Don’t Rely on Me for Weather Forecasts

This Ride: 24.9 miles
Month: 423.5 miles
2011: 883.6 miles
Total since 1/1/10: 7,003.3 miles

The professional weather forecasters were calling for rain all night into this evening.  It stopped raining at about 3:00 am and when I got up at 4:45 am, it still wasn’t raining.  I checked the radar on my iPhone, and it indicated dry skies for a considerable distance around us, especially to the southwest, so I sent out an email blast that I was riding and I pulled together my clothing for 43°F and was out the door.  There was a light mist that sometimes reflected in my headlight, and a little fog in spots, but I was feeling good about my decision to ride.

Dave arrived at the Rusty Bridge a minute or so late, and we pushed off, meeting Dan at White’s Road.  The three of us continued on until Dave turned back at McKinsey, saying he had some kind of early meeting.  Dan and I continued on at an easy pace with good conversation.  On Old County Road we encountered some very light rain, that might have been coming off of the trees.  At least that is what I convinced myself it was.  Unfortunately, it was falling from the skies, and it continued to get heavier after one brief respite.  Cruising into Annapolis, we were in the rain and starting to soak through a bit.

Mike passed us in his truck, so we knew he would be at Chick & Ruth’s for breakfast, and we resolved to meet him there.  After a quick good breakfast, Dan & I decided to leave a little earlier than usual to beat the rain.  Little did we know that it was now raining pretty steadily.  It continued to rain all the way back home.  Dan turned for home, and I had the last 6 miles on my own.

When I arrived home, I was starting to chill just a bit.  Everything I wore was soaked.  My legs were pink from the cold.  I was never uncomfortable, but I wasn’t going to put in any extra miles either.

Another milestone has been passed.  I’ve now ridden over 7,000 miles.  I’m just 3 days from the end of the month and have 26.5 miles to go to meet my February mileage goal.  I’m ahead of my goal pace for an 8,000 mile year.