Riding Through the Storm

Cache Valley Century August 23, 2014

Rich is doing LOTOJA in two weeks and needs miles.  The Cache Valley Century is perfect.  I can do 60 miles in the time it takes him to do 100.  Our anniversary is on the 24^th – there is not a better place to be than Logan, Ut where we met over 43 years ago.  The night before was stormy and I was hesitating about riding.  But the morning turned out beautiful.  Cool enough for long sleeves and a jacket that could be put away if it warmed up. 

I love that ride.  I love the smell of the farmland.  It is fun to see the difference between the crops from Little Red in June to maturity in August.  I love the smell of the dairies. (odd, I know but it reminds me of my youth). 

Imagine an Arrow far away where there are no trees

My garmin had said 58 miles and since I thought I was only going 60 – I am excited thinking that I am only 2 miles from the end and then I see a sign that says 5 miles.  I was bummed to say the least.   But I really had no choice.   Then it started to hail.  At first I thought it was rain because I couldn’t see hail on the road.  How come this rain hurts so badly?  Those must be huge drops to hurt like that.  Then I realized it was hail.  I stopped and put on my jacket.  I knew it wouldn’t keep me dry, but at that point I was just hoping to ease the pain.  I have a very low pain tolerance and I know that.  So be it.   Anyhow as I am looking up the road – there is not a tree in sight.  That beautiful farmland that I love so much was now barren of any protection.   I looked for anything that would give me respite from the hail, but there was nothing.  I even saw a combine and the thought went through my head – could I get some shelter – but it was too far off the road.  The only choice was to keep riding.  I couldn’t go back – there was no turning around.  I thought I need to ride faster – but I was afraid of all the water on the road, afraid I might slip.  I slowed down.  I had had a time goal in mind and now I was missing that and my only thought was to get to the end where I knew there was shelter from the storm.   When I got to the end I got in the truck and warmed up a bit, then I waited for Rich – worried about his ride.  Worried about the thunder and lightning I saw, worried for his safety.  After my time of self-pity, I could then turn my attention to someone else and forget my misery for a brief time.  I went back out into the rain to watch and wait.  What started as a beautiful ride quickly turned into a torrential storm

It was such a good lesson for me.  Many of my friends have serious trials.  They are on that barren stretch of land.  There is no turning back.   What starts out pleasant turns into pain.  There doesn’t seem to be any shelter within reach.  The only way is to keep going.  Those people are who I think about when I am riding.  Those are the ones I think about when I want to give up.  Their journeys are so much harder than mine, that I think – I can’t give up – so and so wouldn’t.  Heavenly Father helps me to understand my mortal journey. He helps me to see the rainbows of life after the torrential storm.