The Ride Wasn’t Supposed to Turn Out Like That

Last evening, I received a text:

Tomorrow: rule 9, or drive to breakfast and hit the road early.  Then spin the knots out in a short ride around Lumberton.  Thoughts?

I replied:

I’m bailing if it is still raining.  If dry, riding.  Spin in NC makes a lot of sense.

At 4:30 am the radar looked promising and it wasn’t raining.  I texted:

I’ll ride if you are.

Reply:

Radar shows a nice window so I’m going to ride the fixie.  See ya at the bridge.

I pulled out the fixie and gear I’m not taking to North Carolina and met Mike on the bridge.  Three others were there.  A light mist hung in the air, but with all the rain we’ve had, it could have simply been moisture stirred up by the wind.

About 2 miles into the ride drizzle started.  About 2 1/4 miles into the ride the rain started.  By 2 1/2 miles into the ride it was pouring.  I stopped and pulled on the “just in case” rain jacket I brought.  The rain kept coming.  Our conversations grew shorter.  By the time we got to the end of the trail we were simply enduring the rain.  We all decided to turn around and go home.  No breakfast.  The thought of dripping through breakfast and then getting back into wet clothes for the ride home was not appealing on a voluntary ride.

We splashed through sections of 4 inch deep water.  We rode through rapidly moving water.  When I got home I rang the doorbell and asked for a towel.

Half a cup of water was squeezed out of my socks and shoes.

I looked at the radar when I got home.  This is what I saw:

May nothing on this weekend’s 600k be that “epic”.

Malaria Pledges for the 600k now total $1,276.50

This ride 17.6 miles
Malaria Campaign: 2,564.9 miles
Funds Pledged: $1,367.96
Contributed in support: $2,453.60

Total = $3,821.56