Today was the craziest ride day I've had so far for sure! We were originally going to be going into Melville but there was a re-route and changed!! Everything started off completely normal and we were getting ready to head out. It was told to us that it was going to be a beautiful day, kind of hot, but only 30% chance of rain. Well that was completely incorrect. We stood outside for the route meeting in a total downpour and had to get on the road because at mile 5 and 40 we had police escorts across big bridges. The first one, we got to ok but more than half the riders got stuck at a train for about an hour. So they waited inside a warehouse for the train to pass and everyone who made it to the police meeting spot just sat under an awning and hung out for a while, trying to keep warm. I was pretty nervous about riding that day because there was a lot of lightning and thunder but by the time everyone else made it to the place, we waited for a break between storms and headed out! The police escort was really awesome because we crossed the Mississippi River on a huge bridge during an epic storm as a gigantic group. The cops were able to block off all the traffic so we had all of the lanes and full range of the road. It was an exhilarating feeling and probably one of the coolest things that have happened. The only bummer was that there was about 6 flats on this bridge because of all the uneven bumps along it so some people had a more difficult time crossing. From there until mile 40, we were on our own again and then we would meet and get another police escort for crossing a 4 mile flat bridge that was just nerve wracking to be on (especially if there's a flat). Me, Dillon and Gaurang rode there together and had a really great time because there was a nice and wide shoulder. Around mile 37, we realized that we had been on a certain bridge for an extended and abnormal period of time and then at that moment, the van driver went past us in the opposite direction. This is when we realized that we were on the bridge that we were supposed to be escorted across.... So.. We just pedaled as hard as we could to the end of the bridge and all made it across completely safe. We also met up with Molly B and Micah who made the same mistake as us. We all rode to a gas station and the van brought us some lunch since we passed the supposed to be lunch. I was kind of bummed about this because I was looking forward to getting to lunch first and taking a long time to hang out or take a possible nap before our last 27 miles. Things happen and worse has definitely happened!! On the way to the gas station, there was a raise in where the two blocks of concrete meet on the road and my tire got in there really badly, taking my bike out from under me and causing a tumble. Thankfully, I'm totally ok! And my bike isn't even damaged. I'm amazed and so grateful that I wasn't hurt and that Molly didn't get involved by crashing into me too. I just have a little road rash and a pretty good scrape on my elbow. Nothing serious! After that fall though, everything about the ride became a huge struggle.. Molly and Micah got a flat, we thought we got lost and kept having to stop, we had to walk the bikes into the host for a mile because we didn't have any tubes to change the tires, the pump on Molly's bike fell off while we were riding, the road was so so so unbelievably rough and annoying to ride on... I could go on but all I know is that everyone made if safe and sound and that's all that matters!!
Once we got into the host, I took an amazing shower and went for a nice long walk with Colleen. It was a nice way to end a crazy day!
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