Last night we were treated to a display of Kansas fury. The TV was beeping with tornado warnings in our area. An incredible lightning storm danced around the clouds. The edges of one enormous storm cloud were moving in three different directions. It had the makings of a tornado. One was spotted about 30 miles down the road, where we had ridden earlier in the day. This picture is fuzzy because it was dark outside, but I include it so you can get a feel for what it was like.
I woke up once again with dead legs. This has happened a couple of times on this trip. Normally at some point during the day my energy comes back. Today it never did. It was just a grind all day long.
After last nights fireworks we started off this morning with cloud cover and the ever-present crosswinds. I settled in for a 6 hour day, just assuming that I'd be fighting the winds all day.
After riding alone for the first 40 miles I met up with Lisa and Jim at the first SAG. They offered to let me draft, which was much appreciated. I just didn't have the energy to take a turn at the front.
Up the road aways we met Larry, an honest-to-goodness cowboy at a gas station along the way. Notice the chaps and the cowboy hat. He works as a contract cowboy. He's also a mountain of a man. Nice guy. He was surprised by all the attention he got.
Rain decided to join the wind party. It was just sprinkles for awhile. We stopped to fix a flat, and that's when things got REALLY interesting. I got caught in my second hailstorm of the trip, this one more severe than the last one. Then the skies unloaded. We had a torrential downpour that just wouldn't let up. Big drops with sleet mixed in. It stung everywhere it hit, which was everywhere. We were all quickly soaked to the bone. My feet were frozen stiff. The windbreaker was completely inadequate for the job. The "good" news was that we onlly had 30 miles left to ride.
The group had expanded after leaving the gas station. After fixing the flat Terry and I somehow got in front of the group. He pulled me along pretty much the whole way into town. Thanks Terry. We stopped to catch our breath and got attacked by biting flies.
After finishing this fiasco of a ride and cleaning my bike I settled into the hottest bathtub I could take. When it cooled off I emptied some water and filled it up again. After that I took a nap.
So how do I feel after all of this? You know how you feel after you get finished having really rockin' sex?
I feel nothing like that.
Today's Google Earth data: http://tomerceg.googlepages.com/DodgeCityks.kmz
2 comments:
Hi Tom, I distinctly recall you telling me that this ride usually only has a few rainy days, mostly back East. You figured the windbreaker would be adequate protection as the rain would be "warm" (direct quote). Remember? I think this blog offers undeniable proof that your Endurance Activity Weather Curse continues..... Keep on pedalin' - Bev
And to think I was worried about the heat in the desert. Looks like you are getting that test of your endurance. Keep pumping Joe Joe, you can do it.!!!!
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