Deb writes:
FIFTY mph winds. Nickel-sized hail and FIVE inches of rain.
They evacuated us to a community building where we
had just the clothes we were wearing and our pillows.
We slept on a concrete floor. The saga continues.
After the storm
After last night's violent storms and
our attempts to get a little sleep on a concrete floor,
we made our way back to the campsite to survey the damages.
We were lucky that we had Cathy's Tahoe available to us
so we could shove all of our gear into it
before they evacuated us to the community center.
We had to leave our bikes behind, which was quite troublesome to all of us.
This morning we were 390 miles into a 475-mile trip.
We hadn't come this far to have our bikes tossed to the Kansas wind gods.
Luckily, Lee had done a great job of securing them
as soon as the skies had begun to look threatening.
"Civilization" . . .
We were so excited this morning as we rode
into Hiawatha and saw this Walmart,
the first one we had seen on our entire trip.
There is still plenty of money to be made by the Walton family;
Cathy & I would be happy to consult on how they can
not only make some MORE cash, but make a lot of people very happy.
Can you imagine having to drive 60 miles just to get to a Walmart?
We stayed in towns that you had to drive 20 miles to get a tank of gas.
Some towns have so few resources their restaurants
change their lunch specials once a month instead of daily.
Thank goodness it was Chicken Fried Steak month.
It certainly has made us appreciate the comforts of home.
How appropriate that as we rolled into Troy this afternoon,
the first road sign that we saw was Last Chance Rd.
When we were just two blocks from the school where we would find our tents,
the skies opened up again.
I failed to see or appreciate Mother Nature's sense of humor.
The farmers in that part of the state need the rain so badly,
but gee I wish it had come next week.
And now I have a confession to make.
When it started raining, we made a run for the car.
I had had it. My fun meter was completely pegged.
More than once on this trip I thought of an expression my Mom used to use:
When you think you're at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.
That knot had completely loosened and I looked at Cathy & Lee and said,
"I'm heading for the closest hotel I can find."
This afternoon, we had our first warm and PRIVATE shower.
We have totally clean clothes that haven't been exposed to wind, rain or dust.
and for the first time in over a week,
we're going to sleep in a bed without the walls
of a tent blowing in on us all night.
We will get up in the morning and be able to brush our teeth
without having to wait in a line or share a sink with anyone.
What toes look like after five days of ROLLING 4 RESCUE . . .
The trade-off is that tomorrow we will have to ride about 35 miles
instead of the 17 that are posted on the route map if you have been following it.
It will be worth every extra mile.
Meara sent us a picture this afternoon to let us know
that all this activity has completely worn her out.
We agree, so now we are going to lie down for a little nap
before we go downstairs and eat anything on the menu
that isn't pasta or pulled pork.
Look for our final update tomorrow.
Then, after we have had a chance to rest for a couple of days,
Cathy, Lee & I will shaire our final thoughts on this adventure.
It is NOT too late to donate to our fundraising efforts.
If you haven't done so, please consider doing so soon.
The bank is always open at National Airedale Rescue
THE ROUTE IS HERE
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