The Power of Water

The rain has finally caught us and rather than fight it we have succumbed. After a soggy breakfast of scrambled eggs and English Muffins on a borrowed porch, (lent by a generous, but unsuspecting trailer resident at our campground, who seemed to be away and will be receiving unexplained good karma wherever they are) we suited up in our full rain gear and headed out.

As we cycled, the rain came from every direction and seemed intent on finding the cracks in our suits. It showered us from the clouds above. It sprayed us from the the side as cars and trucks whizzed by. It splashed us from below as we jostled through gritty puddles, going up our pant legs.

We made it 25 miles and pulled into the Shamrock Inn. We peeled ourselves out of our wet layers and both took delicious warm showers. We snuggled into the bed and watched “The Secret Life of Pets 2” I cried a little at the end. We looked out at the rain. We finished our candy. We looked out at the rain.

“Oakley, there is a cool walk near here. A canyon. Ausable Canyon. We could go.”

“No.”

“I can’t stay in this hotel room anymore. We have our rain suits.”

“No.”

I knew I had no bargaining power. Oakley has done enough and been a good sport throughout this trip. It was horrid outside. Nobody in their right mind would go back out.

“I will pay you 20 dollars.”

Up Oakley bounced, took a 20 from my wallet, climbed back into his slimy rain gear and headed for the door. I could barely keep up.

The canyon was majestic, probably made more so because the river that formed it was roaring through and the rain was roaring down. It was like you could see the rocks being carved before our eyes. Our noses dripped, our feet squelched, our fingers pruned. There was nobody there. We walked and walked, for 12 miles. Our private showing of the power of water.

Now we are back at the Shamrock Inn ready to watch movies late into the night and celebrate our dryness.