Memories of RAO: from Dale to Spray and Time Station 5.

The sun was coming up when we reached the summit of Ritter Butte. The plain was golden and treeless. Its southern edge lay 10 miles in the distance, bounded by a mountain range much higher and steeper than the one we’d just come over.

The thought of riding into those mountains troubled me.

There was a wall rainclouds swallowing them up. It was so black it seemed like night was falling beneath them.  Above, the sky was blue and bright, but it offered me little solace. A mighty wind was blowing up the road right into me. The storm was moving this direction.

I suppose there were moments when I cursed that wind. Mostly, I was feeling the elation of riding all night and seeing the sunrise.  I kept my head tucked low and the pedals turning fast and thanked God this wasn’t a cross wind.

After a time, the town of Long Creek came into view. It was little more than a gas station, a store, and a few houses gathered round a four-way junction. Storm clouds swept down from the mountains like fast moving waves.  Long purple trails of rain dragged along the earth behind them.

When I reached the junction I got off the bike and told Justin I wanted my rain gear.

“Are you sure you shouldn’t keep riding?”

I don’t think I answered him.  I just got into the van to stay dry and out of the rain while I put on a wool jersey, knickers, a rain jacket, and booties. Even as I changed I could see the sky clearing to the west. By the time I was back on the bike and riding, the storm had blown through and the headwind that had slowed me was now a cross-wind pushing me toward the western edge of the butte.

I had wasted valuable time changing clothes and now I was hot and sweating. I wanted out of this rain gear, but doing so soon would be admitting to Justin that I’d blown it. I waited until my crew had driven up the road and was out of sight, and I took of my jacket.

Ignoring Justin’s advice would become a pattern. I would find more excuses to get off the bike to take care of simple things that a day earlier I would have managed while riding. Even more threatening was my refusal to eat, which by late afternoon had slowed my pace to a crawl.

But for the moment, I had outrun this storm and I was near the front of this Race Across Oregon.  I was feeling good, and I was only too happy to give in to the  illusion.

Tags: Rain Gear, RAO

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