Yesterday, Monday, my ride was to be from Matamoros, PA to East Stroudsburg, PA. It was supposed to be almost 45 miles with some weather alerts. It was supposed to rain around 10AM and then at 2PM there were severe thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast at my destination. Given it was only 45 miles, I was sure I could beat the storm. So, I got up at 6AM, an hour earlier than normal, had a big breakfast, packed everything, loaded up the bike, aired the tires and was rolling a little before 8AM. A few miles down the road, I crossed over the Delaware River, and I was in New Jersey, another state to add to my collection of states on this tour. Almost immediately after entering New Jersey, I was routed into the Delaware Water Gap National Park. It was a beautiful national park, and I seemed to have it to myself. Maybe I had it to myself because the national parks are closed right now, but there was no one around to tell me that. When the road, more like a lane, was close to the Delaware river, it was a few minor climbs and descents. But occasionally it would cut away from the river, and always up a steep hill. But it was usually a very pretty, very steep hill. I confess I did not enjoy the scenery nor did I take pictures while I was climbing. Almost exactly at 10AM, the rain started. I guess the rain insurance I bought in Freeport, Maine at LL Beans, expired after 14 days. So I put my rain gear on and rode in the rain. It was not too bad and after about 45 minutes, the rain tailed off. I was pretty impressed that the weather forecast said rain at 10AM, and it rained at 10AM.
After the rain, I started getting 'Tornado Watch' alerts on my Garmin. I was not aware there were ever tornados in this part of the US. Maybe I was getting alerts from the 505 because that was how my Garmin was set up. Not much I could do anyway, I needed to keep on riding ... and keep on taking pictures. I figured out that taking pictures can add about two hours to my ride. If someone else was riding with me, I don't think they would put up with all my photo stops. So, the road I was on cut back away from the Delaware again, and was actually on the park boundary for a number of miles. Then when it cut back in, there was a park gate, and there was a park ranger in a vehicle blocking the gate. And the ranger called me over to his vehicle and proceeded to let me know the park was closed, and by the way, "there is a tornado watch in effect". I told him I knew about the tornado watch, but I had no alternatives. "I am riding from Bar Harbor, Maine to Philadelphia and my route goes right through this park and I have no alternative route, and I need to get to East Stroudburg to beat the storm that was coming in". He let me know there was an alternative route, but it was much longer. In the end, he let me proceed. He was dealing with a Vietnam veteran, and although we are not as revered as the WW2 veterans that stormed the monument in DC that was shut down, we might be bit crazier, so maybe that is why he let me go through. It was beautiful. I had more than fifteen more miles of the park (the park is 40 miles long) absolutely to myself. And, of course, I shot more pictures, because I would get in to East Stroudburg just at 2PM.
At 1:30 it happened! I was nearing the southern end of the park and the heavens opened up. Monsoon, deluge, torrents; pick your word. I got my rain pants on again (I was already wearing my rain jacket) and I started looking for cover. After exiting the park, the road I was on crossed under Interstate 80 and I took refuge under the overpass. I was having trouble getting my phone working because my fingers were wet and the touch screen was not responding. Dennie had just texted me about a computer problem she needed my help with. I was kind of in survival mode. I got fingers dry and my touch screen dry and replied, "can't help now, I'm dealing with MAJOR rain". I was on the New Jersey side and I had to get over to the Pennsylvania side where my lodging was and the only bridge was the I80 bridge. About this time, a hatchback with three ladies stops and wanted to know if I was OK. They are in a little car with no room for my bike, so I have no alternative but to be OK. "Yes, I am OK". I am just your normal lunatic,riding a bike in a deluge, trying to figure out how to get across this river on I80 and find lodging. I started riding again looking for an on ramp but I only saw the off ramp that I passed just before taking shelter under the over pass. After riding a mile on the frontage road, looking for an on ramp, I turned around and decided I would have to go up the off ramp against traffic, walking my bike, to get on I80 and across the river. Then, after I made my U turn, I spotted a cement pedestrian path going up to I80, it was so small, it was not visible when I was riding in the other direction in the rain. So I took the path and found it to be safely separated from traffic by a concrete fence. I crossed over the Delaware on I80 in a deluge. My brother, in Philadelphia, is watching my real time route broadcast by my Garmin, and he is saying, "OMG, he's on I80! This is not good!" He was not aware of the pedestrian ramp. Once I am on the other side of the Delaware, I do not care where I have reservations. I just want the closest lodging. So I find a porch to get under and I use my Local app on my phone to find closest lodging. It turns out to be a Hampton Inn 3.7 miles away (with a 2 mile 8% hill included, I was to find out) in Stroudburg. The heck with East Stroudburg reservations, I headed for the Hampton. Less than 45 minutes later, was checked in and standing in a hot shower. And everyone lived happily ever after. And if you are ever in Stroudburg, PA, the Sarah Street Bar and Grill is a fantastic place to have dinner. And the Hampton has a laundry facility, so I was able to dry everything out. Today was a dry, sunny ride.
The day before my Ride of Rain, was supposed to be a rest day. I found the motel, checked in for two nights. But during the first night, the entire water system failed in the motel. I "knew" I was going to be there for two nights, so I washed everything and had it laying out around my room for a two night dry. Next morning I got up and went down for breakfast. The juice machine was not working and they only had decaf coffee, barely warm decaf coffee (probably because it was left over from the previous day). I asked for regular coffee and was told they could not make any. Huh? Then I found out from a guest all the water is off. Hmmm, that means that flush was the last flush for my bathroom until the water comes back on and not one of the hotel staff could estimate when it would come back on. Finally, at 2PM, I could wait no longer. I made reservations in the next town, and got a credit for the night I was not staying in my present location. Then I packed, loaded the bike and pedaled to the next town, unpacked and settled in again. That was my rest day and that was not much of a rest day. There's one huge bright spot though. Tony and Barbara, friends from New Mexico, were visiting in the NJ/NY area. And they found out where I was staying, and then where I moved to, and they came all the way out to Matamoros, Pennsylvania, and took me to dinner. I am not sure how much they knew I needed that. And at the end of the evening, I tried to convey to Tony how much their little visit meant, and he said, "You have been out here a long time by yourself. And I know you can make friends easily, but I figured you might be getting lonely". He and Barbara came by just at the right time. Thanks Tony and Barbara!
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