It’s hot out there.

When for short ride today. We left around 11 am for a back roads adventure. It was around 90 when we left and about 99 when we got home.

I had been wanting to try out an idea I had for hot weather riding. We bought some mesh jackets when we first started riding again and aside from long road trips, we really never use them. When we do, it’s usually over some cotton Harley t shirt we’ve picked up on the road. Today I put it on over a sleeveless Under Armour heat gear shirt. Now I don’t look all that muscle-ly (is that a word?) when I wear it, but wasn’t going for looks today. I was going for cool (or as cool as can be) so we could go some miles. I have to say that it worked nicely. The breeze flows through the mesh and since the sun isn’t beating down directly on my skin, it does feel cooler. I think the hot setup (pun intended) may be an aqua vest (basically a swamp cooler you wear) between the under armour and the jacket. At least around here. Not sure how it would work in the humidity of East Texas. Today I felt the heat mostly on my feet. I’ve all ready bought some light colored boots, so not sure were to go there. Also, blue jeans are not the right gear for summer riding. I think the mesh suits the BMW riders wear is probably the way to go, but I don’t ride a Bimmer.

We made two stops today one at the Sonic in Lago Vista so I could get myself a hot dog (traditional 4th of July lunch, no?) and get some liquids in our bodies and another stop at Eagle Peak Shooting Range. It’s Independence Day and a drought, so no fireworks. So we broke out the .45 my friend Darrell Bishop designed and put lead through paper in honor of our founding fathers while exercising our 2nd amendment rights. Darrell left us this year and we miss him as I’m sure his family and friends do. RIP Darrell.

Happy Independence Day, Ya’ll.