It's raining AGAIN!!

I spent over four hours last Sunday riding in the rain. I did not want to go. I knew it was going to rain, but I made a promise to lead the Cambridge Cycling Club's Sporting Club run. The ride is usually 80-90 miles and I had laid out a route a few weeks ago as I was a little nervous about leading the Brits around their own country. I found myself wishing as I rode into town in the light drizzle that no one would be fool enough to come out in the rain, but I knew that the wish was futile. Everyone rides in the rain here. As someone explained to me shortly after my arrival to the UK, "if you wait for it to be nice out, you won't do much riding".

I arrived at the starting point of the ride to find a crowd of people ready to ride. Not only that I had most of the regulars ready for my ride. They were all curious as to where I would lead them. I think they were there for the novelty of the American leading the ride. Thus, I was not going to be able to duck out of the ride.

When we arrived at the tea stop, I could have watered the plants with the water held by my gloves alone. The rain was steady and the streets offered inch deep puddles to ride through. When I finally returned home after the ride I could not feel my toes they were so cold. It was June 24 and the temperature was 56 F. In Maryland, it was in the 90s! Now that is summer!

It is now Friday and it has rained every day since Sunday. I have spent a couple days in it on my bike trying to keep up my training, but after today I don't think I can do it again. They are calling for heavy rains tomorrow and Sunday. I feel like the ocean around this island is going to fill up and just cover up England and that will be it. Everyone here is tired of the rain. It has been unseasonably cold and rainy for June. However, someone else told me that July is the rainy season. Yikes! I think I am going to find out where I can get a boat. It may come in handy in July!