Today Was Fun!

This morning we woke to sunshine! Such a nice change from the depressing past few days. But the snow line was very low on the mountains...

Ann shoulder checks before veering around a flooded section of road.

Yesterday afternoon I sucked it up and went outside anyway when it looked like the rain had stopped. After one pedal stroke out of the driveway, it started to sprinkle, but I didn't care. I needed to ride! And ride I did. After a few minutes, the drizzle subsided and I rode out towards Trilogy and then to Mecca, avoiding the German Shepherds on Jackson.

Check out the snow!

Mecca was flooded - everyone's yard was underwater along with many streets. The construction zone where we got muddy last week was a bog, but I churned through it all and climbed through the lemon, pampelmousse, red pepper, and lettuce fields with my eye on Box Canyon. Before I could even enter the canyon, I was stopped by a roadblock - the road was closed due to flooding. I considered riding through anyway, but then I looked over my shoulder in the direction of home and saw a huge black bank of clouds moving towards me. Now I'm not that familiar with desert life and flash floods, but a narrow canyon that's already flooded didn't seem like the smartest place to enter, especially with another rainstorm on its way.

I reluctantly headed back. Cruising down towards Mecca, I heard this odd noise that I almost ignored. It was kind of a grunting/heavy breathing. I glanced over my left shoulder at where the noise originated and saw a pitbull givin'er - he was running so hard, he couldn't even bark! Holy crap! I stood up on the pedals and sprinted away. When I sprinted for what I thought was sufficient time to tire him out or bore him, I looked back again, but he was still there and GAINING on me. So I sprinted some more, longer this time. Finally I lost him, but man was I bagged. Riding back through the mud in Mecca I was treated to some catcalls and then it was a slow death march into the headwind that was bringing the storm towards me. It was only a matter of time before the clouds let loose and I was pelted with rain. I hammered all the way home and was very glad to take a hot shower. It felt really good to get out, so I'm glad I went when I did!

That evening, Ann, Leah, and I discovered a new Feat of Strength: shooting apple cider vinegar out of the Coyote Ugly shot glass we bought Leah for her various potions that she's been taking to heal her tummy. She read that drinking apple cider vinegar is good for digestion, so she tried to drink it mixed with hot water, which naturally tasted disgusting and there was no way she
was finishing off the big mug of it one sip at a time. We told her: "Just shoot it." And she said: "I'll do it if you do it." So I said: "Okay." Leah proceeded to pour me a big ol' shot of vinegar, which I then threw down my gullet. My tummy still burns, but it only drew one tear (as illustrated). Leah and Ann both tried it, but I won the feat of strength, because I took the whole thing in one gulp and didn't wince or gag. Must be all those tequila shots I do....

We prepped for our ride today in our own specific ways (see Leah's smorgasbord vs. mine below) with the intention of doing 5+ hours, including White Water Canyon, which I've never seen. On our way from La Quinta (southeast Coachella Valley) to Palm Springs (west) Leah flatted twice because of a worn-out tire. We were running out of tubes and we hadn't even gotten out of Palm Springs yet! We decided to stop at Palm Springs Cyclery in order to stock up on tubes and get Leah a new rear tire (after Ann and I patched the old one with a Clif Blocks wrapper and electrical tape - I never thought I'd be thanking Mike for covering up all of my Felt logos on my stem, bar, and seatpost, but here I am). "Just put it on my tab," said Leah, regarding the tire and tubes.

Leah's various pills, potions, and unctions... yum!

My smorgasbord - perfect fuel for an epic ride! *Note gel is for emergencies only.

Back on the road, we parted ways with Ann and headed on Highway 111 towards White Water straight into a killer strong headwind interspersed with wicked gusts that buffeted us all over the shoulder and threatened to topple us into the cacti and sand - at least it was blowing us away from traffic. I saw the rock and was totally avoiding it, right as a gust swept me into its path and my rear wheel hit it hard. I prayed for a few seconds, but it didn't help, because I quickly heard the telltale hissing noise. Flat number three. I started to fix it, but suddenly a few grains of sand that had found their way under my glasses while riding became incredibly uncomfortable when they started rubbing against my eyeball. Oh joy. Nothing like the feeling on sandpaper on the cornea. It became so painful that I was basically incapacitated. Couldn't even open my eye. I was ready to call it quits, but Leah didn't want to turn back. While cars careened by us on the highway, Leah pried my eye open and squirted water into it from her bottle. She's such a slave driver, but she saved the day. Not only did she fix my tire for me, she also got me my sight back. I owe you, buddy!

Leah fixing one of three flats.

Back on the bikes and back into the headwind, we soldiered on, taking the White Water exit and crossing the I-10. I had no idea how much longer it was to White Water Canyon, so I felt a bit apprehensive, but good ol' Leah assured me it would be okay. We turned up White Water Canyon road and still had the wind in our faces on the climb. There was lots of sand on the road from all the flooding and we had to ride through streams as well, which Leah wasn't happy about, because it was cold.

"Canada House" on the way up White Water Canyon.

Suddenly we were treated to an amazing view of stunning white mountains and soon after we stopped because of a very large river across the road. Cars were driving through slowly, but we definitely would have gotten our feet wet - maybe even our knees....

Flooding!

Taking a dive off the deep end.

The way back was super fun with the tailwind, but we almost got blown off the road because of crosswinds. On Highway 111, Leah and I pacelined at over 50kph. Wheeeee! I was itching to get home, so when I got pulls at the front while riding through Palm Springs, Leah claimed I was going hard. I was just going with the flow. Maybe to get me back for hammering, Leah took me on a (de)tour of Palm Springs, heading north when we were supposed to head south, taking me in circles. Suddenly it was 4:30 pm with only half an hour of daylight left and at least one hour of riding to go.... That's when we pulled into Starbucks and called Ann to get us. Thanks Mom!

Aww... epic adventure buddies.

Now I'm in my jammies (and I've been in them since 6:00 pm) all showered, fed, and warm, and looking for a hot tub before bed. Yawn. Tomorrow we're planning a double day. Nighty night!

Leah riding into the sunset.