Skibum, you were much smarter than me - it probably wasn't the smartest or safest idea to go out in a downpour.

I hope she sees this, but my biggest motivation was that one of our forum members, Melody, had sponsored me. I don't know her, she just saw a post where I said I was doing the ride. With a total stranger counting on me, I really felt the motivation to go. Much more than I felt from my family's sponsorship.

I also have never ridden in a rain like this. I'm heading for a weeklong ride in Colorado in June, and I'll have to ride then, rain or shine. I figured I should see what it's like, here, with my car, at most, 30 miles away, with SAG support and rest stops.