Lucas Bennett: [Trembling and distraught, after he and Maria have managed to take refuge on a tree in the rushing wave] I thought I was a brave kid, Mum…! I’m scared!

[sobbing]

Maria Bennett: [Equally shaken, moves closer to embrace Lucas] Shhh…!

[whispers into his ear]

Maria Bennett: I’m scared, too…!

Lucas Bennett: [Anxious] Is it over…?

[Maria is looking around]

Lucas Bennett: Is it over…?

Maria Bennett: [Looks around nervously as the wave recedes] I don’t know…! I don’t know…! -The Impossible

 

Henry: I will find them, I’ll promise you that. – The Impossible

 

 

I usually don’t comment on my quotes, leaving it to the reader to discern the rationale and connection to the day’s story. However, I wanted to draw two direct distinctions from the quotes: 1) the unrelenting power and potential of water and 2) the anguish of not knowing if your friends are safe. This may be my longest blog story but it was also the most amazing and scary of the entire ride.

You may recall that Grant’s KOA was a rest day for us. It rained quite a bit with thundershowers and the threat of additional rain. We basically had two options for the day’s ride: 1) the off 0raod route that was longer with only 9% paved and the partial route that was all on pavement for the first 42 miles and then joined the regular route for the last 30 or so miles. Four riders opted not to ride and thus would spend the day in the van: Leonardo (ITA) Ariberto (ITA) Petra (HOL) and HP (GER). I, Patric (SWZ), Evert (HOL), Mike (UK) Kate (AUS) Patrick (CAN), Deron (UK), Marco (ITA) and Paul (UK) elected to do the shortened route. The following riders were doing the longer off-road option: Peter (USA), Steve (USA, Luca (ITA), PER (DEN), Aryan (HOL), Rob (HOL), Wallace (CAN) and Dave (USA).

I was riding with Patric and it began to rain hard almost immediately after we left Grants. However, we were making good time and rode through a cool canyon with arches. It should be noted that even on the road there was very little traffic. Patric and I made good time to lunch and were the first ones there. It was no longer raining but there were storm clouds in the direction we were headed. We lingered at lunch longer then I would have liked about ½ hour and as we left, most of the other riders who selected the same pavement option rolled into lunch.

As Patric and I left lunch, we left behind the pavement and were riding on gravel roads. The going was much slower and we were fighting a headwind. Patric slowly pulled away from me. Abruptly, the road sign said, “Road maintenance ends”. The road composition changed to mostly dirt and for a spell it was preferable to the gravel. That soon changed as the rains started in force and the track got muddier. I lost sight of Patric in the distance.

I was making okay time – maybe 10 miles an hour. The track had some climbs and descents that was more undulating than steep, but the wetness made the going more difficult. The longer that I rode, the worse the conditions seemed to get. I looked for Patric’s tracks in the mud and followed or avoided them depending on the depth of the track. The rain was coming down extremely hard and lightening was present. The little dried up streams were filling with rushing water and sometimes little creeks flowed across the road. I would not say that I was panicked but I was frightened. Thoughts went through my head about flagging down one of the very infrequent pickups that went by. I probably saw 5 vehicles in 30 miles.

I skidded a lot and rode some with 1 foot unclipped in case I started to go down. I think I stepped out twice. My rain pants split from contact with the chain and I was getting oaked and cold. This type of clay mud sticks to the tires and every part of the bike that it encounters. The more rain, the worse it gets. Potentially your wheels may refuse to spin. I have known folks who literally carried their bikes for 17 miles through the muck and they weigh more than twice as much when encrusted.

I avoided putting my foot down like the plague since once my cleats became covered in goo, I would no longer be able to clip into the pedals. I found that cycling in the streams of water on the road or the washboards had the least amount of mud. Several times, I almost became stuck but managed to keep plowing ahead.

After an eternity, I came to a cross roads that said Pie Town 3 miles. I had hoped for more tarmac but the road was dirt / mud and seemed to be in worse shape than the prior road. I stopped a lady in a pickup and she indeed told me that Pie Town was ahead. After 3 miles I came to a paved road, but since both my Garmin and the paper map (wet and unreadable) were not working properly, I deliberated for some time the proper direction.

It was probably only 100 yards up a road but I saw the Penske and knew that I was home. The camp ground was a lady’s home who donated to use by bike riders. I saw Patric coming from the shower and he said that he was in perhaps 20 minutes but I lost 10 at the intersection. I showered and selected a place on the floor upstairs for my sleeping bag. I then went outside to wash the crude off my bike. While I was washing my bike, Evert, Deron, Patrick and Marco rolled into camp. They said that Kate elected to get in the van at lunch. Mike showed up a little while later. That began the waiting game. Usually the van arrives when the middle group riders show up.

While it was still light, Rob from the full-ride group rolled into camp covered in mud and goo much worse than any of us. Rob said that much of the other group had to start walking well before the lunch site. Remember they were fully off-road. Rob said that he passed Paul about 30 KM back so Paul should be arriving shortly. Ron is the best rider and owner of Bike Dreams, Paul is usually one of the last in camp. Rob also said that he sent Jim the van drover) back to pick up all the other riders. The van can carry 14 riders plus 17 bikes and is 4-wheel drive.

They had built a fire in the yard fire pit and many of us warmed up and tried to dry some cloths that were soaked. We also began to worry as Paul had not shown up and the light was fading and no van. Remember that the riders are traveling through very isolated and desolate territory and there is also an ability to get off track. Folks had tried to call the various parties but we had little or no cell coverage. Ron went to get help and some neighbors with a 4-wheel drive truck went out looking. His wife acted as communication central and called around to neighbors and others to help in the search. At that stage we had no knowledge of the other riders or the van with Jim and the 4 riders who chose not to ride at all that day.

It was dark when we saw Paul’s headlamp and he rolled into camp and with typical British humor said, “My that was a day!”. He was riding over 12 hours. A little elater Per and Steve showed up. Someone had given them a ride the last 30 k. Per’s bike was basically destroyed (broken derailleur, frame and flat tires. Steve’s bike was unrideable and they weighed more than 3 times as much. They had walked 14 miles. In short order, Peter, Luca and David also rolled into camp. They had ridden the whole way. Luca said he fell like 10 times. David had no light and rode by himself.

All of us in camp sprang into action, washing the bikes and paraphernalia. It took me well over an hour to get Peter’s bike somewhat clean. We did this so they could get cleaned up and get something to eat. About this time Gertie had a call and they had all the riders except Wallace. One of the pickup truck driver’s found Wallace and brought him to camp. I think he made it within 9 miles or so.

After the van arrived and the last rider around 11:00 PM, some of the other pieces feel into place. The van had become stuck in the muck so it took the paved roads to check in Grant’s to see if the riders returned there. This was probably the most sensible thing to do since the track turned bad only miles into their ride, but practicality did not prevail. There was also a road sign that said the track was “impassable” when wet.

Once al the riders returned, we breathed a sigh of relief. We all hated to think of our friends in the dark and wet pushing / pulling their bikes through the muck or worse. The van / Jim had ridden many miles but somehow missed some of the riders (muckers) when it went on the side routes. Phones and internet didn’t function.

One thing was certain, our next days ride would change and had to be on pavement. It was an exhausting day for everyone. The riders who took the van in the morning spent over 15 hours in it. It was very scary to be out in that in the daytime and I can imagine how difficult it is in the dark. The road conditions deteriorated very fast and even those who came in 15 minutes after someone experienced worse conditions.

However, good can always come from bad. This group really came together as a team and an outsider commented to me how this group pulled together, chipped in and looked for for the others. We became a team and friendships deepened.

Thanks for reading

Tailwinds

Chuck Hardesty – Riding for The Backstoppers.com