Below is the overview of our ride.
Click here to read the full report. Flash player required.
We started at 6am, Saturday morning and finished at around 4:30am. The key word is finished.
The ride out to Baraboo, the halfway mark, was mostly a tailwind, so Eric and I made great time. Our plan was to be back around midnight, and we would have been, until all hell broke loose, when we arrived in Baraboo. I tried to call Roy, just for fun, to tell him what he was missing, but no answer. Just before entering the town of Baraboo, we saw these firemen on top of this hill. I wasn't sure what they were doing there, until we heard tornado sirens going off in Baraboo.
A large line of very bad weather was going through Baraboo, and east, the way we had to ride.
We hung around Baraboo, for 2.5 hours hoping the storm would pass. It did, so Eric and I took off. Soon, it started to rain again, plus wind. You could see some storm damage, trees down, flooded roads, water racing down the sides of the road. I mean a lot of water. Once we got to Devils Lake, there was just tons of water on the road, some moving quite fast across it. The sun came out for a bit, but due to the amount of water, we were very wet. Some ass, with his car flies across this very large lake in the road, and just sprays us from head to toe.
Once we hit Lodi, everything fell apart. Keep in mind there are tornado warnings nearby, and watches. We leave Lodi with a 100 miles to go, and as soon as we hit some very good climbs, the rain comes down in bucks, plus strong winds. We make it to Columbus, and it’s still raining, and getting colder. The skies also look very ominous. When we arrive at the control point, Rich (the beer guy), Anna and John were there. People asked us, why are you riding in the rain, and in the dark. They also told us the town was flooded, and you’ll need to take another way.
At this point, the five of us decided to ride the rest way together, and given what came next, it was a very good idea. So, we decided to stay on our route. When we got into town, a small creek that runs through Columbus, turned into the Amazon. The police were there, and not allowing any cars to pass. The police said, "there’s no good way to get around" the swollen creek. So, given our options, we asked – "can we walk through it?" They said, "sure", and thought we were crazy. We were already soaked, and so we carried our bikes across, about 300 feet to the other side. The town folks were taking pictures of us, and thought we were nuts too I guess. The deepest point was about up to your knees, with a current. I think it’s time for some new SiDi’s. Not sure, but the water looked like it had some floaters in it.
After leaving Columbus, we had a tailwind, not sure why, the weather up there was going crazy. Then we heard the tornado sirens going off behind us, about five miles out. I turned around, and the skies looked like they were going to swallow us up. Very scary, to be honest. Nonetheless, we kept riding.
Waterloo, WI - during a tornado watch
As we neared this small town called Waterloo, it started to rain again. So Rich said, "lets stop." So we stopped at this gas station. While waiting for the rain to stop, or at least to ease a bit, this cop pulls up. She wanted to tell us there was a tornado watch until 3am, in the direction we were headed. The station was closing at 11pm, and our next control point was 13 miles away. So, we decided to go for it. The rain is still coming down, and it’s dark, and the skies look scary as hell, just like the Wizard of Oz. At times, the wind was blowing around 40+, and rain hurt when it hit your face, bare skin. Oh, did I mention the thunder and lightening part.
We arrived at the control point, what a relief. I asked the clerk, is there a tornado watch in effect around here, she was not aware. She did put on the weather radio. From what I could hear no. Only serve thunder storms, okay we can handle that. So, we push off to our last control stop in Whitewater. We arrive around 2am. Again, people would ask us, what are you people doing, riding at night, and this crap weather. We also would tell them, we’ve been on the road since 6am, and riding 250 miles. This always blows them away.
At around 2:30am, the five of us push off, for the last 20 miles back to the Super 8 Motel in Delavan. It’s still raining, hard at times, with some thunder, and lightening off in the distance. I felt pretty sure, the tornado's were gone. We were all getting tried, and were cold. But the climbs kept us warm. Six miles out, I get a flat, in the rear. Eric thought I crashed into the brushes, since he didn’t see my light. Eric came back to help me, thanks Eric. And so did the others.
It was great to see the Super 8 sign. Our hands looked terrible, from all the water. I thought riding in the rain with Bill aka Frog was bad. I was amazed with these folks who rode with us. Hardcore comes to mind. Plus, Anna, what a tremendous rider, and was always up beat.
On my way to my car this morning, I checked to see who else came in, after we did. I was surprised no one! Some quit, and according to Frank, he had at least 12 riders still out there, and it was still raining, hard. Those poor bastards. Frank is going to decide if he will extend the time, since the weather was so bad. Two riders came in before us (just two, that’s it), this guy named Bill, and this young kid, actually I think they’re both 30 or under. They never really stopped, only to get their cards
stamped, and missed most of the bad stuff.
What a ride! The full report above has photos.
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