A Very Wet Canal Ride in April

We gathered in Canal, those few brave enough, strong enough, stupid enough to tempt what radar clearly showed moving in from the southwest, the dreaded green blob.  Peggy, she of the giant screen cell phone and dressed in civilian clothing, cheerily announced we could avoid it by heading south and east before coming back west and north.  With that pronouncement she hopped in her car and drove away.  So, Craig Butler, Randy, Pastor Mark, Kevin H. and I headed out onto the very wet, puddled pavement and under very cloudy skies.

Please note Craig and I hold the unenviable achievement of riding surely on the coldest day this year and now surely on the wettest.  We rode way to hard for those of us bundled up in cheap, non breathable windbreakers and soon it became a contest to see whether moisture from within exceeded that from without.  That issue was soon settled when it began to rain, hard, when we turned west, into a brutal wind,  This created a dilemma.  Does one draft and just swallow the fishtail from in front of you or do you slide to the side to avoid the fishtail but fight the wind?  I chose to draft and my eyes became a witches brew of sweat, road salt residue, rain and water thrown up from the tire.  I believe I also tasted tar, circa 2005 but wasn't sure.  The rest of the ride really was a blur and all I know is we returned, after 30 miles and just under a 19mph average. 

Give yourself credit for having the common sense and foresight to not go to Canal tonight.