Whether we like it or not (pun intended), summer is winding down. Last Sunday I was enjoying a beautiful ride through the fields of Pea Ridge National Park. A stray puff of wind sent a dozen or so yellow leaves bursting from the dark foliage of summer. It seemed as if nature was speaking directly to me, saying "fall is coming".
On Monday, I rode without gloves in a fifties temperature morning. On Tuesday, I wore gloves. The chaps will come out of the closet soon, then the scarf. Can it be? Already?
This morning I jumped on the bike for my pre-7 am commute and noticed that it was still dark. Not season change dark, thick clouds at dawn dark. The cool, wet, smell of humidity told me that it was about to rain. My mind argued with my instinct, insisting that I'd checked the forecast on Monday and it was only a 30% chance today.
The Bev was as ready as I was and we started the day. Since school has been in session, it can take over 10 minutes to go three blocks. As I sat waiting at a stop light, I felt north wind on the back of my neck. "Odd." I thought. "Storms don't come from the north until...later in the year." The absent dawn began to dawn on me. Seasonal wind changes were happening. Fat drops of rain started to pop on the ground. The light turned green.
I rode fast, trying to balance my haste by reminding myself that roads are slickest as a rain begins. My commute runs south, then east, then south again. When I caught the east bound leg the storm started to overtake me. The silent flashes of lightning became loud thundering bolts. Cold wet circles teased the tops of my legs as the edge of the storm rapped lightly on my helmet.
I caught the final south bound leg of the trip and gave it a little extra. I pulled out of the rain wall that was falling right behind me. I stayed dry until I'd come to a stop sign or light. Then it was tap...tap..tap. At the final light before my building I caught the red. The rain ran the light.
When I got the signal, I throttled back and zoomed into the parking lot. I kicked down the stand and abandoned my usual parking ritual. With gear on, I hopped the retaining wall and jogged into the building. The spots of rain I brought with me dried out quickly. The storm lasted for four hours.
I was lucky. One more snooze button and I would have been drenched. I realize that my choices this morning may not have been the safest, yet it made for an exciting morning I'll never forget.
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