June 6 Drenched !

Idaho Falls is the largest city I've been thru on the trip thus far (pop. 56,000) and it took 5 miles to wander thru it's mazes of stoplights, past the light industry section (mostly rows of plain, lightguage metal boxy structures), and out into ag fields. Though grey skies predominate, the air was still, with maybe a hint of tailwind. In 2 hours though, the grey intensifies, drizzle has begun and the temperature has dropped. Now we have a respectable rainstorm brewing. I pull over and put on another layer (basiclly, that means the rest of my clothes since I only carry one change). Unfortuneately, the rainpants that I hastily pulled from the back of a drawer in my basement didnot perform the basic task of holding back water, and immediately leaked and froze my legs. The rain jacket I had was a lightweight Tyvec, STP 2006 issue, and, as good as it performs in light Seattle mists, was repellant for only a short time B4 perking. In addition, I had no shoeguards and my helmet was designed for lightweight and was ribbed, not continuous. Basiclly, I was unprepared for an all day, windy rainstorm in the 40's degree range.
Pretty miserable for a few hours, but I did find a Rest Area with a heated bathroom to restore some circulation to my extremities and cram down a Butterfinger bar. SR 26 is a semi-main truck route and being a weekend, the traffic was heavy. Even though I tucked to the furthest offroad part of the shoulder, the vehicle spray was constant and annoying.
As I am slogging my way up a long, slow upgrade, I hear a double horn honk from the opposite lane, and looking up, I reflexively wave at a white Land Rover speeding by. Two minutes later, the same double honk sounds, as they pass me in my direction and pull off the road a quarter-mile ahead. [A note on honking>> one, loud arrogant honk just as a vehicle is passing you is not good and means "Get out of my way, you damn cyclist!", while one or two light horn taps is a good thing and means "Hey, great going, keep it up" or similar.] In a minute I am meeting Pam and Lowell, cyclists from nearby Victor, and they offer me lodging and any assistance I may need while in the area. Since I had already booked my night's lodging I had to decline their invitation, but I was touched by their open generosity to a stranger. One of those road kharma things (more on that later...)
A long, cold downhill drops me into Swan Valley and after stocking up at a local grocery, I fight against a stiff headwind over the last 3 miles to Rendezvous @ the South Fork Cabins. And what a cute little nest I lucked into! I'm in a brand, spankin' new cabin; cleanest I have ever seen. (Given my present soaked state, I would prob have been dilerious sleeping on a dry spot under a picnic table!) I think I was in the shower for an hour, ate a bag of licorice chased with a 24 oz. Coors and fell asleep. Rain continues all night...