Thanks for the thoughtful advice. Coincidentally, we did head along Hwy 20, then we cut onto Best Rd. eastward...I need a map here, went up a highway bridge that cut through an Indian reserve that started with "Se"...when suddenly the heavens unleased alot of rain. No choice but just chug up that road overpass in haze of downpour...which wasn't bad to do but not uplifting in crappy weather while wearing shorts..
We did end up Old Pacific Hwy. parallel to the fast, splashy I-5. We got to it after cycling up curving hilly service road parallel to I-5. Stayed on Old Pacific hwy. as long as we could...as mentioned earlier, was peaceful ride there with the old growth coniferous trees soaring above and ...absolutely dead as a doornail except for 1 car passing every 15 min. or more.
And Grog, yea instead I used lots of paper towels to do initial soak-up of water....and many asphalt bits in shoes and socks. We did ride in the rain through some highway construction zones.