When the Weather Gods Hate Motorcycles
Mother Nature 3, Bikers 0: Rain Ruins Two Weekends of Fun
If there's one thing you can count on when making plans for a motorcycle weekend, it's that Mother Nature doesn't care what you have on your calendar. You can make plans, get excited about upcoming events, and look forward to spending time with friends, but if the weather decides to turn ugly, all those plans can go right out the window.
That was certainly the case over two recent weekends. We had three events we were looking forward to, but Mother Nature decided she wanted to get involved. The result? A wet gathering at The Congregation, a cancelled Goose Creek Fly-In, and a rescheduled HOG Olympics.
Apparently, somebody forgot to tell Mother Nature that we had things to do!
The Congregation Gets Wet
The first sign that things weren't going to go as planned came when the rain started making its presence known before The Congregation. Now I could have driven my car but kind of defeats the point.
The Congregation is a great place to get together, hang out, and enjoy the company of fellow motorcycle enthusiasts and friends. It's the kind of gathering that gives everyone a reason to get out of the house, catch up with familiar faces, and enjoy a little time away from the everyday routine.
Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas.
Instead of cooperating and giving us a nice day, Mother Nature decided to open up the skies. The rain made things wet and certainly wasn't the kind of weather anyone had hoped for.
There's nothing quite like looking at a rainy forecast when you have plans to get out and enjoy yourself. If you're a motorcycle rider, you learn pretty quickly that weather can make or break a day. Sometimes a little rain isn't enough to stop you, but when it becomes a bigger problem, it can take some of the fun out of the whole experience.
We did our best to make the most of things, but it was clear that Mother Nature wasn't interested in making this an easy weekend.
And she wasn't finished yet.
The Goose Creek Fly-In Gets Cancelled
The next casualty of the weather was the Goose Creek Fly-In.
This was another event on the calendar that we were looking forward to attending. Unfortunately, the rain had other plans, and the Goose Creek Fly-In was cancelled.
It's always disappointing when an event gets cancelled because of weather. Organizers put time and effort into planning these gatherings, and attendees make their own plans to be there. Whether you're interested in the event itself, meeting up with friends, or simply getting out for something different, a cancellation is a letdown.
Of course, nobody can control the weather. When rain makes conditions unsuitable, cancelling an event is sometimes the only sensible option.
Still, that doesn't make it any less frustrating.
After dealing with the wet conditions at The Congregation, losing the Goose Creek Fly-In to the rain felt like another reminder that Mother Nature was determined to spoil our fun.
At this point, the score was looking pretty one-sided.
Mother Nature: 2. Bikers: 0.
We could only hope that the following weekend would bring better luck.
The Following Weekend: The HOG Olympics Get Rescheduled
A new weekend meant a new opportunity to get out and enjoy an event. This time, the HOG Olympics were on the schedule.
After the previous weekend's weather troubles, we were hoping for a little cooperation from Mother Nature. Surely, we were due for a break!
Apparently not. Thanks hurricane Isaias!
The weather once again interfered with our plans, and the HOG Olympics had to be rescheduled.
While rescheduling is certainly better than cancelling an event altogether, it still means waiting a little longer and adjusting plans. When you're looking forward to an event, having it moved to another date can be frustrating, especially after already dealing with a weekend full of rain.
The HOG Olympics will have another chance to take place, and hopefully the weather will cooperate when the new date arrives.
For now, though, Mother Nature had managed to claim another victory.
Mother Nature: 3. Bikers: 0.
That's three events affected by rain over two weekends. Not exactly the winning streak we had in mind!
You Can't Win Against Mother Nature
As motorcycle riders, we're used to keeping an eye on the weather. We know that a sunny morning can turn into a rainy afternoon, and that sometimes the best riding plans need to change at the last minute.
It's part of the lifestyle. You learn to be flexible, keep a rain suit handy, and accept that some days just aren't going to work out the way you hoped.
But when the rain affects multiple events over consecutive weekends, it gets a little old.
Between the wet conditions at The Congregation, the cancellation of the Goose Creek Fly-In, and the rescheduling of the HOG Olympics, Mother Nature certainly made her presence known.
The good news is that not every event is lost forever. The HOG Olympics will be back on the calendar, and there will be more opportunities to get together, enjoy the motorcycle community, and make some memories.
In the meantime, we'll keep watching the forecast and hoping for better weather.
Because there's only so much rain a biker can take before it's time to stay home, dry off, and start planning the next ride.
Final Score: Mother Nature 3, Bikers 0
Two weekends. Three events. Too much rain.
Mother Nature may have won this round, but we're not ready to call the season just yet. There are still plenty of miles to ride, events to attend, and friends to meet up with.
We'll keep making plans, keep checking the forecast, and keep hoping for sunshine.
And Mother Nature? If you're listening, we'd appreciate a little cooperation next time!
Until then, ride safe, keep the rain gear handy, and remember: you can't control the weather, but you can always plan the next ride.