I’m sorry, Paul, but she got a little bit wet today. Not a lot, mind you, just a few splatters and sprinkles. Wet pavement, but no puddles.

Chris and I left for Lawrence at just after 8. On the way, the temperature climbed from 43 to 52, and only got warmer as the day went on. Also, on the way, we encountered a couple spots of rain. Little did we know what that foreshadowed. Arriving in town, we found a Lawrence beat up like I’d never seen it before. Before we even got into town we saw highway signs bent over at the ground, telephone poles ripped out and sticks and branches strewn about some willy and all nilly. A little bit into town and we saw trees completely uprooted and slung atop cars, fences torn asunder and both streetlights and storefronts dark with a certain lack of power. Every intersection was a 4 way stop.

We stopped at Dillon’s for some water and ice, and moved on when informed that it was closed on account of no power. Fortunately, Target across town had power. Marveling at the carnage, we decided to get a bite at IHOP. We then decided not to given the line out into the parking lot. Apparently, a lot of people were out of power, and decided to go out to eat where someone did have power. I called Mel to find out if she could tell me what the forecast looked like, but she was a block away at First Watch doing exactly what everyone else was doing. In talking with her, I realized that a tornado had torn through town no more than half an hour earlier!

Breakfast being just out of reach, we went on to the trail head and set out. It was Chris’ first ride since he was 15, and my first ride on the new Torelli, and it was awesome! Aside from the two stops to move trees out of the way and the sprinkling of twigs and sticks, it was smooth sailing. The only disappointment was that it was too short. It’s a 20 mile out and back, and maybe it’s the new bike, or maybe I’m in better shape, but it just wasn’t long enough. Granted, we were both tired, but we could have kept going had there only been more path to carry us.

We finished up around noon, just in time for the rain and wind to return.

All in all, a very nice ride. I have to admit, I was a little worried about the cleats. I was worried about feeling trapped… chained, if you will, to the bike on account of not being used to the cleats. I needn’t have worried. It felt natural almost immediately. I had problems getting clipped in a couple of times, with a knot on one shin to prove it, but other than that, found that I like them a lot better than the toe clips I used to have.