We may have gone to sleep in Wisconsin, but it feels as if we woke up in Bangkok! Bizarre weather, warm, humid, dark and a big thunderstorm on it's way. We are warned of the approaching "red cell" storm by one of the roadworkers (we need to backtrack through some of that bloody gravel). He shuts down his big, yellow machine and hops out just to warn us of the storm, even shows us the current weather radar images on his phone. How nice is that! So we pedal like a pair of maniacs back into Shawano, the wind blows and some sporadic fat rain drops fall but we are comfy and safe in the library when the storm passes over, our weather luck holds! And what better place to wait out a storm than somewhere surrounded by books? At midday when we emerge, the humidity is so thick you could cut the air with a knife. Hydration shouldn't be a problem, we can breath instead of drink! But with such a late start we are short on time and long on miles, the going is tough on a soggy trail, the drag of soft mud and sand makes each pedal push that much harder. But the wet at least keeps the bug numbers down on yesterday, and I am often distracted by passing frogs, squirrels and turkeys. And although it looks like it should be cold, foggy and overcast, it is warm and sticky.
Our efforts to make up lost time nearly end in disaster, when tired and hungry, well past break time, I misjudge the angle of the plank bridge crossing and come off the bike. Landing like a freshly caught fish on the bridge, splat! Only good luck saves Audrey and I from any serious injury, but the gap between a great day and a terrible one is revealed as being only very small. Feeling justly chastised for not resting sooner, we stop right on that bridge for lunch, obviously I'm not in any great pain as my appetite is still good ;)
We ride the final miles into Green Bay (home of the Green Bay Packers) with more caution, get lost in the city (of course) but stay at a hotel for a bit of self indulgence and the opportunity to use a microwave and watch the US Open. My left elbow must have some kind of soft tissue injury as it is a bit painful and stiff, but with all bones intact and no blood spilt, it feels like a lucky escape. Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wow! Do do DO do! Glad you're ok! That could have been worse, eh? So typical, isn't it? We tell ourselves to "machine on". I can relate to that. I remember a mum telling me once on the downhill ski slopes that she would watch her kids from the chalet window, and would know to call them in for lunch when she started seeing them fall down a lot. There's no way they were coming in without coaxing, so she learned to watch for this. Sounds like you needed a woman with a red flag or jacket on a long stick, waving you in for a rest!
ReplyDeleteOh...and you know...I do SO hate the humidity...and surprised to hear that there were FEWER bugs in the humidity! But...it is this changeable weather that I do miss...I LOVED big storms, as I think I've said before, and I liked the fact that the weather could be changeable. I learned to be prepared for anything on my bike, even around Mpls!
ReplyDeleteLibraries are havens of knowledge that easily soak up hours!
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