It's almost always windy on the Mississippi River Levee in the afternoons. And the wind switches directions. The river is curvy, so you know every ride will have a head wind, a tail wind, and cross winds. I find I look forward to the river stretches that have large trees growing on the river side of the levee, they break the wind; and I brace myself for the stretches that are more wide open.

I don't know how fast the winds were blowing, but one afternoon the office flags were snapping in the "breeze" and we rode anyway. Thought we were hot stuff with that tail wind, but knew we would pay when we turned around. Instead of our usual 13 mile out, we turned around at 10 miles, and then had to switch leads of the pace line every mile to survive the wind. Did pretty good until about 2 miles left. The gal leading, tiny little thing, speeded up! That's when I fell off the paceline. I just couldn't go any more. Was sooo happy to see the office.

We don't ride when there's lightening.