It’s one thing about riding that differs from being in a car.  On a bike, you feel the environment.  The wind in your face, the heat of the afternoon, the blur of the bright sky and the violence of a thunderstorm and the wet rain that pours.  Skies lower to the ground brought down by the heavy humidity of clouds filled with moisture darkening the days that surround you.  Lightning erupts from cloud to cloud exploding with violence reaching towards the ground announcing to the world of it’s presence.  Florida in the summer and fall afternoons is not a time to ride a bike.  Times like that you must wait until after the weather passes and roads dry.

More than once, Jojo and I would find ourselves on the bike caught in the weather.  Rarely did we ride together in a car, it was always the bike that brought us together.  In cases like those, we would find shelter and wait out the rain.

Once, I remember riding alone with Jojo caught inside traffic with rain pouring down.  Shaking from the cold wind blowing against my wet clothes, I clenched tight to endure.  Jojo noticed I was disturbed.  She reached in front of me placing her hands over my face.  Blocking the rain, she reached around holding me close keeping me warm.  It was a relief and felt great.  I wanted more of her but I couldn’t.  With her I no longer shook from the cold or was distracted by life.  It was all focus around Jojo.