As I drove across the Mississippi River in my Explorer I noticed the sheets of thin ice making their way downstream.

That just means that somewhere it's cold enough to freeze some of the water on the surface. Soon much of the surface will be covered with a thick sheet of ice, but that's not relevant to motorcycle riding.

What it means in relation to riding my bike is that it's getting cold enough overnight to freeze a running river, so it's less likely that it'll be warm enough by the time I need to leave for work to ride. It was just over 40 degrees, but the forecast called for a high of only 46, with an expected 43 during evening drive time.

That's a little cool to be on two wheels for nearly an hour at thirty miles per.

It saddens me and makes me feel a little wimpy to have given up so soon. I did make the commitment to ride until it snows, but I know that my real limit is near 40 degrees. Windchill will cut off my arms at the shoulders and my legs at the knees otherwise. I've got a nice full-head helmet and wind-proof leather jacket, but they don't seal together, so there's a chance my throat and neck could be severed, too. Sure, not really, but if you've been riding in such weather you know it feels like that just might happen.

I pledge to try my hardest to get the temeparature up for a few more days of riding. Otherwise it's cleaning the garage to put the bike down for the season. Gotta remember to pull the battery this year...