When my host got up, a little after 7, he remarked on the weather forecast today. And I realized that I ought to move, as if I hurried, I might, just maybe, beat the rain. I shoved down a snack pie as my only sorry semblance of breakfast, and then had him escort me out to the locked storage unit where my bike was being kept. By just after 7:30 I was off on my race against the rain.
I pushed hard and took few stops (and consequently few pictures). There honestly wasn't much worth seeing or stopping for anyways (though there was one of those hilarious man walking with dinosaurs anti-evolution, creationism exhibits, the second now I've seen while touring, and not far from it, based in a no sillier myth, a big Paul Bunyan and Babe). The wind was against me, the storm heading up from the south, but not too bad. The day started flat, got slightly hilly for awhile, and then became flat again. I made good time. I only took one stop of any length, and that was at a gas station to use the restroom, buy a candy bar, and don my rain gear. The forecast was rain at 11, and that was around 10:30. I knew I wasn't making it. I'd known from the start I wasn't winning the race; I hadn't left early enough for that. It was just a matter of how badly I would lose.
Right at 11, right on time, I felt drops. But it was just light, a drizzle. It picked up steadily, but I had just a short ways left to go. I pushed to the end, and I'll be, if I lost to the showers, I won against the downpour. I got to the restaurant and pub owned by my host and parked my bike under the awning of the closed banquet section of the building. My host had told me I could ask the bartender and she would point me in the right direction to his cabin for my stay tonight (as he is out on a cycling trip of his own). ...Problem was that I was early and the bartender wasn't around yet. So I stood under the awning, as the downpour began in earnest and waited, for what I didn't know.
As luck would have it, some folks would approach the banquet area, and a chef came out to direct them to the right door, and as he did, I stopped him and explained my situation. He turned out to be one cool dude. He let me inside, get warm and dry, while he worked on figuring out where the cabin was. He even brought me a cup of ice water while I waited. He couldn't find any answers (my host busy biking and all the other folks who would know apparently busy too), but he let me stay there in the empty banquet hall while I waited. I sat there quite some time, finishing my blog entry for yesterday and reading my book (on my phone of course). With perfect timing, he finally got his answer for me right as the rain had abated. It turned out it was the obvious cabin at the end of the obvious dirt road and there was no real way for me to miss it. ...Figures.
So, I got into my cabin, still an early end for the day (it was only a 55 mile run and I did it fast), and was able to relax on my lonesome and take my time getting my daily evening chores done. There was also beer in the fridge and popcorn on the counter, which I delighted in partaking from.
The big problem over my head was that while I had beat the rain today, tomorrow it's supposed to be much worse, a big storm with strong headwinds, going all day, with even some chance of hail. I don't want to be out in that. So I weighed the costs and benefits of taking a rest day (which I haven't had since Madison). My host eventually got back with a text that it would be okay. It would actually work better for my stay in Fort Gratiot down the line. ...But it did not work for my host in Bay City for what would have been now turned to Friday. Which is a real shame, as I not only would like to have the place inside, but I've now had a fair bit of correspondence with her (more than I almost ever do with a host before staying there) and she seems really cool and I was looking forward to meeting her. She's so cool in fact that she went as far as to offer to pick me up (which of course, I can't take), and has been working to find me an alternative host. Sometimes people just blow you away with their generosity and concern for their fellow man. It's humbling, and it makes me want to be better. I really hope that when I'm in Pittsburgh I can work out a livint situation conducive to hosting. I want to give back for all that I've been given.
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