I haven’t posted much lately. Being home is more comforting that I anticipated, and I’m not cycling as much as prior to leaving for the tour. On the 22, though, I’m heading to Marlinton, WV to do a weekend tour on the Greenbriar River Trail. Then, just a couple weeks later and just before leaving for Seattle to pick up the Paterna tour, I’m doing the New River Trail, in southwest VA.
Last week, I took a break from my sewing, and walked into an adjoining room of the house. There was a storm brewing in the distance, and the distant thunder announced that the storm was head our way. Suddenly, the window to my left flashed bright, blinding light, and thunder shook the house like one of the small earthquakes that I’ve experienced. LIGHTENING just hit! It may have hit the house, but perhaps it hit the edge of the woods, 15 feet from where I was standing. This really shook me up. There was no indication that the storm was even CLOSE, let alone, upon us. And yet, lightening struck within feet of me.
That was Tuesday. Today, while walking in the yard with my husband, he found the strike. It didn’t hit the house, but it was about 40 feet from my daughter’s room, which may explain why her radio came on, spontaneously, at the moment of the strike. Fifty feet from where I was standing, lightening struck. Nearly without warning. It’s a frightening thing.
The reason I mention this on my cycling blog, is that many rides are cancelled this time of year because of the weather. Please don’t fool yourself into thinking you will have time to get off your bike and seek shelter by listening to the gradual approach of the rumbling thunder. If it’s thundering or lightening in the distance, don’t ride!
This week, I only rode 3 days. I enjoyed all 3, but would like to get out more. Work is picking up, though and there will be fewer opportunities. Saturday, I met a new lady in the club, and am looking forward to cycling with her. A couple of weeks ago, I met a lady in Goochland who is cycling, and I think I’ll e-mail her about cycling together in the evenings once a week or so.
Go make your own breeze and remember; if you’re not having fun; you’re in the wrong gear!
I’m glad you are ok! On July 3, we had a storm blow through and we had two strikes on my 1/3 acre property. One thirty foot tree blew over, another one split about twenty feet up but stayed in the ground and five or six large branches from other trees came down. Instead of riding my bike last week, I spent my time cutting up trees and making 15 trips to the county landfill with my pickup.
Thanks. I don’t think I’ve ever been that close to lightening. Watching tonight’s weather warnings, it looks like you had very bad weather this evening. Hopefully, there are no more trees in your yard to be cut up as a result. This has been a violent storm season in the US.
Yeah, I was three miles into a six mile run when it hit the area I was in. Pretty scary stuff. I found refuge in the doorway of a high school and had front row seats to witness the power of Mother Nature. I’d prefer not to repeat that!