Rides in bad weather...

Bob

Well-Known Member
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It was May 24, 1970, I was 19 and I'd been invited to visit some friends in Stephenville for the long weekend. I went on my BSA 500cc Royal Star ( internet pic above) It was my third bike, bought new, and had about 10,000 miles on it at that time.
I left Clarenville after work on Friday. Friends told me Stephenville was "...about seven or eight hours..." from Clarenville. And to call when I got there and they'd come find me. No prob. I threw a change of clothes in a knapsack and lashed my Black Diamond rubber gear on the rear as an after thought. ATGATT in those days was open face helmet, goggles, leather jacket, jeans, work boots and leather gloves.
I was stoked! Hadn't ridden west to Terra Nova Park until then. I gassed up in Gander and it started raining. It got a bit chilly so I'd stop now and then to warm my hands on the motor. By Benton it was dark and wet snowflakes were showing up in the headlights. I stopped to rubber up, warm my hands, top up the tank and have a smoke. By now I'd started to get 'a feeling' but was too stunned to know what that feeling was or what to do about it. That would take a few more rides.
Instead I tried to think ahead, I could gas up in Grand Falls but would I find gas open in Springdale or maybe Baie Verte Junction? What was after that? Could I make it fro Baie Verte Junction to Deer Lake on a tank? How far was that? I was working in a service station but never thought to bring a road map. Not like I was going to get lost...
I began to realize I was a little fuzzy on the geography though, and riding in wet snow at night was a little disorienting. The highway signs were getting snowed over and stopping to clear them off for a look was tricky as the bike kept slipping around. This was not what I'd expected as it had been warm all week. I wasn't really sure when the gas stations closed.
Well before Springdale I was riding on the shoulder in a couple inches of snow trying to average 30 mph. It was after 10:00pm, the snow hadn't let up, I was wet from neck to crotch and fingers to armpits. My teeth were chattering so hard my glasses were bouncing around. I didn't know anything about hypothermia. My goggles had iced up and were protecting my mouth and chin. I'd never seen a full face motorcycle helmet.
There wasn't any traffic or tire tracks but I could 'feel' the shoulder through the snow and it had more traction than the pavement. Plus the shoulder kept me from wandering all over the road which would be bad if something came along.
I don't know how long the cruiser was behind me as my hands were too cold to clean off the mirrors. He finally got my attention by pulling alongside me and lit up his roof. We both eased slowly to a stop and I kept the bike upright. I was informed that everything was closed up ahead but there might be a room at 'The Burntberry' which was "...not too far..." The officer wanted me to leave my bike on the side of the road and hop in the nice warm patrol car. I had visions of what a snowplow could do to the bike and convinced the officer I could ride on. He lead the way at about 30mph and I tried to ride in his tracks which were nice and deep and seemed to help the bike track a little better.
Thankfully there was no other traffic and I could concentrate on staying the right distance behind him as stopping suddenly was not going to happen. I didn't think we'd ever get to The Burntberry but we eventually did. My steel nosed work boots helped me keep her upright until I finally stopped in the parking lot.
The officer left with my humble thanks and solemn promise not to continue until the roads cleared because there was "... more snow higher up..."
I didn't break water until checkout the following morning, but by then my clothes were dry, the roads had clear wet black tracks between the slush ridges and my wallet was considerably lighter. Temps were in the fifties by Deer Lake and the roads were dry and it was warm and windy by Corner Brook. I called my friends from the Dhoon Lodge late afternoon where we commenced the weekend's entertainment.
Had a great visit, spent a couple hours on the runway at the base, took ride out around St. Georges and out to the Codroy Valley. Great trip and all new to me at that time. Had an excellent ride home that Monday.
Hope you'll post up if you've had a ride in bad weather.
 
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