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This weekend is the BP MS150. It’s a cycling event that raises money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. A 150 mile bike ride from Houston, TX to Austin, TX. Day 1 is about 75 miles to LaGrange, then Day 2 is about 80 miles from LaGrange to Austin.
Jack and I volunteered to drive a SAG van in support of the riders. Basically if someone has a problem and needs to be driven to the next break point, that’s what we do. We cruise back and forth between break points picking up riders who need help.
So this morning we dropped Spaz at the vet’s for the weekend, and took off for the BP MS 150. First stop, Austin to pick up our van.
We had just passed Waco when the rain started. And it never stopped. It poured so hard that at times we were only going 30 miles per hour on the freeway! We finally made it to Austin, got the van, got everything transferred from our car to the van, dropped our car at the hotel parking lot, and headed for Houston. I didn’t think it could get any worse… oh but it did!
It was raining so hard, and so constantly that by the time we got to Houston my arms were sore! As we drove through LaGrange we saw mile after mile of flooded fields. At times, the highway was even starting to get covered by water, flooded over from the drainage ditches. The Colorado River was swollen. As we drove through seeing all of this, Jack and I looked at each other and said “uh oh!”
See, LaGrange is the overnight location. LaGrange is where 13,000 riders are supposed to camp (yes, CAMP) and spend the night Saturday night. 13,000 cyclists were supposed to ride in on those roads that were being covered by water!
We arrived in Houston with much anticipation of how this weekend was going to pan out. We arrived around 4:30 pm and it wasn’t long before rumors started to fly. “Cancelled? The weekend? Just the day? Are you riding anyway? It can’t be that bad. They just don’t want to get wet! How do we get home? Where are we going to stay?” We heard it all… in the lobby of the hotel, at the bike shop we ran to, on twitter, the SAG yahoo group…
Then the official word came via the event website. Route is dangerous. Day 1 cancelled. Day 2 will start as planned.
Which brings on a whole new set of issues… What about those who were dropped in Houston from out of town and don’t have transportation? How are they going to get to LaGrange? What about the next line of storms coming tonight and tomorrow that are as bad as the ones today?
There is a lot left to be determined (or from what I’m finding out… communicated). So we shall see what happens. All I know for sure right now is that Jack and I report at noon with our van to the park & ride we were supposed to be at 5am, so at least we get to sleep in. But we’re going to need that sleep for the (expected) chaos that will be Saturday, April 18th.
Goodnight, y’all!!
~Heather
