Never Be Early and Never Ride in Hot Steamy Soup

Last year I came across what I thought would be a fun ride.  Located in Huntingdon.PA amongst the beautiful hills and farms a short 250 mile ride. The event is held  on a 220 acre working farm  and truly is a wonderful spot to hold an event. The Mid Atlantic Overland Festival caters to both the Dual Sport motorcycle and 4x4 communities.  

Well, two things hit me square in the face as I was about to depart; the heat and the humidity!  This
time of year - Summer - we on the East often get slapped with some horrid humidity.  Lucky us the event was slapped with high heat and humidity.  I don't like riding in a bowl of steaming soup!  So I took
the 4 Runner.  I mean, after all it is an event for both dual sport and 4x4's.  

Sights along the way
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I love to ride; but there are times when being in dry and in air conditioned comfort is the better choice. Oh, and did I mention the weather forecast was for heavy rain?  Thursday seamed the best day to go. Looked as if Friday and Saturday were going to be a washout.  I drove the 4 Runner - dry and very cool.
I got there early hoping to speak with the vendors.  Guess it is true - "Be fashionibly  late";  only two
were there when I arrived.  What had arrived at 10:30 was the heat and humidity. Heat index was to
reach 106.  Friday,  forecast heat index to reach 108.  Saturday heat forecast was higher still. Some heavy thunderstorms too.  

Although not many vendors were set up I did have the good fortune to find two that offer exciting products.   FLEXOPOWER Energy Solutions offering solar kits that are unbreakable.  User friendly and you can place them anywhere, over a tent, on the vehicle or on the ground.  Unlike other similar products these panels are flexible and therefore unbreakable .     The other is PURPLE LIZARD MAPS,  to get the most out of your adventure take  a look at these maps.   At this time there are but a few and more on the way; aside from the Rincon Puerto Rico Map and Guide, there are a  couple of Pennsylvania  and  a couple of others.  These are fine maps and look forward to a larger selection.  Here on the East be nice to see the Blue Ridge, Shenandoah, Smoky Mountains, up north the Adirondack Region.  Hopefully both will send us samples for a full review.

Why is it here on the East BMWMOA, BMWRA, Mid Atlantic Overland Festival and many others don't move the dates to the Fall?!  I did call BMWMOA a couple of years ago and suggested the move to a Fall date and was told "It gets cold'    Gosh, I have a jacket.  Do you?   On a bike you can get warm a lot easier then you can get cool!

Those attendees  at this years "festival" are tough! On Thursday there was no food for the vendors, No shower facilities.  Done my share of living in a tent in high heat and rain.  So like the witch said in the WIZARD OF OZ: "I'm melting".  I left in the early afternoon and ran into some very heavy rain just outside the event.  I am sure they must have been drenched.   Nothing like standing around in the heat and humidity and no showers!  You can't control the weather.  It is a beautiful site, and perhaps next year will be more comfortable.  I plan on returning.

This weekend is the Touratech Rally EAST.  Weather forecast is temps around 90 and humid.
At least there will be showers!  Check out Touratech's website for complete info.

​See You Down The Road