Think It'll Rain...?

[DDT (12)]

Yep, most likely... and soon, too! At least that has been what we've been experiencing lately. Funny, this is our 'dry' time of year, but you'd never know it by... OK, not so much here in central Florida, but throughout the southeast mostly... it has been one round after another of falling moisture in rapid succession. Alas...

I'd finished my sad business in Wetumpka, so I let my mind entertain fantasies about returning to the west... Dang! Yet another round of rain for several days barreling down on dear ol' Dixie, and... I gave up and returned to 'home-base' to ride it out... again...

Following a week of reruns of 'Andy Griffith' and 'Gunsmoke' interspersed with other TV offerings from the archives of history, it appeared a wee crack in the cycle might be opening up... If I made haste and got a little lucky. I took off early one morning with high hopes, grand expectations, and a determination to generate some positive waves... It didn't work out...

I'd made it as far as Pascagoula, MS, again, only to discover that the wee window I'd thought I'd detected had turned out to be just another 'sucker hole'. Dadburnitall! Hunkering down in a motel, especially this close to home, had no appeal, so back home again. 

I did ride all backroads on that return trek, however, and it was a really pleasant way to spend a couple of days. Just east of Mobile, AL, and a little before Spanish Fort (first exit east of the tunnel), we made the slab departure and rode on Battleship Pkwy right past the USS Alabama... On to US Hwy 31, then north through Atmore, AL, and on to Brewton. US 29 to County RD 4, and east all the way to Geneva, AL, on SR 52.

I couldn't help noticing all the streams, rivers, etc. throughout this entire area were full to over-flowing their banks! Man, no drought or water shortages anywhere near here! Confirmation, I suppose, that it wasn't just my imagination after all... Can't rule-out Russian involvement, though, so maybe we can get a congressional investigation going on it.

A four-way stop sign produced a pause in our pace for more than the obvious reason... Yep, I'd pulled up to the stop sign and was about to put my foot down, when the car opposite me entered the intersection going straight... I saw an opportunity to just scoot on through... but... I didn't see the State Trooper also at that intersection... We'd barely made it fifty yards before he lit us up!

An older guy, and a very nice person too. I knew I was busted plain and simple, so I just smiled and prepared to accept my 'medicine'. Turned out I only received a warning, so... Not sure if it was sympathy for all my gray facial hair or what, but he gave me a break, and I was mighty relieved! I took it even easier the rest of the day!

I'd somehow managed to miss a turn someplace, so we wound-up in Dothan... Not a problem, of course, we just turned south there and made our way to Marianna, FL, for the night... In keeping with a celebration ritual often practiced by yours truly, I dined at a BBQ place that evening and put a suitable finish to a great day!

Only one more day, then we'd be back to spending time in that danged ol' recliner and... you know... napping, nodding, and avoiding coverage of the latest outrage drama on the regular channels... We did make the most of that last day, however, and we stayed on back roads all the way to... my other recent routine...

DDT

[Rams]

Bruce,
For several reasons, I follow the Wx forecast closely from day to day and monitor the ten day forecast (even though, it's always very iffy.   My home renovation and construction has come to a stand still due to all of this precipitation.   In that there isn't anything I can do about it, I've decided to take action by hosting the Hattiesburg Cycle Wash event.

All (especially you) are invited to participate.   All you have to do is show up on your bike and you can use my property and my abundance of water to wash your bike for as long as you and Mother Nature cooperate.   

Based on the ten day forecast, you will have ample opportunity to Git R Done.
(This is a limited time offer).   

Rams   

[DDT (12)]

Bruce,
For several reasons, I follow the Wx forecast closely from day to day and monitor the ten day forecast (even though, it's always very iffy.   My home renovation and construction has come to a stand still due to all of this precipitation.   In that there isn't anything I can do about it, I've decided to take action by hosting the Hattiesburg Cycle Wash event.

All (especially you) are invited to participate.   All you have to do is show up on your bike and you can use my property and my abundance of water to wash your bike for as long as you and Mother Nature cooperate.   

Based on the ten day forecast, you will have ample opportunity to Git R Done.
(This is a limited time offer).   

Rams   

Ron,

WOW! A for real bike wash opportunity! Not something I've taken advantage of much for ALI throughout our long association... and some, apparently, have noticed... Funny about that... I posted on the Florida Board about a BBQ place I visited the other day, and the next thing I knew, an RTE for this coming Saturday was unfolding! Now, this ain't usual at all... but... I have been entertaining notions of actually giving our girl a little bath beforehand! Yep, it's true... However, I haven't actually done the deed yet, so... who knows... We'll see... Thanks for the offer, ol' bud!

DDT

[John Schmidt]

Well Bruce, it appears the lack of bike cleanliness is another thing we have in common. In years past I used to joke about fining a small rain shower to ride through on my way home, thereby removing the bike wash from my duty list. Last time I looked at the old girl she's in need of a good rain storm.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I'm sick of the rain my yard is water logged rotten and the field line is causing issues . Stay safe Bruce my struggle here is real 

[hubcapsc]

I'm sick of the rain my yard is water logged rotten and the field line is causing issues . Stay safe Bruce my struggle here is real 

I got done with my wintertime plumbing last Friday... it
didn't do me any good to spend three days in the crawlspace
when I already had a cold, though...



-Mike

[Jess from VA]

The rain is not stopping up here either, just days and days without end. (beats hell out of snow)

I grew up boating, but traded for motorcycles.  I could be boating in my backyard these days.

I dug a trench across the bottom of my yard last year to help with drainage;  I could stock the sumbich with fish this winter.  

Bless the men who invented sump pumps, and electricity.  Boating in my basement would suck.  

Which brings me to a big question; why in tarnation did they even build basements around here anyway?  
 
It was probably a big long-range plumber conspiracy.

On the upside, the mice are probably all drowned.   

[DDT (12)]

Jess, and all,

Yep "Water, water everywhere, and all boards did shrink..." In Florida that is compounded by the flatness of the terrain and the relatively high water table... In fact, a standard joke around here is: "Do you know what they call a basement in Florida? An in-door swimming pool..." Makes me pine for the desert... only I'd need pontoons on ALI to get us out there!!! So, how y'all coming with ARK building...?

DDT

[John Schmidt]

Jess, and all,

Yep"... Water, water everywhere, and all boards did shrink..." In Florida that is compounded by the flatness of the terrain and the relatively high water table... In fact, a standard joke around here is: "Do you know what the call a basement in Florida? An in-door swimming pool..." Makes me pine for the desert... only I'd need pontoons on ALI to get us out there!!! So, how y'all coming with ARK building...?

DDT

Well, as soon as all this snow melts I might need one. But for now I'm happy to just pull the covers back up and watch TV through my eyelids.....was -11 when I awoke around 7:00am. Sun is shining bright, clear blue sky, and no way will I go out to enjoy it. Even if the car starts(attached garage), I can't.    Last week my SIL came over to help build a workbench, was all excited to work outside with the garage door open cuz as he stated...."it's a nice warm day to do this"....to which I questioned his sanity. "Andy, it's 3 degrees above freezing, what part about the definition of 'warm' don't you understand?" He was born and raised here so knows no better. Yeah...into each life a little rain must fall. Rain....OK, but a 12' high snow bank at the end of the parking lot?   

[DDT (12)]

John,

You are so right, and I thank you for the reminder! I need to lay off the bitchy-whiney crap and be thankful for all I do have!!! Yeah, I am tired of all the rain we've had this year... at least with its impact on my riding... but a 12' snow bank... WOW! I'm dang-near content again already just contemplating that! It's starting to look like destiny wants me to hang around down this way this year... OK, not a problem... In fact, looks like a 'local adventure' is about to occur, so... more about that later...

DDT

[DDT (12)]

I'm sick of the rain my yard is water logged rotten and the field line is causing issues . Stay safe Bruce my struggle here is real 

Joe,

Sorry to hear about your most recent struggle... I recall a similar issue a couple of years back... Gordon and I rode over to see you, but you were up to your waist in.. sewage line issues at your daughter's place... I was pleased (and relieved!) you didn't invite us to come over to you and shake hands or anything! I was thinking to myself at the time, "All that brown stuff on his hands and arms can't be just mud..." You may be a candidate for a 'Dirty Jobs' episode... Good luck!!!

DDT

I'm sick of the rain my yard is water logged rotten and the field line is causing issues . Stay safe Bruce my struggle here is real 

I got done with my wintertime plumbing last Friday... it
didn't do me any good to spend three days in the crawlspace
when I already had a cold, though...



-Mike

Mike,

Ummm... dealing with $hit is a $hitty job, for sure... especially, I reckon, if one already has some other ailments going on. Even if the problems are not associated with waste, per se... OK, I know I'm preaching to the choir here... Hope you're on the mend now... Looking forward to seeing ya again when our social-events activity kicks into hi-gear!

DDT

[hubcapsc]

Mike,

Ummm... dealing with $hit is a $hitty job, for sure... especially, I reckon, if one already has some other ailments going on. Even if the problems are not associated with waste, per se... OK, I know I'm preaching to the choir here... Hope you're on the mend now... Looking forward to seeing ya again when our social-events activity kicks into hi-gear!

DDT

I promise all that stuff on me is mud  ... 20 years ago I made
the connection from the ground to the house, passing through
a ball valve and the pressure regulator, in a questionable fashion.
It held together all these years, but I was under there for a "quick
insulation job", bumped it, and it started leaking. This time I had
to redo it several times before I figured out what "right" is. I'm
closing in on being mended... two more days of anti-biotics, lung
phlegm mostly gone, energy returning, thank the Lord...

-Mike "NOT a plumber..."