Motorcycle trips can be a wonderful experience for any rider especially if that trip involves beautiful scenery, a great route with perfect roads, and perfect weather. They can also become a nightmare if you find yourself to be improperly equipped and unprepared to handle any type of weather situation that may occur. One of my favorite trips took place in Tennessee and extended southeast to western North Carolina. Throughout this trip I was able to see some of the most beautiful countryside that Tennessee and North Carolina have to offer. The mountains and rolling rocky landscape all seemed so surreal to me when comparing them to the primarily flat agricultural landscape that exists in the upper Midwestern state of Wisconsin.
The days started out cool and crisp and I found myself doubting that I had dressed appropriately as I felt the chill of the morning air run through me. My long sleeve shirt and light neoprene jacket combo didn’t quite seem to be doing the trick. The shorty motorcycle helmet I was wearing also proved inadequate as the cool air whipped past my neck and ears, contributing to the chill that was flowing through my body. I had packed my full face motorcycle helmet, but it was strapped to the luggage rack on the back of my motorcycle, and there wouldn’t be a stop for quite some time. Just when I thought I would have to pull over on my own to switch helmets, and possibly throw on a heavier jacket, the coolness seemed to subside and the warm air would start to flow in. Finally, I began to feel relief from the coolness that the morning had brought on. I had learned an important lesson about the mornings in this type of landscape, and that is that you should not dress based on the temperature that is forecasted because the low lying areas surrounding the mountains tend to be much cooler. Perhaps the right thing to do would have been to start out the morning trip wearing a heavier jacket and a full face helmet, or at least a heavier jacket and maybe a face mask to accompany the half helmet.
We continued on our journey up and around and through the massive hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway, twisting and turning every couple hundred feet, or so it seemed. I was not used to this type of riding since the roads traveled closer to home consist primarily of a straight stretch and then a corner which brings you around the backside of a cornfield to yet another straight stretch. I was mesmerized by the cliffs and bluffs and I sometimes found myself drifting to the side of the road as a gazed out over the hillsides. As we descended down toward the bottom of the Parkway I could see off in the distance a group of dark storm clouds. It was at that point I realized that I had forgotten to pack my rain gear when we left camp that morning and I could be in for a good soaking. Luckily, the clouds had moved off before we reached them and we were saved from having to ride in the rain and possibly delay our trip in order to take shelter from bad weather. I realized that from then on it would be best to leave my rain gear in the saddlebag where it belongs.
We put on over 1100 miles during the trip to Tennessee and it proved to be one of my most enjoyable trips. I was able to see some of the most beautiful country that the eastern United States has to offer. I also had the privilege of enjoying the company of some great fellow riders throughout the entire journey, and I took home some valuable lessons about being prepared for a motorcycle trip. One of the most important lessons I learned is that you can never be too prepared and you should always consider every possibility when it comes to riding your motorcycle. Always take a few moments to make sure you have everything you need for the ride that day. Consider whether or not you have the right equipment, for example, a full face helmet or a half helmet. If you’re going to be traveling in cooler temperatures, a full face helmet will offer more protection from the wind and cold air. If there is any rain in the forecast, make sure you have your rain gear packed. Taking these few precautionary steps will help to make your next trip, wherever that may be a much more enjoyable one.
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