Date: August 18, 2005
Route: Dubuque, IA to Clinton, IA
Distance 80 miles
Ride Time: 7h
Elevation Climbed: 4230
Weather: 70s to 90s read on
Log
It was so late yesterday when I finally got to the motel I didn’t have time to write. I barely had enough time to do my laundry, and finally got to bed at 10pm . So I’m a day behind and straining my memory to remember all the things that happened.
It was quite a day! It started at 5:30am with the alarm and Cindy mumbling, “Is that rain I hear?” I opened up the outside door and was shocked to see it pouring buckets with the addition of thunder and lightning! We all lingered at breakfast waiting for a break in the storm. At 7:30 we sallied forth … in hard rain but without the thunder and lightning. It was very warm out, about 72 degrees, and I decided not to wear my rain jacket. I knew I would get soaked with or without it and I didn’t want the additional layer.
My first challenge was returning to the route over the same bridge that spooked me yesterday afternoon. I know it looks pretty benign here, but this is just the approach, without much traffic, and in good weather. Now imagine it in a storm. Over the white-capped river. In rush hour traffic. With gusts of wind and sideways rain. It was a challenge to keep my concentration, stay upright, and continue across. But I made it. The ferocity of the storm increased while I was on the bridge with the return of the thunder and lightning. I joined the other riders at a gas station. You can see in the opening photo that I am the only fool without a coat! We parked our bikes under the overhang of the convenience store and took refuge inside. Richard insisted I take his coat since I was soaked and he was not. After about 30 minutes we left in light rain.
The weather continued to improve for the next 10 miles. I was filthy dirty and wet, but warm and in good spirits. Then the second cell attacked. It was worse than the first by far. I had fallen behind the group on the initial climb and found myself alone at the top of a hill. Thunder was booming above my head and lightning struck the ground in the field to my left. I parked my bike by the road and ran to a near-by farmhouse. I plastered myself to the wall under the eve and watched the storm have its way with the world. I had given Richard his coat back but I had the good sense to fashion some protection out of the garbage bag I always carry. About 40 minutes later the SAG wagon came by looking for me and told me the rest of the group was together about a mile further down the route in a barn. I waited about 10 more minutes and started on my way. I immediately hit our first nasty hill of the day … a slope of 15%. I made it about half way up then decided to walk the rest of the way. My muscles were just too cold from standing around to pedal up on a fresh chipseal/gravel surface against the river rushing down. Daco came down to keep me company --- what a nice thing to do! It doesn’t look steep at all in this photo unless you turn it 45 degrees.
The storm passed for real and the day turned out to be beautiful. It was 9:30 by the time we all got on the road and we had 65 more miles and two steep climbs to go. We also had to contend with standing water in every dip of the road and gravel left by the mini flash floods. So the going was slow.
I was still soggy when I came to the second big hill. I have never before seen a sign like this. I took a drink of water, thought of Lance, and went after it. And made it.
Out in the middle of nowhere I came upon this barn. And yes, I made it up the third hill but it was easy by comparison at only 10%.
The last 30 miles were mostly on a gentle, scenic bike path along the Mississippi . I got to the motel at 4:30pm , washed my bike, washed myself, washed my clothes, ate dinner, and went to bed.
