Carnies and Funnel Clouds

I had my first real taste of riding in the rain yesterday and it wasn't that bad. After light rain in the morning, a heavier, steady rain fell in the afternoon. Fortunately it was still in the 60's so it wasn't unpleasant. Eventually the clouds lightened and long before I hit my destination I was dry. The roads and landscape made the ride really enjoyable. For the majority of the ride I was on secondary county roads, pedaling past horse farms and open fields. The second half of the ride had some decent downhills and climbs providing me a small indication of what's in store.


I made it to the Mineral fire station at about 5:45pm expecting to see Mark and Dillon, but they were nowhere to be found. I figured they continued on further down the road. A volunteer fireman showed me in and let me set up in the weight room. They offer cyclists full access to the shower, kitchen, and laundry room. It was the first night of the fire station's town fair and a beauty pageant was being held in the engine house. About an hour after my arrival, Mark and Dillon rolled in. After Mark got a flat on the first day, Dillon broke a spoke on the second. Fortunately they did it right outside the house of an avid cyclist, who drove them forty miles to two different bike shops so Dillon could buy a new wheel.

The day ended with more bad weather. A tornado alert was issued for the area, the fair grounds were cleared and the firehouse became the town shelter. Fortunately, the tornado warning was a false alarm. This morning I'm hanging out in the firehouse kitchen listening to emergency calls come in over the radio ("pediatric head trauma from pogo stick accident"). More rain is expected this morning but today will be an easier day as I only plan to ride to Charlottesville.