Attacked by Rain all day.

Started out about 9:am rode to the River Levee to get a nice long ride in around the city.

Took pictures of the bike path for those who hear about it but have never been there.

One side is all housing and the other side is batture, businesses, river, and occasionally a high area with woodlands. Things were going smooth, listening to music, had a little headwind, no problem , I heard thunder over the music, I look up instinctively and the black clouds are across the River, no problem I'm good, it's storming on the Westbank. I continue on and suddenly about 100 yards right in front of me on the top of the levee a bolt of lightening strikes

down to the ground, since I'm the highest profile on the levee, on an aluminium frame bike I decide the smart thing to do is to exit stage left. I spot an alley leading to the street, to Vlad's chagrin and I know he'll swallow hard when he reads this , I shot straight down the levee to the alley full speed. Once on the Street it starts to rain, I head for Jefferson highway seeking shelter, across the street is a friendly Ace Hardware with a ledge on the front of the building,

it's pouring now , I'm crotched against the building , I have a poncho but in a down pour like this it's not much help. I waited out the storm ,, the water was cold, I had to cross Jefferson highway to get back to the River but it was like crossing a NASCAR track on the 499th lap. I walked across with bike and life and once on the other side took a deep breath. Got back the the River Levee and resumed my cool enjoyable ride. Made it to Audubon Park, stop and took a break, notice how the shelter bathroom I use , and am grateful to have , is meager compared to the beautiful Dog Parks being built around town, won't these dog lovers build "me" a place to pee woof woof. Watched the families playing on the swings and climbing the oak trees then jumped on St Charles ( newly resurfaced) and fled to the quarter. Wasn't much going on , it was early, the strippers were still sleeping, last nights drunks made it home and the tourist just had their cafe au lait and begnets,

I rode around and took a break on the river and here it comes again, sprinkling rain then downpour , I had good shelter under the shed where people wait for the River Boat.

Ate my Nutrigrain Bar . drank some Gatorade and watched people for a good while. I'm easily amused, all the while listening to some great blues of the 40's and a few 50"s on my mp3.. This is where I took the picture of the Loch Ness Monster cruising the Mississippi. Imagine that.

The rain stopeth and I continue on my journey, the air is cooler, the clouds are tighter and I'm feeling great, on canal street you can see as far as your eyes will let you and it's hard to get hit by a car , plenty of room , let me hurry to the climax of the day, took West Napoleon to Transcontinental and the rain came again , I hid in the car wash stall till it stopped, when I reached Lafaniere Park I was about 5 miles shy of 40 miles so I'll just ride around the park then go home, guess what here comes the rain, I find a shelter near the playground , a small one ,

here it comes,,, there was a lady sitting there in a flowered dress with a reddish purse on her lap, and nice leather shoes , she was plainly attractive looking about 60, cool and relaxed. I said ,'how you doing' , she replied, "its raining," she immediately asked me about the mirror on my helmet, I told her," I ride on the street a lot and the mirror helps me see whats going behind me,", With authority she exclaims, "isn't that dangerous , couldn't you die if you get hit by a car, aren't you afraid", I felt it called for an answer like," if I die on my bike it'll be ok, rather that than my sofa", she says looking right into my eyes, "your not afraid to die are you."... I knew then I was talking to the Oracle from the Matrix. I answered "no I'm not" ,"already dealt with it". I waited for her to ask me if I wanted a cookie and not to worry about the vase. We went back and forth about my impending death when I asked "Why are you sitting in this shelter in the rain, seems she was walking home and got caught in the rain without a umbrella, a likely story , she's part of the Matrix. I reached in my back pocket and pulled out a poncho and handed it to her..Without saying much she put it on and walked away. I knew then she was the Oracle.

I went straight home, took an atavan , soaked in a hot tub trying not to think about it.

More adventures next week. .