"It's raining; it's pouring.
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and bumped his head,
And he wouldn't get up in the morning."
As predicted, rain started falling this morning just as we were about to leave the hotel. The wind was blowing about 15 mph out of the SE, but we were spending most of the day riding north, so we finally got a helping breeze…did I mention it was raining? Shortly after leaving Niles, we were back in the country again, with lots of farms and few people. The route sheet said, "No services for 24.3 miles," and we had just left the hotel. Peter, Big Al, and I were taking it easy; Peter's knee has been bothering him for the past couple of days. Tom caught us and the four of us rode over some easy "rollers" and country roads into the first SAG stop, with Tom in the lead. At that point, Tom and Peter decided to call it a day and SAG into the hotel. George joined Al and me out of the rest stop, and we rode the next 34 miles together to the second and final SAG stop of the day. This SAG was at an old fashioned root beer stand that had opened in the same spot in 1955. They had the curtains down because of the rain, but I can imagine how nice it would be to sit on the stools, or in the garden out back, sipping root beer on a hot afternoon. Al and I left George, enjoying his root beer, and headed up the road in a pouring rain. Once we turned east towards Erie, riding became more challenging due to 20 mph winds out of the SE. We literally slogged into Erie, dodging potholes and water puddles. Although the lake was off to our left, we never did see the water. Al and I were the first riders to arrive at the hotel; several riders had opted not to continue riding in the rain and got into the SAG vehicles. There are crazy people and then there are the really crazy people like Al and me. There was mud in the bathtub after my shower!
I didn't take but four pictures today, due to the rain. We spotted a covered bridge (better bring a tape measure); George in his raingear; at the root beer stand; and Al at the Pennsylvania state line, in the rain.
I'm now sitting in my room, on the fifth floor of the Avalon Hotel in downtown Erie, with the wind howling outside and rain sheeting on my window. It's good to be out of the weather. Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day.
I'm not sure what is worse, riding is 100 degree temperatures back here in SA or the rain. All week we are forcasted to have 100 or above 100 temps. Many sunny skys to you!
ReplyDeleteThe Beach Bike Trek team is fully sympatico with your weather situation. Today, we ourselves faced an excrutiating ride through a very light mist. It was very difficult to make our way along Rindge Roadway and up to the Inglewood Outback, but we held on and maintained the paceline (because we are stout-hearted - no SAG stops for us today).
ReplyDeleteWe will send thoughts of pleasant weather your way... enjoy your rest day!
That bridge that was closed on the way to Wooster was closed last year on XC08. They need some shovel-ready stimulus money.
ReplyDeleteJim, your having way too much fun!! Is tomorrow your last rest day of the trip? Week and a half and your big ride will be over, unless you decide to ride back across the country. Betcha the wind would change direction! Take care and keep peddling.
ReplyDeleteHave you noticed how many dogs are following your ride?
ReplyDeleteHope the rain stops.
v.