Last Motorcycle Ride of Season

Today's weather: High = 22 Low = 13
Sunny

The unusually balmy weather continues, so much that people are out wearing shorts and T-shirts. Unfortunately that is all coming to an abrupt end in a matter of days.

Based on the short and long-range forecasts, I'm now calling an end to the motorcycle riding season -- winter will be darkening our doorstep any day now. In fact, we were spoiled so much by the unseasonably good weather in November that it was only a matter of time before things would change. The Siberian cold front is on its way here, and temperatures have dropped 10-15 degrees where that front has already passed through. This mimics the change in the weather that happened last week in the Eastern US. The patterns are typically the same on either side of the globe, with a delay effect of 6-10 days. That means if a blast of arctic air hits the East Coast in North America, we will soon get the same over here.

So yesterday was fitting to get out the motorcycle, do a final long-distance ride in the countryside, and celebrate with a dinner at the 'Blue Frog' western restaurant hamburger joint back in the city.

This inevitable change in the weather won't mean permanent cold, as the temperatures could easily bounce back up like they did after that surprise early chill in mid-October. But one thing is for sure: dramatic temperature fluctuations, which would be consistent with the overall pattern of 'global weather gone wild' (TM)

In other words, one day might appear to be deceptively warm and a nice excuse for another afternoon motorcycle ride. But then during that ride, the cold front comes out of nowhere or else the evening chill sets in, and the ride becomes very unpleasant. This has happened countless times already in my 2-year motorcycle riding career. I've also said countless times that I'll hibernate the motorcycle from Dec - Feb, but still end up riding year round and facing the chills.

The way things are going, there may only be one month of cold weather to contend with before the New Year break, when everyone then heads for tropical countries. By the time we get back in late February, the spring season is already beginning.