Rain soaks thirsty earth
Downpour topples trees, cuts power, muddies cyclo-cross racers
Chris Wells of Santa Rosa did a face plant, Saturday November 1, 2008 during a rain soaked Cyclocross event at Youth Community Park in Santa Rosa. The rain and ensuing mess of thick mud made things all the more interesting for the riders.
Kent Porter / The Press DemocratPublished: Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 3:55 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 9:08 a.m.
Heavy rain Saturday turned an off-road bicycle competition into an oozing mudfest, covering the nearly 200 riders from head to foot and delighting spectators huddled under umbrellas.
Cyclo-cross racer Preston Booker, who fell into the soup at Youth Community Park several times, emerged from his hourlong heat with a brown coating and a wide grin.
"It was like riding through a milkshake out there," said Booker of Santa Rosa as a friend sprayed him with a hose. "I pretty much have it everywhere. It was a blast, though."
The storm that swept into the area Friday continued to drench the region Saturday, causing minor flooding, power outages and downing trees.
The downpour caused the cancellation of the annual candelight parade for Dia De Los Muertos in Petaluma. Organizers instead held festivities inside St. Vincent de Paul Church.
"The puppets get really messed up in the rain," event co-founder Marjorie Helm said. "The mariachis can't play and the Aztec feathers get really screwed up."
In the 24 hours ending Saturday night, Santa Rosa got about 1½ inches of rain and Ukiah had more than an inch, the National Weather Service said.
It rained 2½ inches near Geyserville and 2 inches in St. Helena.
The forecast was for continued rain and possible thunderstorms overnight, tapering off this morning, meteorologist Brian Tentinger said.
Weaker storms could return by the first of the week.
"You'll have another shot of rain Monday night, continuing into Tuesday," said Tentinger, of the National Weather Service in Monterey.
Saturday's storm brought strong winds, especially at higher elevations.
A tree fell across Calistoga Road at Petrified Forest Road, closing the highway at 8:38 a.m. Saturday, according to the CHP.
At 9:50 a.m., another tree blocked the eastbound lane of Lytton Springs Road near Dry Creek Road, the CHP said.
"We have had lots of trees down, but we have cleared all the wires and trees," CHP Sgt. Jeff Abrams said.
Power outages were reported in Occidental, when 250 customers lost power at 7 a.m., and in Fort Ross, when 390 customers lost power at 5:30 a.m., according to PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi.
Power was restored in both places by Saturday afternoon and no new major power losses were reported, Guidi said.
At the coast, gale-force winds gusting to 30 miles per hour and 10-foot seas kept most boats in port Saturday, which was the opening day of the recreational crab season.
"We have a few boats going out chasing crab pots, we will see," said Seaman Josh Ellis, who is stationed at the Bodega Bay Coast Guard station.
You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.
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