Why Does it Always Rain on Me

It doesn’t seem to matter what time of the year I book my bike in for a service, it is pretty much guaranteed that it will pour with rain on the day in question. And this year is no exception. As usual, when I booked it in a week ago, the forecast was for a fine dry day in Kendal and Carlisle. And, also as usual, when I woke up this morning it was raining steadily. Nothing for it except to don the full waterproofs and set off. It wasn’t really an option to postpone as I also needed an MOT. With not getting out on the bike much last year or this, due to lockdowns, the fact that it was now three years old and needed it’s first MOT had escaped my notice. Especially as it’s only done 1400 miles since new!
So it was a fairly miserable ride out of Kendal, heading up and over Shap this morning. I’d woken up ridiculously early, but that now proved to be a slight blessing as it became obvious that it was going to take a lot longer to get to Carlisle than normal. Thankfully though, the weather did improve once I was past Penrith, and by blasting up the M6 rather than meandering along the A6, I arrived just about spot on time.
Peeled off the wet outer clothing and was relieved to find I was basically dry underneath. Walked into the city centre and treated myself to a coffee and a tea cake before wandering around the shops to kill the time until the bike was ready. Bought a CD from HMV and a slice of Ullswater Pie from Cranstons, though not quite sure how I would get the latter home without crushing or soaking it.
Bike was ready when they said - received the text saying it was ok to collect literally as I walked into the showroom. Service done, MOT passed and they’d also noticed one of the plug caps was shorting out. Both were replaced as a precaution and I was told I might notice a bit more power on the way home (hadn’t especially noticed a lack of power on the way up as I was taking it easy on the wet roads!). Struggled back into the damp outer layers and set off. There definitely was more power and I had a good blast down the A6 as far as Penrith, where I encountered the rain again. So, another soaking all the way back to Kendal.
Everything now hung up to dry and the bike has been wiped down and put back in the garage. Now that it’s road legal again, it might be nice to get a final run out before they start putting salt on the roads, but I’m not holding my breath!
And the really good news - the pie arrived home both dry and intact. Though not for long, as it was duly consumed for lunch!