Yesterday Richmond got between 12 and 17 inches of rain in a nine hour period. Came home early this morning-- couldn't go anywhere in it earlier, cars were being swept into the James river, manhole covers were blowing off the streets, anywhere low lying was underwater. Even if I had my bike with fenders on it last night, I wasn't going anywhere. Heck the TV showed what looked to me like a four-foot surfing wave in the bottom.

My basement never leaks much, and if it does, it promptly drains. Checked the house, basement last--and there's two and a half feet of water in it. Whole bikes were underwater... my parts drawers, which were up on blocks, were submerged up to the top shelf. One of my kayaks was floating around bumping into things. The water had come up thru the drain-- everyone in the neighborhood had the same problem.

Fortunately, none of my riders was in the basement, nor were any of my bike tools. The good wheelsets-- the Campys, Phils, and Normandys, were all hanging from the ceiling out of harm's way. But most of what was in the basement lake was the assortment of found beaters and parts I use to fix bikes up for folks who need them. Most all of it is salvagable, thank goodness, but it puts a crimp in my activity.

I shouldn't complain-- several people have died, and they're still hunting for some missing ones. I'm okay, I've just got a wet basement I really needed to clean anyway. Just wanted to vent.