what's more than a downpour?

started out ok, some rain and a little wind as gail and i went out to run here loop plus a mile. we ran up to st margaret's and down the thames. not too bad out though certainly cool for a memorial day monday- bank holiday monday here in oxford-.nobody was out running as early as we were and the early morning grayness was pretty enough. the river was quite high and only the sheep were out grazing. the meadow was under water and i couldn't see any horses through the fog like conditions.

at botley road i dropped gail off to head home and i turned down the road and did a loop past templeton college and snake park. then down the oxford canal over the just finished repaved canal bridge and i went all the way to the street past the sleeping moored boats. the rain started about here and continued to grow heavier and colder. crossing the street i ran down fisher's walk along the canal and then ran a loop around the west side of town. eventually i turned back west and towards the canal again and re-crossed the street and headed north on the canal. still nobody out. i ran north towards wolvercote and gave some thought to going over to university parks, but thought it might still be closed so i just stayed on the canal. got off above jericho and stopped to get some water at the londi's store- a 7/11 type store. guy told me i was really wet. observant to a fault.

out of the store and back to the canal carrying the now empty water bottle. threw it into a recycle bin on the canal and headed south. all the way down to the bridge again and then turned towards the train station and past snake park again. a woman runner in shorts and a tee shirt headed the other way telling me she was cold. what can i say? did the loop back around the abbey and the college and went over to the train station.

crossed back over the hythe st bridge and ran down to st andrew's church and around the block there and headed home. was really coming down now. a sort of sweet rain smell in the air though and knowing i was almost done now helped. got caught at the light at osney road and could feel the chill on my chest. glad i had worn the light jacket on top of the rei shirt. heavy gloves would have been nice also.

knew i would be a mile short of ten if i ran straight back but couldn't convince myself to run the king edward park route so i just went to the store for a paper and some breakfast stuff and headed home. nine miles in this rain was good enough. i saw one other runner. being out in the rain is not as bad as it could sound, but coming out in a pouring rain is not that easy to do. was glad i had some miles in before it really started.

the rest of the day went ok. did walk up to hit some balls and that went as ok as it could i suppose. some hope and some confusion. will hope to get it sorted out at home with some help. did chip some in a slight rain, but eventually i just headed home. an hour or so later the rain let up and gail and i took a bus into town and walked around and found a pub to eat at and had a nice little dinner. stopped for some ice cream on the walk home and made it back before anymore rain could start. seems like they expect less rain for the rest of the week than they had thought. can live with that as we are both traveling later this week.

now to fold and start packing and then read some. reading a book about england farm life right after world war two. pretty good so far. need to finish it and get on to the book club book.

read a bunch of stuff about the ireland golf trip and blogged it so i could have it handy. eventually i will do more of a real blog i hope, but for now this little run diary and occasional political rant is what i have to offer. not sure anyone reads it, but it is very cathartic for myself.

debate still going on as to getting a cat or not when we get home. time will tell. am curious to see what changes in our life we will make when we get back.