This past Labor Day weekend found me showing property for five and a half hours on Saturday and then again late Sunday morning. So by Monday, the holiday, I was tired. It didn't help that when I woke up Labor Day morning it was raining. What do you do on a rainy holiday with two small children? Here in northeast NC we go to Wal-mart! Yes, pure torture for the male species!!
So after breakfast we loaded up the car and drove to Williamston, went to Wal-mart, ate lunch at Sonic and headed home. At last it was nap time. With the children sleeping I keep looking out the window to see how wet it is and to survey the western horizon for evidence of sun. Hmmmm...none. However, at this point the road is fairly dry, the wife is napping with the kids, so I decide it is now or never. I suite up with black spandex shorts, my brightest cycling jersey, fill up the water bottle, check the tires on my Trex, put on yellow lensed glasses, fasten my helmet and take off. I love cycling and with two small children my chance for a cycling fix comes few and far between.
I hadn't gone more than a mile when I start to get hit with a light mist. Looking to the east I quickly see that the storm had circled back around and was coming out of the east instead of the west. A quick mental checklist reveals that I've been wet before, I had the freedom now, was away from home and responsibility hence, keep pedaling! With the temperatures in the mid seventies, the light rain actually feels good as it drips off my helmet and runs down my back.
My ride takes me down Cowpen Neck Rd (yep, we have roads like that here in NC), past a marina for sale, over a small bridge spanning a tributary of the Chowan River and down a nice 2 mile long straight stretch. As I near the end of Cowpen Neck I notice 4 children on my left jumping on an outdoor trampoline. Apparently they don't mind the rain either. With the 4 children were 4 dogs. "Hmmm"... I thought, "One for each child."
When the two larger dogs see me they decide they need to exercise their legs, or else they are hungry! One is a black lab the other a boxer like dog which is taller than the lab and with longer legs. The adrenaline kicks in and I bump up my rpm a couple of notches taking me from 17 to 23mph while simultaneously reaching for my water bottle with my left hand. The dogs had the angle on me so I knew not even Lance would be able to out run them. So when the black lab gets close I take aim with my left hand and squirt him directly between the eyes with water from the water bottle. He quickly gives up the pursuit... good doggy.
One down and one to go as the boxer closes in snarling and teeth showing - this canine is serious! He wants me bad! In the back ground I can hear all 4 children yelling as I'm thinking, "doesn't the county have a leash law"???? I can't tell if the kids are cheering for me or the dog but I am determined to come away with all of my flesh and no teeth marks. I wait until the boxer is right up alongside me - his eyes following the up and down motion of my pedals trying to get his timing then BLAM! I nailed him with a blast of water in the right eye! That should do it I thought! One quick glance at the road and back at the dog reveals that he is not a quitter - just my luck - and is still right there ready to chomp. Okay, now I'm concerned.
I aim again and with a strong quick blast empty almost half of my water bottle in his face - fear of drowning by water bottle crosses his mind and boxer boy gives up and slows to a walk. Whew - catastrophe avoided. As my pulse slows from "flight or fight" pace to that of a moderate workout I am thankful for my water bottle and that I filled it up at the start of my ride. I was able to cycle home the rest of the way without incident while enjoying the gentle rain landing on my face like kisses from heaven.
As I pull into the garage I think, "Just another day in the life of a real estate agent."
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