I concentrate on the road. Water spray from under the front wheel almost blinds me. I pass Robert and in his concentration to stay on the road he does not even notice me. A few miles later he catches up, and we ride hard and fast to Salida. It stops raining and gets warm.
Dark clouds hang above.
I sweat inside my raingear as I try to follow Robert who seems hell-bent on catching up with one of the wiry Italian boys who hammers down with no rain protection at all. Salida, the promised land. The well-rehearsed ritual of finding our bags. The hurried shower and tasty potato salad. My buddies arrive and help me pack my stuff into my Jeep.