ridecamp@endurance.net: FW: Rainy Ride Ramblings

FW: Rainy Ride Ramblings

Steph Teeter (step@fsr.com)
Tue, 9 Dec 1997 09:17:15 -0800

> --------------------------------------------------
> We went to the Oak Springs ride in sunny S. Calif this last weekend so thought I
> would post!
>
> EL NINO to hit S Calif hard, world to end!!! You have to just love the media, they
> take a story and run with it. El Nino only means more rain, a concern in low lying areas
> etc but use your head.
> Drove over the grapevine, 7% grade I think, light 1994 3/4 ton chevy, 350 auto pulling
> a 9000 lb gooseneck into the driving rain and headwind. First gear in my automatic, 27
> mph in the truck lane. This truck now has 99,000 miles on it, never in for a repair yet.
> Hit rush hour traffic in LA, what a joy, felt sorry for the horses who had to endure a
> 6 hour trailer ride to camp. It was not raining at camp thank goodness, got set up,
> vetted in and went to bed. The rain started about 4 as Lynne posted. It sure felt good
> in the trailer and no, I didn't get out and put our 3 horses in the trailer.
> Got up an hour before and went down to the rec hall where coffee and donuts were being
> served and WHAT!!!, they are talking about canceling the ride. As long as it is safe we
> should go I think. The RM asks how many are willing to start and most raise their hands
> so we are off.
> Got hit by a heavy downpour just after starting, our rain gear worked very well except
> my feet were sloshing around in my waterproof boots. It seems the polar fleece pants
> wicked the moisture right inside my boots! But wool socks kept me from freezing.
> Anyway the terrain could handle the water quite well and was not dangerous and only
> slick in a few places but not bad or mucky. We brought up the rear most of the day and
> finished near last but had a great ride. In normal conditions the footing would be good
> and I think it would be a moderate ride, sub 5 hours.
> The volunteers were terrific, food, grain, carrots etc at the vet checks.
> The weather and the media had to be a terrible headache for the ride manager, she lost
> over half her entries due to the weather forcast and media blitz. However she never got
> angry or negative, she handled it so well and the volunteers really cheered us on. And
> as a plug for us Bakersfield riders, 5 had signed up, 5 showed up and 5 finished the 50.
>
>
> Jim Mitchell
> Bakersfield, Ca.

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