Rain | Peaches Prattlings

{August 27, 2026} Day 4: 298.7 Miles, 1 Rainstorm, We made it!

It’s Day 4, we’re heading from La Junta, CO to Durango, CO for the ‘start’ of the trip! I know that might sound a little odd, but the first four days was to get us to a destination, kind of like the back end of the trip. Durango is where we’re going to start finding those roads that have the twists and turns, the roads that will challenge us, maybe because of a fear of heights, maybe having to execute technial riding skills, speed, you name it, whatever it is to you, it’s an adventure.

We were at a Hampton Inn, they always have a decent breakfast, meet at the bikes at 7a, load up, have breakfast, and KSU between 730a and 8am. I try to take pics of the bikes each morning, sometimes the sun hits the bikes just right, don’t you agree?! And if angle it just right, you can’t see the dirt! ha ha! One of the things we do, not every day, is try to clean off the bikes, at least get the bugs off the windshield/windscreen!

Get on the bikes, we have about 300 miles to go, a short day. I know, some people are thinking, 300 miles on a bike, no thanks, I don’t even want to go 300 miles in a car! fair point, but we’ve got a goal! I don’t know if I already said, but some days are going to be just about 200 miles, some days 300, some 400-500 miles. The crazier part, some of the days are going to be anywhere from 4 to 6 to 8, 10, even 12 hours. You read that right! We may only go 350 miles, but it will likely take more than 8 hours, another day might be 200 miles and take 5 hours, it all depends on the road, how technical it is, the twists, turns, switch backs involved, that’s one of the great things about being on a motorcycle!

I also just realized you might not know some motorcycle terminology! Switchbacks are sharp, zig-zagging u-turns or hairpin corners, I think it’s exactly what you’re thinking it is after that! usually on mountain roads and they take concentration, skill, and technical knowledge and ability. You don’t start off knowing how to do it, someone might tell you how to do it, you learn as you go, sometimes it’s instinct and you just know what to do, you do get there in the end. The most important thing I was ever taught and it’s a mantra I use sometimes “Trust the bike, trust the bike.” It doesn’t get any more straight than that. The bike is going where you point it, and similar to skiing, it goes where you’re looking! When you’re behind the wheel of a car, do you trust the car? You bet you do, trust the bike! The really funny thing, and PSM will tell you… I love the switchbacks and hairpin turns, let me loose on those mountain roads…put me on my own driveway or in a gas station parking lot and I am scared out of my mind to make a u-turn! What’s easy is hard to me and what’s hard is easy to me! Go figure!

Moving on…We have to get to Durango, CO this afternoon! Since we were there a few years ago, DJH and I knew where we were going for dinner! There were some great roads and we were making good time, we pulled into the last stop for gas before we got to Durango and what happened… the sky opened up. Actually, it had started to rain a little just before we got to the gas station, unfortunately, there wasn’t a place for us to stop and put on rain gear. So… we got gas, didn’t think it was going to be too bad, so just put on our rain jackets, to be honest, my upper half wasn’t too wet, my legs were already wet, I did not want to have to put on my rain pants over my wet pants, and we weren’t that far from the hotel, so…you can guess what happened.

Now, MB had been having a few issues with his bike that day and was concerned, the good thing was that we were heading to Durango and we were very familiar with Durango Harley Davidson. When we did our 3-week trip in 2023, some of the folks had been riding for a few weeks so they scheduled a service at the dealership. I had called earlier to see if they might be able to help MB out, and they were nice enough to try to fit him in to at least look at the bike, and VGT thought he might need a tire, lucky we were heading in that direction!

As we were riding, the rain came down harder and harder, always fun! So… needless to say, we were a little drippy when we got there. Take a look at my waterproof riding boots! Yeah… I didn’t bring my waterproof socks because I didn’t think I needed them since I had these waterproof boots.

While MB and VGT were working with the service team, DJH and I headed to the Junction Hotel & Hostel. We stayed in the hotel part, as youthful as I feel, I’m happy sharing a room with just my husband and a friend and no bunk beds, thanks! We unloaded the bikes, rung out our clothes, hung everything to hopefully dry by the morning, and took showers to warm up and dry off! While I called PSM, DJH called home to talk to the family.

When VGT got to the hotel, we reconvened, I ordered an Uber to take us to Steamworks Brewing Company. DJH, PSM, and I had been there in 2023, we were looking forward to going again! MB wasn’t back from the dealership yet, we were waiting on him. We didn’t have a reservation, put our names on the list and hoped to get a table, the place was jam packed for a Thursday! I struck up a conversation with a woman at the bar, who had her name on the reservation list and said we could take their spots at the bar when their name came up, score!

By the time MB showed up, it wasn’t great news, unfortunately, there were a few issues, I wish I could remember exactly what they were, but the bottom was…his bike was staying in Durango until it was fixed and MB was going home tomorrow. Definitely not happy news and not what we were hoping for. He didn’t know when the bike would be done, so he wouldn’t be able to ship his bike to one of our stops, so… he arranged for the bike to be shipped home when it was done and he booked a flight back to Boston for the next day. Bummer.

We squeezed in, sat down, relaxed, ordered food and drinks, I ordered an amaretto on the rocks, and if you know me, you know I’m not really a drinker, I might have one or two a year, and it takes me several hours to finish one! I really only drink when I’m pretending to be an adult! lol We chatted with the people to our left and the people to our right. Everyone we talked to couldn’t believe the trip we were about to do, or that we had ridden our bikes from MA and PA! By the time we were ready to head back to the hotel, MB’s spirits were lifted a little, as much as we could under the circumstances.

We also got a recommendation for breakfast, the Durango Diner, and ordering The Cure is a must! We looked it up and after DJH read what it was, he went to sleep saying “The Cure”, dreamt “The Cure”, and woke up saying “The Cure”. Guess where we’re going to breakfast! Uber back to the hotel, meet at the bikes at 7a, head to breakfast, then hit the road!

Thinking I’m going to leave the post here today, can’t wait to tell you about tomorrow’s ride from Durango, CO to Grand Junction, CO, via the Million Dollar Highway and Silverton, CO! So much to tell and what a ride!

Day 4: 298.7 miles, sunny skies, got warm fast, rain storm, rain in my boots. Tomorrow…Grand Junction!

{August 18, 2024} Mother Nature, what’s up?!

Alarm was set, yes, I know, it’s Sunday JJ, why?! Well, I’ll tell you…

The alarm was set for 7a, I got the dogs up and fed, I didn’t have enough time to take them for a walk, I’m sorry to say, and the weather later, didn’t encourage an evening walk either. Got them fed and settled in the crate, I got dressed, jumped in Annie, the beetle bug, and headed out, got about half a block and realized I didn’t have my phone, what?! Turned around, went back, got my phone, then back on the road.

Top on the car was down, it started sprinkling, but I didn’t get wet, it’s the magic of a convertible! I made it to the Lebanon Valley Motorcycle Club clubhouse on time, about 750a. There was a ride today and that meant breakfast and lunch and I was taking orders for breakfast, second time I’ve done it. They start serving breakfast at 8am, you need to be there before 8 to get set up. I wasn’t cooking, so I didn’t have to prep food, I just had to make sure the till, or money drawer, was open and had money in it, I had to make sure I had order slips, a highlighter, and a pen. I also had to know what the specials were, good thing they were on the board!

People started coming in about 8am, not many, the bigger rush was about 930a. I was going to ride today, but yesterday, the weather app said 68% chance of rain, then this morning, it said 15%, but I looked at the sky and nope, not taking a chance! I messed a few orders up, but then I got the swing of things again and I was good to go!

It’s fun taking orders, you get to hang with other members in the kitchen, get to know them better, get to know the members coming up to place orders, a bunch of them know me, well, know us, of course, we’re some of the newbies, so haven’t been around that long, when you join, people remember you, I’m getting there! Turns out, people have their own coffee mugs in the stack! I have a lot to learn!

Breakfast is decent and reasonable. They have set orders, you just have to ask particulars, like how do you want your eggs cooked, what type of meat, toast, do you want the special? The special today was 2 peach pancakes, eggs, and meat for $8.00, that is a good deal to me! Everything is made fresh to order and comes out relatively quickly. All the money goes back to the club.

I’m glad I didn’t ride, it was ok where we were, but some areas, deluge! Confident in my decision! Breakfast is usually done with they run out of things, like the pancakes. So…I helped a little with the cleanup and set up for lunch, said my goodbyes and headed out.

I went to CVS to pick up a prescription, then the grocery store for some supplies, then back home. I made myself a very good breakfast burrito and then as I was taking care of stuff and all of a sudden the sky opened up… yup, there it was. So I went into the living room, got onto one of the dog beds and the two fur beasts curled up with me. I think I’ve told you, Ruby does not like storms, she is freaked out by thunder, she can hear it from a few miles away! I thought my hearing was good!

The rain came down in sheets and buckets on and off for the rest of the evening. I was going to go to a movie, but I did not feel like getting out in that! So, the girls and I hung out together and now I’m talking to you.

Not an exciting day, but a good day. And now… I bid you g’night!

{June 6, 2024} Our next great adventure…open road style!

It’s been two weeks, why wouldn’t we go on a new adventure?! This time…open road style means…vroom vroom, motorcycle style!

This trip has been in the works for some time. Last year, while we were on the trip out west, we all started talking about next year’s trip, and we ketpt coming back to Canada. Keep talking and visualizing, and here we are!

We packed last night, yup, before we were leaving! ha ha. Since we were packed, easy to get out about 4p. PSM got home a little after 3p, I was still getting some work done, and just before 4p, took my bags out to the barn, strapped my bag to the back of my bike, Eunice, the 2022 Super Cheif Limited and we were good to go!

Paul was taking the Challenger, he calls it Challenger, sounds about right!

The big reason we wanted to leave around 4p was the weather, it rained last night, it rained this morning, and it’s going to rain this afternoon, potential, it’s going to rain this evening. It did…

We were going along, when we started out, it was 84 out, then it got up to 88. It was toasty, but…PSM routed us a great…well, route, that would take us away from a lot of highways and more importantly…away from Connecticut, which, I believe I’ve said this, it’s a lovely state, but the traffic is awful!

So…we realized he routed us for no traffic, but into the rain. If we had stuck with traffic, no rain… go figure! We got almost 100 miles and pulled into a rest stop, stretched our legs, checked the weather, and most importantly…put on our rain gear! Good thing we did, it started raining. Now, one of the guys in we ride with says…’put on the rain gear…no rain’, that didn’t quite work!

I’m just a wee bit short for this bike, I need a little bit of a heel or platform so I am flat footed when I come to a stop, unlike Charlene, my Scout, where I can wear my Converse sneakers. I found a pair at a Walmart near Sturgis, SD when we were there two years ago, I fought getting them, but I actually like them. They used to be a sandy/tan color, now…after almost 3 years of riding in them, through all sorts of weather, not so much. the real issue with these boots…rubber soles, ok, the rest…canvas. Can you guess what happened in the first few minutes of riding in the rain? Yup… I’m walking with a puddle in my shoe…fun!

We thought we would pull into a gas station, we were both at about half a tank, and get some respite from the rain. Couldn’t find a gas station and it was coming down harder, so Starbucks it is. We got some food, tried to dry off a little, as much as we could. We watched the rain come down hard, then let up, then come down hard, then let up. When it had let up enough, the sun broket hrough the clouds, really?

We decided it had cleared up enough to start riding again, but we weren’t taking off the rain gear, not taking chances, and it’s raining all over the PA/NY region. As we were riding, the sun was coming out, it was nice, but I started getting a little chilly, very glad for my rain gear, but brrr…

We ended up stopping at another rest area to check the weather one more time and take a bio break. At this point, the sky looked like it was clearning up, we were even chasing a few rainbows! I’m sorry i couldn’t take a pic whilewe were riding, they were bright and one of them had a friend, right next to it!

PSM said if we keep to a slower speed, we might be able to stay behind the rain, as well as the wetter the road, the more hazardous conditions, hydroplaning and all, which as you can imagine, would be bad!

Were we lucky? Nope, not a chance, why would we be? ha ha. I was in the lead at this point and kept it to about 55/60, if I got up to 65, I would slow it back down. When we left the rest stop it was about 8p, we had booked a hotel about an hours ride from where we were, we just needed to get there and crash for the night.

We were doing great, sky was clear, water from the road, but so far so good, and keeping that speed. Alas…the rain started again, and then it started getting dark, and darker, and darker, and now we’re riding in the rain, my windsheild, which as you may or may not know, on a motorcycle does not have wipers like a car! and why hasn’t someone figured this one out?! ha ha. I only think about this when it’s raining!

So… my windsheild is very rainy, my goggles are very rainy, and it is dark! A few times, I actually had to lean to the right to see the road! This was so much fun! lol. I’m glad I had my headphones on, that helped. Finally, I look in my mirror and see PSM has his signal on, I also saw the sign for the hotel near the exit.

We pull off the highway and ride for what seems like forever, only about a mile maybe, but…dark and rainy, great combination! We finally pull into the hotel, under the entrance, a nice guy who works for the hotel told us we could park there for the night, to avoid the on the bikes. Every little bit helps!

We got into the room and stripped everything off! Everything that was wet went on the heater, and we cranked that sucker up! We changed into shorts and sandles/slippahs, and headed down to the bar for a much needed drink! PSM had a Woodford Reserve bourbon, and I had Disorono, an amaretto, on the rocks. I have one a few times a year, when I want to pretend to be a grown-up. I have yet to finish one, but I like it because it’s a sweet liqueur.

After we closed the bar down, we headed back to the room so I could talk to you and we could crash.

Tomorrow…is the official start of our trip. That’s what PSM said, I’m good with that! So…I say bon nuit to you and sign off for the night, tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and bright and hot, I’m planning on drying off as we ride!

G’night!

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