Day 30

66 Miles
I did manage to get up early. I was packed and ready by 8 am.  I filled my water and headed out by 9. I did however feel a bit sick.
The winds were ferocious. It was work to keep my bike straight. The winds whipped across the road and pushed me all over. I stopped a few miles from the park and got some more food. I was sitting outside eating when the thunder and lightning started rolling in. A woman pulled up in her truck. She asked if I was considering riding in it. She told me not to, as her pager had been going off like crazy. She went inside. The rain started. It was wicked and the wind teamed up with it make it impossible to see beyond the parking lot. The woman came back out and I asked her if she knew how long this would last. She told me tornadoes were coming through and that she had told the shop owners I would be hanging out for awhile. She didn't want to pull me out of a ditch somewhere. I thanked her for her concern and waited inside. They even let me put my bike inside the back room.
 I waited maybe an hour. The rain let up and I was off again. I was making good time considering. Lunch brought rains that were on and off. After lunch I made my own route again. I got caught in another downpour. I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me. I stopped at another convenience store. I almost got blown away. I was soaked to the bone. I waited again until the rain slowed. I went on.
I was having a hard time finding accommodations for the night. I was feeling crampy and tired. I called in a favor from a friend or two. They sent me $20 each and I got a hotel room. I showered and put on clean clothes. I passed out early.