It's A Soft Pelt...

When we were in Ireland in '98 we saw the weirdest thing!  And believe it or not, I am NOT talking about the bloated cow on the beach....The pics below are from '05 because the first trip was not digital...

But on the shore cliffs of County Clare, we watched a sheet of rain come across the ocean.  Straight across at least a few miles wide.  It came closer and closer to shore.  It was incredible to watch.  Almost as if a huge sheet of glass was closing in on you...  It was a sunny day with no clouds that you could see, but the rain hit us softly for about 5 seconds then continued inland and we watched the sheet of rain move past.  Now I definitely know what they mean by a "soft rain"...

Last night, we got a shock on the way out of town to Bible study.  A *buck nekkid* RAGBRAI rider was at the gas pumps in town.  I didn't even think about why he was pumping gas with a bike until much later.  WHY???!!!  My main concern was making sure Meri was watching the bikers wearing the kilts instead.  Sorry - no pictures...

After class, the girls and I had to stop for some shopping and we didn't see any lemonade in the coolers there, so I suggested we stop at Wendy's for some Frostys for the way home.  They said Okey Dokey.

The breeze had picked up a little and it felt really good... even though it still felt like a furnace vent...  The temps were around 103-106 still at 8:30pm at night.  It had gotten a lot darker, but I figured that we were in Walmart a good long time.  We pulled up to Wendy's and I ordered, then pulled up to wait at the window.  We watched the dark sky and marveled, hoping we'd get some rain!

Looking past the car in front of us, Meri and I watched in awe.  Darkness was falling fast and seemed to be coming towards us like a sheet of dark.  With garbage in it....  I asked, pointing, "Is that rain?!"

It actually was but mixed with horrific swirling wind speeds.  It came up over the curb and hit us suddenly!

As soon as it did, it shook the car.  Leaves and garbage blew all around us and even more as the car ahead pulled away.  My debit card almost flew away as the wind whipped.  Maddy got a text from a weather channel about severe weather.  So Meri turned on the radio and there were bulletins about a thunderstorm warning with the loud BEEPs in front of the warning. Take cover immediately!!!

Uh oh...

The girls said, "SKIP the Frostys!!"  I said, "No way!!!"  We got them and pulled away.  About half way to the interstate, the rain started with a fury.


YAY!  Our yard really needs this!!!  I just thought that I hope we're able to enjoy a green lawn again... In person...  The girls and I prayed.  A lot...  Windshield wipers flung like mad so I could see the road.  Robb called and was surprised we were still out in it.  He had driven separately and was already home with Tiffany and Leon.  He hung up so I could concentrate on driving.  Maddy made a comment that soon we'll be on the interstate and it will be better.

Before we got to it, she had her bible out and randomly pointed to Isaiah 12.  By the light of her cell phone, she read the whole chapter.  Wow... It fit the bill. Meri's panic was starting to calm down a little.  My fingers were still gripped around the steering wheel but I knew everything was going to be ok, one way or another.  Trust in God.  Trust in God.

We got on the interstate.  It was not as reassuring as Maddy had led us to believe... Because that's when the hail started!

PING!

PING!! PING! PONG! PING!!!!

You get the idea...

I drove through as best as I could but had to slow down due to not being able to see the edge of the road and the down pour of rain.  The windshield wipers only go so fast...  And that was speed was already giving me seizures... (I kid... no seizures!  Just blood pressure raising!)  We prayed again as I drove.

In my mind I thought that there were no more overpasses between where we were and our exit and the wind, rain and hail was really pounding us.  I pulled over to the side of the road to wait it out for a minute.  Putting my hazard lights on, which I really had to hunt for since I so rarely use them and was driving Robb's car...  found them.

We sat.  Letting the ping ping pong ping hit around us louder and louder.  Maddy suddenly said, "TURN the wipers back on!"  I did.  Just ahead in the distance we could just make out an overpass!!!  I waited until a bundle of semis passed and I floored it.  Got to the overpass and snugged up behind a jeep that was already huddled in on the shoulder.  He pulled ahead just a smidgen so I could get farther under.

THANK YOU MISTER!!!

Mad texted Robb and he called back to tell us to just be safe and not take any chances.  The storm was going to have a few more serious waves and if we had to sit under the overpass for an hour, it would be safer than trying for home.  We were only 5 miles away...

Somewhere during our interstate driving, I remembered the RAGBRAI riders...  Oh dear!  I hope they were able to find shelter before this thing hit!  We prayed for their safety and I had Meri text my brother to see if he was safe.  He texted back almost immediately.  Apparently Tuesdays heat did him in and he caught a ride home.  He was home safe and sound!

THANK YOU GOD!!!

The Jeep decided to take off.  I pulled ahead a little bit.  The car that was snugged up behind me decided to leave too.  It looked like the hail had stopped, so the girls and I thought about it for a few minutes then made the decision to run for home too.  The wind and rain was still terrible but we got to our exit and slowly made our way to town.  Backed into the driveway so that when the rain finally DID subside, "someone" (that is not me) would be able to unload the groceries easily.

Another prayer of thankfulness and we dashed inside.

This morning the lawn is still glistening with droplets.  And the neighbors yard has this...

It's amazing what prayer and a "soft pelt" can do...

Get Them Doggies Rollin'!

R.A.G.B.R.A.I. is rolling through our town today!   What the heck is THAT you say??!  

R.A.G.B.R.A.I. stands for (Des Moines) Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.

A lot shorter way of saying there will be more than 10,000 bicylists riding across your great state, some drunk or with great hangovers and/or sunburns.

My brother rides it *almost* every year.  He had to take a year off to break his back, but he's right back in the thick of things again.

For several years, his sons, or at least one rode with him.  For a couple years, Ryan rode along for a day when it was near us.  Each day of the RAGBRAI week, they ride about 90 miles or so and then party hard in the town they're staying overnight in.  

Mark had shown Ryan how to de-nerdify his ride and his look.  Ryan got the official team Marley t-shirt, head and wrist bands.  Mark ripped off the sleeves and gave him bumper stickers to decorate all over the $600 bike Mark advised him to get.  Well, us to go in halves with Ryan for Christmas...  Mark loaned him some packs to attach for his stuff and they were OFF!

Doesn't Ryan look cool?  Yep - completely de-nerdified!

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The above pics are from 2008.  AND it looks like that was Mark's bike...  Could only find the one when he actually got the thing... It's blue.

This year, our town is about half way through their days ride.  So there shouldn't be anything too weird going on in town.  80% of the townsfolk though are sitting down on the main drag through town in tents and selling stuff to the bikers rolling through.  

This morning before work, I drove out to the cardtrol pumps and caught a few over eager bikers cycle into town.  These are the ones who may party, but it's early and they're on the roads by 6am the next morning.  

They're in it to win!  

I parked the car and walked with my camera out to the highway to see if any bikers were coming into town.  Out by the cemetery I saw a tent with some of our locals there playing music on loud speakers and welcoming the visitors.  I had to chuckle when I heard what they were playing.

Rolling Rolling Rolling, get them doggies rolling! Rawhide!

 These pics are from this morning.

8:00am

I plan to spend my lunch time out there and watch them doggies ride into town.  

It's a major event!  

I'll update this post with more substantial biker shots throughout the day.

10:30am