Loved the rain

Really, we both did. It didn't hurt that it didn't last too long, but it was quite a downpour while it lasted.

Raven had seen that rain was expected today, so we were relieved to see blue sky when we got up. We had decided to make a relaxed start today. Not too many miles, and the thought of taking it very easy as the day began was very appealing to me. So by the time we rode out it was about 10:30 and we were beginning to see some clouds. Oh, well. Maybe it would happen, maybe not.

There was a little bit of a headwind/crosswind for much of the first twenty miles or so, never enough to be frustrating. We met Liz & Raven for lunch at a little spot on the route. Today we had plenty of choices. We sat around & enjoyed everything but the yellowjackets that were competing for our food. There was a lighthouse right down the street and a family with a cute baby boy at the next table. A horse-drawn carriage went by at a pretty good pace; it had handwritten signs on it advertising blueberries.

The clouds were getting bigger & closer. We set out hoping there would be no thunder this time. Our route today spent much of its time along the shores of Lake Erie, our third Great Lake. The system is interesting. The road is mostly a mile or so inland, and maybe 50-100 feet above the water level. As you approach a town, you head down a short, steepish little hill, pass through town, and head back up a hill. The climbs are very short, but several today were about 14%. All the towns we went through today, whether or not they had a commercial district, followed that pattern.

Just a few miles after our lunch stop we started to feel a few drops. Suddenly, the drops were pounding down. I could feel them stinging my arms through my rain jacket. But it was warm rain & I didn't bother to cover my legs. I have also been wearing Keen sandals with cleats since Montana got warm, so my socks were wringing wet almost immediately. I dropped a bit farther back from Bruce to avoid the "rooster tail" effect. A few Amish or Mennonite women were doing some farm work by the side of the road just then. They waved & smiled & seemed quite pleased to see us splashing along. Then the rain stopped as quickly as it had started.

We rode another several miles, and it happened again. This time, we were by a field of corn. The drops pounding down on the corn made a sound sort of like a large audience applauding. Nice effect. Then we went down & up one of the little hills. I stopped to cover my handlebar bag so Bruce got a bit ahead. I could see the water accumulating in the mini-valley created by the dip in the road. It is easy to see how quickly such a spot could be dangerously flooded. I could see tiny streams beginning to form. As I was beginning to climb back up, a soda can actually floated by. It had been raining for maybe two or three minutes. It was already stopping by the time I got to the top of the little hill.

The rain left the air wonderfully clear and the colors vivid. It also left us full of energy and although we are tired, we both thought of this as a great day.

Ontario is very picturesque and bike friendly. The towns along the lake are appealing - at least in the summertime. We are lucky to have chosen the Lake Erie connector section of the route.

I forgot to mention yesterday that Raven pointed out an interesting place when she drove us up to the restrooms. Just before we got there, we saw a restaurant called The Country Kitchen. On the same sign it advertised its other business: abbatoir. Sorry - I could not help being glad it was closed on Sunday.

In answer to Velo Girl's comment on the pepper spray, we were not actually surprised by the question. We housed a guy through Warm Showers a couple of years ago. He was riding from northern Alaska to Patagonia, camping, unsupported. Naturally, he had pepper spray in case a grizzly got too friendly. When he entered Canada, he was told he'd have to give it up - not allowed to bring it into the country. When he expressed anxiety about bear encounters, the customs agent told him not to worry, he could just go across the street & buy some more. Makes you feel all warm & protected, doesn't it? Like knowing there's no tube of toothpaste bigger that three ounces on your flights.

Miles today: 67
Total so far: 3478