Ok, day 1 of the MS ride down. Sorry to say we didn't make it the full 75 miles. Something to do with the organizers pulling everyone off the route because of the storm.
Here's the scoop: We started along with the other 1000 or so riders at 7 am fine. Ryan and I made good time to rest stop 1 and continued on the road to rest stop 2. It was humid but not too hot and almost no wind (strange for Dekalb, but nice). At rest stop 2 was where it all started to go to hell. We got stopped (along with about 150 other people) at a rest stop that had 2 pop-up shelters and 4 port-o-potties. We got stopped because of the storm that was bearing down on us. Personally I didn't think standing around waiting for rain to hit you is a good idea, plus we were near the top of a hill, and there was no shelter, and we were getting eaten alive so we asked about continuing on. The next rest stop was in Waterman and was at a high school so if we made it there, at least there would be shelter. We were allowed to continue on after about 45 minutes and managed to make it to within 7 miles of the next rest stop before the storm hit. Yes, we were outside when the rain, wind, and lightening were upon us. Pretty much all we could do was pull off the road and lay low in some tall grass waiting for the storm to pass. Ryan and I managed to find a spot off the road near some small silos that at least gave us some shelter from the initial rain. That was until the lightening started. (metal silos) I dove into the grass away from the silo because the first lightening strike felt close. The first 15 minutes of the storm was energetic. The rain HURT when it hit you. Thankfully is was at least warm so yes we were soaked to the bone but all I could do was laugh at us. As the storm subsided the SAG wagons started showing up to ferry people to the next rest stop. Ryan got into one and I waited for the next one. The driver of mine, didn't know the route and couldn't read a map. (Basic orienteering fact - Most maps are oriented to the north, if you're driving south, the directions you will turn are reversed when you're looking at the map.) Anyway we both got dropped off at the high school where we sat for about an hour and a half while the ride organizers made up their minds. It was eventually decided to cancel the rest of the day and we were told that busses were coming to pick us and our gear up and take us back to the start. Along with about 50 other people, we decided to ride back to Dekalb. We made a stop at out favorite bike shop for a cup of strong coffee and a little conversation, then headed back to the start of the ride for food and drink.
When we got back to the Convocation Center, we got a beer, learned the food wasn't all ready yet, had a salad and a potato and a Goose Island 312 and rode home.
All in all it was an eventful day. Personally I have to say that the MS Ride organizers did a great job planning for a ride that would go off without a hitch. Mother nature on the other hand decided to see how much she could screw with those plans.
Oh well I got home fine, took a shower, took about a 3 hour nap and now I'm going to do stuff with Rachel and Anna until it's time to pass out and do this all over again tomorrow! YAY!!
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