Another day of rain

While we were able to escape the rain for the most part on the past two days, we were not so lucky today. We had rain and mist until we got a couple of miles outside of Fort Bragg. Doc took a bump a few miles down the road and started his ride from there. Ron, Jim H., and I started from the hotel. Jim was ready to call it a day after about ten miles. I echoed his sentiments at about 20 miles. Our SAG was at 23 miles. The rain/mist seemed to have stopped for a minute or two. We had climbed 1600 feet by then and averaged only 12.4 mph. I had intended to do the Leggett Hill climb, adding another 1100 feet by mile 29. I have had problems shifting into the granny ring while under pressure and I would have needed it on grades that got up to 16 percent. Maybe I could have toughed it out in the middle chain ring, but the rain took out any desire to do it.

After the summit, Ron and Doc had a nice 9 mile descent. This descent has over 100 turns to the bottom. They had to hold back because of the wet road and pine needles on the road. It seems to rain harder when you descend, but it is just the speed that makes it seem so. They get another chance at a great descent tomorrow going into Cloverdale. The second SAG was on the ocean. I was tempted for awhile to get back on the road but know that I would have regretted it within a couple of miles as I would have been quite chilled. We could finally see blue sky as we entered Fort Bragg and the skies cleared quite nicely within one hour of our arrival.

Thanks to Rosy and Jordan, Ira, and Bob for your comments.

Ron and Doc at the second SAG. Notice the sign "Sunny days ahead". We hope that the rest of the trip is sunny!

Cypress (?) tree with misty ocean background.