Today was supposed to be one of those run-of-the-mill, 30-mile Wednesdays. It couldn’t be much further as I am nursing the remnants of my two-week cold. Out of the house at 10:30, I headed for the glass recycling bin with an empty queso jar in my handlebar bag. After my deposit, I rode a 11-mile meander to the gym where I began my second full year of self abuse on eight upper body workstations. You’d be amazed at how buff I have become. Actually, the only thing buff about me is the Buff neck gaiter I wear to protect me from the sun.

Speaking of the sun, I failed to mention that it was hot and muggy, again. I can ride forever in heat. I can ride for ages in humidity. Put them together and I am lucky to stay upright. Thankfully, the gym is air conditioned so my workout allowed for recovery from the elements.

After the gym I did a five-mile, flat recover ride that ended up at a hardware store (also conveniently air conditioned) were I bought some things for a lawn project I am working on.

Next I headed north on side streets toward the Potomac Yard Metro station. The view of the skies ahead for the entire mile-and-a-half ride was ominous. Black clouds were building. As I approached the turn-around just shy of the station, winds increased and began to swirl, stirring up road grit in the process. Some of the grit managed to get into my right eye, temporarily blinding me. I stopped to wash my eye out with the water in one of my bottles. Man, did it sting. A minute later all was calm in my eye but the wind storm was anything but. The trees were bending. The gust were coming seemingly from all directions. Drizzle, drazzle, druzzle, drome, time for this one to go home.

Fortunately for me, the turn for home was greeting with a gale force tail wind. I immediately accelerated and cruised to the Old Town Alexandria waterfront. With each passing city block the sprinkles turned to light rain turned to….a raging thunderstorm. As I rode, I scanned my surroundings for places to take shelter. During my reconnaissance I became completely drenched. The temperature dropped noticeably, making stopping a bad idea. Better to be wet and riding in puddles than wet and shivering under an awning.

I forged ahead. BOOM. The water on my sunglasses blinded me. I used my handy dandy index finger wiper blades. I was doing okay until Jones Point Park where my helmet smacked into a rain-laden tree branch. Doink! I looked up and saw cascades of water spewing into the river as they poured through drainage conduits on the Wilson Bridge.

I made my way to the Mount Vernon Trail still getting poured on. The tailwind made up for any discomfort. The handful of trail users headed my way seemed to be enjoying their slog into the storm. My attention was focused on the trees along the trail. Having made it within six mile of home, I would have hated to have a tree limb (or entire tree) come down on me. That sort of think can ruin your whole day. Runoff from the adjacent GW Parkway gushed across the trail as I continued south.

About four miles from home, the storm eased. I could see what looked like blue sky through the raindrops on my glasses. About a mile from home I sensed that I had dried out sufficiently to shop for some stakes for my lawn project. The neighborhood variety store didn’t have any but I made sure to leave them a puddle on their floor for their assistance anyway. I found what I was looking for in the hardware store. Hardware stores are generally more tolerant of scuzzy customers so I felt no guilt about my soggy appearance.

I bought six metal stakes that I managed to bungee to my rear rack. They rattled a bit but stayed in place for the last mile home. I am thankful that I didn’t clip them with my leg as I dismounted. It would have been a major drag to end my wee adventure by fall ungracefully onto the wet lawn.

Soggy but proud I came to realize some benefits of my ordeal. I had planned to water the lawn in preparation for my project tomorrow. No need! And the early Nats game was delayed so I could watch most of it on TV. They were down 8-0 after eight innings so I also got in a nap.