AWWW Hail!

(I am in Billings, MT getting fuel this morning. I'm working my way north to Havre, mostly on 2-lane roads with infrequent internet service. But I wrote some late last night after a weather-filled day in North Dakota that I am now able to post. Here it is)

It rained on me three different times today (Sat). The first was a light rain in the morning heading down I-90. No big deal although the bikers riding out there probably felt different. The second time also turned out to be ‘no big deal’ even though I was on my bike at the time. That is detailed in my post just below. The third time was a ‘gully washer’ – literally.

After reloading my bike and a short siesta in Rapid City this afternoon, I continued trucking west toward Sturgis 30 miles away. I was hungry and thought perhaps I could find a place with truck parking and roll my bike off again. It was still a couple of hours until sunset.

Two things changed my mind pretty quick. First was the crowd or ‘lack of’ I should say. This is my fifth or sixth time here at this time of year. And considering it was Saturday night, I was expecting considerably more bike traffic. The campgrounds I saw were MORE THAN HALF EMPTY as were most of the motel parking lots. Apparently that was the mass exodus I’ve been seeing for two days.

The second thing that changed my mind was the weather. Angry purple clouds were forming just in front of me and bolts of lightning flashed to the ground followed 8 or 10 seconds later by the rumble of thunder. It was close. And we were both headed for the same spot – which turned out to be Belle Fourche, SD.

Because I had diverted up to Sturgis after my first delivery in Nebraska, I had to ’cut thru the woods’ just west of Sturgis to get back on route. I planned to get off I-90 and ‘wiggle’ up US 212 – a nice 2 lane hiway – thru Belle Fourche, across the corner of Wyoming and into Montana.

Since the skies were about to open up, I thought it made good sense to stop and eat while the storm blew past (good idea). I past three different restaurants, all with adequate parking for me, but couldn’t make my mind up what I wanted. You know what they say about ‘threes.’

As I made the left turn out of the last parking lot (bad idea), not two blocks in front of me was a wall of rain – literally. You could see the pavement wet and the rain falling in sheets up there yet it was still dry where I was. The smart move was to return to the restaurant. But I’m I guy. We don’t stop and we DON’T TURN-AROUND (very bad idea). Besides, it’s not like I haven’t driven thru heavy rain before. No Big Deal!

The rain was on me in the blink of an eye and I realized – too late – my rear slider-window was open about 10” (good idea turned bad). It wasn’t but just a few seconds more and then it began to hail – pee to pellet size. Visibility has gone to zero. It’s raining slightly in the window. I’m on a two lane road in town so there’s no place to just pull over.

AH-HA, there’s a parking lot. I’ve been saved! A quick right turn (really bad idea) into the parking lot and ….. the wind is now driving rain and sleet thru the open rear window all the way up to my dash! Get the truck-trailer straight, slam on the breaks, set the parking brake, 4-way flashers on, jump in the back and fight the window closed. My bed is soaked! And it’s getting worse because the hail is starting to melt.

Fortunately it was primarily just the top sheet and once that was off – and the window secured – the crisis was over. Or was it? The pea size hail is pounding the truck (and bike!!!!) and who knows what’s next. They had baseball size hail in Sturgis earlier in the week that caused alot of damage.

But not this time. The hail stopped within 5 minutes and the storm blew over in less than 20. I spent the time cleaning up inside my truck. I did stop at the next restaurant and eat. When I came out, I saw the most beautiful rainbow ever. It was a full and complete arch with both legs going all the way to the ground. The side closest to me was so bright it looked iridescent. My cheapy digital camera could not capture the beauty my eyes were seeing. Mother Nature has so many ways of showing off her splendor.

I drove 150 miles or so before stopping for the night. I’m beginning to climb in elevation from the plains. The Rockies are still a full day’s drive ahead but there are some good size hills here and a lot of elk out feeding along the roadside. I don’t like driving this at night. (Remember – 2-lane road thru the woods?)

Amazingly, I don’t think I have ever seen elk road kill. I have seen dozens of deer but never an elk. I think elk are much smarter than deer (their heads are bigger = bigger brain?). And they are faster too even though bigger.

But now it’s time to “…lay me down to sleep. I pray my soul the LORD to keep…”