While hiking the AT and LT, I figured out how to move in wet conditions and stay dry. For bikepacking, I knew I needed to stop and hunker down when it rains on the East Coast ride.

Bikepacking and rain don’t go well together for many reasons. First, riding in wet conditions isn’t safe because the road becomes slippery and visibility drops for both drivers and riders. Although my bags are waterproof and my gear stays dry while riding in the rain, it is impossible to keep everything dry during packing and unpacking. Wearing wet clothes and riding would create extra friction and potentially cause saddle sores. For the last two rides along the Pacific Coast Bike Route and Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, the weather was drier. Here on the East Coast, I have to give extra consideration to riding and staying dry.

After spending some quality time with Megan, who picked me up from Montpelier on the day I finished thru-hiking the Long Trail, and with Steve and his family, who helped me transition from thru-hiking to bikepacking in Shrewsbury, I resumed my bike trip and rode out to Rutland. From there I hitched a ride to Brandon to get back on the Northern Tier Bike Route Section 11. It took me a while to get a ride, and I was getting nervous because a rainstorm was forecast later that day. I almost gave up, but right then Kelley, a retired physical therapist and cyclist, pulled over for me. We had a pleasant conversation along the way. I was relieved to start my ride to Ticonderoga early enough, hoping to make it before the rainstorm.

From Brandon, I passed a few small Vermont towns. Right before crossing the border to New York, I came to Champlain Lake, which I saw from the top of Camel’s Hump on the Long Trail. I thought there was a road over the lake, and I realized it was a ferry crossing. I didn’t know anything about the ferry service, and I arrived at the ferry terminal just in time for the 1 pm boat. It was a pleasant 7-minute ride across the lake to arrive in New York State.

The rain was supposed to start around 3 or 4 pm. The weather usually comes from the west. I was riding westbound, so I expected that it would start raining earlier. As soon as I resumed my ride from the ferry terminal, I felt raindrops. I hurried to the town of Ticonderoga, grabbed some food, then I booked a hotel, and hunkered down in a room while it poured for the rest of the day and through the night.

As I listened to the downpour and appreciated the roof over my head, I thought of how bikepacking is a good metaphor for our lives, just like thru-hiking. When it pours, or life gets tough, hunker down and take a break. Life is a mix of ups and downs, so cruise downhills with ease and joy. Take time on uphills with strength and patience. Face the headwind as a way to resist. Go with the flow when the tailwind blows. I’ll keep them in mind as I go along the way.

For the next three days, the weather is supposed to be clear, and there is no chance of precipitation at the moment. I’m relieved and looking forward to riding in dry conditions!