electricity grid had shut down for
: that entire area of Jalisco (that's the state I was in) The first Pemex
: station was on the north side of a little Pueblo (town) named Jalpa
: (pronounced Halpa) That Pemex station was dark.. no power.. Guess what.. no
: power, no gas.. those pumps don't do gas unless they got juice.. Holding my
: breath and crossing my fingers, hoping they'd have power on the other side
: of town, I went on..

: Knowing that this would be my last chance, I pulled into the only Pemex left
: in Jalpa .. Either stay for the night, waiting or be stranded on the
: highway.. There were a couple of guys still working in the station and they
: were curious about some crazy Gringo who'd even ride a motorcycle in the
: kind of storm that was raging.. Hey.. what could I say.. we chatted for a
: bit and one of them came out with a siphoning hose, filled up a gas can from
: his pickup and filled up the Vulcan.. Even though they'd tried to persuade
: me to abandon the road for the night, I pulled back out, after I saw a big
: rig with lights like a Christmas tree..Drivers in three of those big rigs,
: realized what I was doing and they kind of clustered around me, to escort me
: through those dangerous curves in the mountains..

The kindness of strangers is always amazing to me.

: We made it on into Guadalajara outskirts, power on, etc. and I pulled into
: the first Pemex that was lit up..Jeez.. what a ride, what a storm and I was
: soaked, with two boots full of water..

That's the ride you remember, not the ones that everything goes great on. As a
friend says, "What doesn't kill me, makes for a good story."

: Well.. after all that, I'm sitting here this morning, the Green One is on
: the patio, still covered and I'm debating with myself about whether to air
: it out again, today.. The talking weather heads are predicting rain,
: vaguely.. Maybe .. Maybe Not.. Ain't life a bitch.. Regards..

Well, either way, hope you get in more riding days soon, Bill.

 

Thanks a heap.. George.. Would you believe that this messy stuff cleared and
it got real pretty, well.. halfway pretty.. By that time, I just said "to
heck with it" .. and I'll wait'll tomorrow.. I remember that post of yours
about the ride in Mexico.. That was one of your better reports as I recall..
btw.. What did you think about my friend Waco.. Ain't he a dandy ? That
lil'ol'Mouse is a perfect match for him, but she's sure got her hands full
to house break him.. LOL... Regards, George..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

<mumble.. mumble> I ain't gettin' outta here while it is threatening to
rain on me.. cheeyit.. Dammit.. trees and motorcycles don't mix.. I thought
we went over that part, real careful.. Damn.. those old toes hurt when you
**** 'em up, don't thery ? When are you boys headed up this way ? Take
care, JailCall..

Bill Walker
Irving

 

: Thanks a heap.. George.. Would you believe that this messy stuff cleared and
: it got real pretty, well.. halfway pretty.. By that time, I just said "to
: heck with it" .. and I'll wait'll tomorrow.. I remember that post of yours
: about the ride in Mexico.. That was one of your better reports as I recall..
: btw.. What did you think about my friend Waco.. Ain't he a dandy ? That
: lil'ol'Mouse is a perfect match for him, but she's sure got her hands full
: to house break him.. LOL... Regards, George..

Waco was in the front of the line when they handed out big, wasn't he? It was
sure nice to meet him and Mouse, I wish I had had more time to spend talking to
them. I'm sure I'll see them again.

BTW, I'm in Reno, Nevada tonight. I went out to eat, and noticed a couple of
Reno motorcycle cops riding along. The temperature here is 32 degrees. Those
guys must love their jobs.

 

<wide grin> Noticed that big sucker, didn't you ? Whew.. yup..Waco comes
in the "large" size, alright.. You can pretty well count on seeing him
again.. He's damn sure good company to ride with, that's for sure..

Holy fish fry, George.. Reno.. damn.. That's a fair piece from the Gulf
Coast area, ain't it.? That's sure pretty country, you're in.. If you
manage to make a few of the casinos, please make sure those guys are taking
care of all the money I've left up there, OK.. lol.. Stay alert, George ..
that is dang sure deer country up there and those are the big boys. Regards

Bill Walker
Irving