FHP & GREAT SMOKY NATIONAL PARK RIDE.
Ugh! Cold can be nice - sometimes, creating a juxtaposition to the hot, short summer that I so look forward to.
My African genes are not designed for this kind of climate.
I miss the heat, but not the unending blistering heat of Africa and Texas that I have no doubt forgotten about already.
My last visit to Africa in 2017 made me appreciate the cooler temperatures of North East Ohio.
I hate to say this, but I looked forward to returning to the cooler/colder weather conditions here. Although I must admit that in the heat of the days and the much warmer ocean temperatures, the beach time I enjoyed was second to none!
One thing I must say though, is the fact that the colder weather, although it restricts and limits my riding time on an annual basis, makes me really look forward and anticipate the advent of warmer weather that ushers in my riding season for each year.
It makes me dream of the coming riding season, it makes me dream and plan for the upcoming riding season and more importantly helps to make the long cold season feel somehow shorter by keeping my mind on what is yet to come that I plan.
Mon. April 8th, 2019.
Spring season this year arrived (officially) on March 20th.
It had been another long and cold winter season, but admittedly noticeably little snow except for one weekend when we accumulated over 2 feet of snow - the weekend of January 21st.
Going forward, the weather just stayed cold - below freezing and hovered around single digit (Fahrenheit) temps. making the snow icy and crusty, causing it to lay around without melting for what seemed like forever!
There was just no melting taking place. So this heightened my anxiety when we headed into mid-March.
Even with the end of March in sight, the overnight temperatures just would not climb. They stayed well below freezing at worst and just below freezing at best.
Now I started to get moody and depressed.
Anyway, last Saturday, the 6th of April, daytime and overnight temperatures made for an unusually favorable day - weather-wise.
Temperatures spiked, making for a “bonus riding day”
Although I have ridden in temperatures as low as 37’F (2.7’C) before, 30 minutes in 40’F (4’C) is about my limit for commuting.
On this day, the weather forecast called for a daytime high of 66’F (19’C) and an overnight low of 55’F (12.7’C).
Needless to mention the ST “came to life” after her winter hibernation and I waited no more!
Saturday 11th May, 2019.
The weather has still been cold, steadily below 45’F (7’C) in the overnight hours, with still relatively cold and wet days with lots of steady rain, drizzle and fog. (result of warm and cold winds clashing).
The cold weather just does not seem to want to “break”.
It’s been “hit and miss” for the weather forecasters.
They’ve missed their forecasts more often than not, to the point where I cannot rely on their forecasts at this time.
Anyway, at this point, the bike is ready for the next/upcoming trip that I’ve decided to make to Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
Over this past winter I spent a lot of time reading and researching places and roads to seek in this area for this ride.
Primarily I wanted to ride the length of The Blue Ridge Parkway.
5 years ago due to personal time constraints, I forewent it knowing very well that I would have to dedicate a lot of riding time to really get to experience and enjoy it, promising myself that I would be back one day to “do it”.
So with decisions and plans all made and things in order, this trip is to be made starting in 4 days from now.