Fifty Plus (50+) - Looks like some non-riding days ahead.

Tropical Storm Debby is going to start dumping a lot of rain on the Gulf Coast for the next few days. These slow moving, poorly organized storms really dump the rain as the work their way ashore, slowly. I figure today is pretty much a wash as the first of the feeder bands is a few hours away and the winds are already picking up:notamused:. Forecast shows the actual landfall pretty much with our neck of the woods in the center but no way to know this early. Pensacola Beach is already picking up the garbage cans and all loose items on the island. Depends on which of the forecast models you want to trust. I'll just pick up the patio furniture and umbrella as well as the grill to be safe, our place is pretty much ready. Time to check the whole house generator too.

You know you are in trouble when you wake up and Jim Cantore is in you backyard:eek:. He is at Pensacola Beach right now:twitchy: Hope TomD77, John V, Bobthib, Earlenbach are alright and ready for what ever come our way:thumb:.

If I get half a chance I am riding anytime the rain and wind breaks. It will be an off and on thing. Too much experience with these strane behaving storms over the years.

Bill

Yep, pretty soggy morning in Central Florida as well. I had planned on doing 45 miles this morning but it turned into computer play time pretty quickly.

Now the forecast models show the eastern and northern paths more probable. Surf is really high here and it has been windy all day, kind of gusty, actually. We are looking more like a closer landfall area with Apalachicola Bay in the forecast right now. One more in my record book I guess, at least I don't have a job site on a Naval installation or Air Force base, the preparations and clear out are murder on weekends. I waited for a call this morning from a base quarterdeck officer until I realized I wasn't on call anywhere. Felt weird.

Bill

A few days ago they had a model showing it might go west and head maybe toward Texas. I was hoping for that--we could use some rain. I was willing to trade some off-the-bike days for some good rain. It is going to be hot here for the next week or so instead of the rain.

Stay dry

How can we use the same word, rain, for the gentle drizzles we get for seven months of the year here in the Pacific Northwest and those wind-driven drenching events you folks get in the Southeast? I happily ride in our version of rain, but not that stuff you get.

Why is it that I can find work around the house and in the garden on the foulest of days and yet I am not prepared to go out on the bike in a bit of wind or anything above drizzle. Never used to be like that but that was mountain biking. Did rides in rain and gone through floods to see how deep they were- been blown backwards on the bike when going into headwind gusts up on the hills and had lightning strikes a pretty close up "them thar hills" when we just had to get a training ride in.

Think you need a goal to get you out on the bike- a long hard ride that is above your capabilities and you know you have to get the training in ---no matter what the weather.:innocent:

As for me- I am still finding jobs to do in the garden. Have to get out today though- little wind- no rain- and sunnyish. It's either that or I start kicking the cat.

I've worked in hurricanes as the came ashore right on the gulf's shore, securing a Naval job site while Blue Angel pilots and ground crew watched me, laughing. Felt real good to finish that, dump the water from my wellies and get a hot shower. I'm riding today regardless, my home is secure and it isn't raining here at all. Seems it is stationary for a bit and is looking like the north-east tracks are the models to watch. Cape San Blas and east around to Tampa bay will get the worst if this holds true. The forecast is for 15"+ of rainfall in the path. We should get around 4"-6" and it is needed.

Texas is in such dire need of rain, this would have helped them out a lot. The Gulf coast actually depends on tropical storms and hurricanes to balance the rainfall. It is just one heck of a means to get rain with 120+mph winds like Ivan and Dennis and 160+ as Katrina had. And we usually get several contracts for repairs and upgrades after the storms pass. Hope everyone on the eastern Gulf Coast, John_V, Earlenbach, Bobthib and a pot of others I can't recall right now, are okay and the rain and tornadoes leave them alone.

Bill