Small axe, isn’t that a Bob Marley tune? The rain started coming down hard throughout the night. Not realizing the storm was coming so soon, the mats and bike cover were left out and soaked. Around 8:30 there was a little break so I dried them as best I could with the leaf blower before stashing everything away and driving off into the maelstrom.

The skies opened and it was pouring buckets. The streets were swamped and visibility was next to nil for the first hour and a half. I’d find a truck going my speed and use him as a lead out man.

Entering Oklahoma, things began to ease up. Grabbed some groceries and made a few rest stops along the 5 hour commute.

In the late afternoon, I pulled into Little Axe camping area on the shore of Thunderbird Lake. I backed into the lantern post and left it bent at about a 30 degree angle. After setting things up, I heard the lake calling my name. Needed to get wet to wash myself awake.

Paddled around a small circle of the lake. Lots of life. I almost ran over a large gar, maybe 3 feet long sunning itself at the surface. I startled him and he startled me. Turtles would peek up at you and lots of herons and hawks were fishing the shallows.

It was a lazy evening resting up and getting prepared for more driving tomorrow. Ominous clouds started moving in as I finished dinner. Having learned from yesterday’s mistakes, I got everything stashed and out of harms way.