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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

How To Take A Bath on a Harley...

One afternoon a couple of weeks ago I'm riding around in a small group of two.  Typical for Colorado weather--afternoon thundershowers to cool the day down.  In my area of town, there was the 20 minutes torrential downpour resulting in flash flooding and big pools of standing water.

Note 'big pools of standing water'.  On northbound Austin Bluffs, before Rangewood, the left lane typically gathers water.  Lots of water.  As I'm riding wing, I realize that the water is probably there and I should be proactive to 1). not ride in said pool of water since I need new tires, and 2). I do not want the water to be thrown at me resulting in the inevitable drenching that renders my vision absolutely useless.  Check traffic for a clear lane--I signal and move over.

Unfortunately, the leader isn't paying much attention nor realizes that the hazard is ahead.  No problem, I'm out of the way and I know that said leader is fully capable of handing said pool 'o water. 

Or so I think.

Said Harley Davidson Road King hits water about 45 miles per hour.  The arc of water it creates is of absolute beauty!  The fearless leader said he glanced in his rearview mirror to see if I was okay, only to find that I was not there.  No, I'm in the right hand side of the next lane watching a beautiful arc of water racing towards me. 

There's not much I can do except do a distance check to make sure there is no one too close, take a deep breath and shut my mouth. 

There was so much water that I was momentarily unable to see through my windshield.  Needless to say, I was soaked through and through--and in places that normally do not get wet while riding in a rainstorm.

Well, next time I will just have to be in the very far right lane. 

Either that or lead!

I think that bath earned me a dinner and a bike wash. Okay, fair enough.

Until the next time~

Keep the Shiny Side Up!

~The Rainbow Wahine

1 comment:

Cynthia Q. said...

your title caught my attention-great story!