Nature’s Punches

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Joey here.

Let me tell you about GoreTex.

It repels water … for a while.

Here’s Jeffrey, wearing rain gear supplied by Nancy, ready to roll into this morning’s pelting rain.

Photo courtesy of …
… Nick, General Manager of the hotel, who took interest in the Ride. He invited Jeffrey to call him directly when next we need a room in Lancaster.

The rain—sometimes heavy, always blown with stinging force into Jeffrey’s face by ferocious headwinds augmented by our speed—didn’t pause until 3 PM.

No one but us was crazy enough to be in the open today. By “us”, I mean Jeffrey. I was safe in a waterproof bag.

Wisconsin Highway 81 is lined with wind turbines—for good reason. The wind that held us back spun the blades at a rapid clip. The blade tips disappeared into the day’s low clouds.

Jeffrey got so wet taking that photo that he didn’t attempt another.

Four hours into our journey, Jeffrey’s jacket and gloves were leaking.

To get a break from the rain, he parked us under a roofed 4-lane drive-through at a huge bank (closed today, Sunday) in tiny Darlington. When he began to shiver, he left me and ducked into a nearby McDonald’s.

Jeffrey explained our mission to Diana, and asked whether the restaurant could spare a pair of disposable food preparation gloves.

Diana, holding our calling card. Note the official (spoof) logo on her shirt.

Diana asked what size gloves. “Extra large, just in case.” She told her colleagues about us. Then she brought us several pairs.

Now Jeffrey could put on his wet gloves.

Six hours into our journey, as we left Wisconsin, the rain paused.

Illinois pigs frolicked in the delicious dry air.
Two dimensions don’t convey the plunge of this last of many steep hills before we reached Stockton.
Our hotelier, who grew up in Gujarat, gave us the Human Rights First Ambassador discount. We even got a room with a view!

Difficulties notwithstanding, we made progress today.

Our learned Christian friend Daler posted in the comments:

The day is short and the work is plentiful …[Rabbi Tarfon] used to say: It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it…” (Pirkei Avot 2:15-16)

Pirkei Avot 2:15-16

We plan to finish the Ride, if not the work the Ride supports.

Therefore we roll every day. Rain or shine. Fair wind or foul. With or without the punches.

4 thoughts on “Nature’s Punches”

  2. I would like to send you a wool sweater and wool sox. Wool keeps you warm even if wet!
    Any chance there’s a mail drop on this trip?
    ~ irene

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    • Joey here.

      What a kind offer! Thank you!

      But we’ll be ok.

      Jeffrey already took his brother’s similar advice and has wool socks.

      In the next all-day rain, in lieu of sweater, Jeffrey will top the GoreTex jacket with the waterproof rain cape we carry in our big yellow drybag. The key is to dig out the cape before the rain gets heavy, and before Jeffrey’s jacket soaks through. That requires planning.

      I’ll remind Jeffrey if I can. It’s hard to be heard over the sounds of motors, wind and weather.

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  3. We always enjoy following your ride, Jeffrey. As fellow cyclists, we certain can empathize when the rain pours and the wind blows… But it always passes! Good thinking about the disposable gloves.

    All our best wishes go with you as you ride on!

    Deborah Z and Matt G

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