More about the rain

  I decided that I needed to get out of the shorts, and into some long pants as I knew the temp would be dropping. I looked for a place to change, but there really was no place to hide, besides it was raining and getting in a hidy-spot would require getting soaked.

  I decided that all the cars were focused on the road and the rain and just "dropped trou" right there next to the bike and it was done. 

  There is something liberating about standing on the side of the road in a rainstorm in your underwear........lol

  When the rain passed, I decided to get rolling. It had been a long day, getting up early to get the band, then driving the 11 hours down from HELL (New York City), then the bus change over, and now I was wanting to see my own bed!

  I rolled out on the wet pavement, and built up road speed. It looked as though things would be fine until I drove right into the back of the storm that had just passed. I decided to press on.

  I was trying to focus on the road surface, where the puddles were, and spotting anything that might require  a ride in the big van with the flashing lights. I was driving in a pounding rain, 45 mph on a 70 mph freeway, with Big Trucks flying by me, throwing up huge water sprays that felt like getting hit with a big bore garden hose. I needed all the concentration I could muster, as I could only see a few yards in front of my front tire. I was well aware that the road could reach out and bite me at any moment. My experience told me it was raining far too hard to be out there in the dark......but I just kept pushing on against my better judgement. 

  As the rain increased it rain down my face, and as it touched my lips it tickled a little. I licked my lips and the taste of the warm rain sent me back in time.

  My mind left the rain slicked North Carolina road, and took me to to our side yard in central Ohio, where we were all kids, in our "swim suits" running around in a beautiful warm summer rain shower, jumping in the warm puddles, splashing each other. 

  Now I am not sure just WHY rain water tastes so special, and I had not had it happen for years, probably since I was out on the Appallatian Trail and it was a daily thing to keep walking thru the daily thunder storms in order to make the miles you needed to the next camp spot.

  Each time the rain water would trickle down my face, and I would run my tongue across my lips to capture it, I would wonder why it is that we go to so much effort and expense to avoid it?

  We buy umbrellas, and stand under shelters for long periods. We check the Weather Man, to see if it MIGHT rain, then we stay home if it MIGHT.

  I wonder what it is in us that lets us forget what it tastes like to go out and play in the rain, on a warm day?

  By the time I finally finished the 80+ mile ride home, I was tired, soaked to the bone wearing a leather jacket that must have weighted 50 pounds wet, and near the point of hypothermic shivers, but I would not trade anything for just a little time travel back to a time when we went out of out way to taste the rain.