I laid out today’s route in my mind as I prepared to leave home on the ride. Rolling down the driveway at 12:17 the cloudy sky looked a little threatening. The temperature finally made it to 70 degrees. Everything was rolling along nicely until I crossed FM1960 on Pinehurst Trail where the light drizzle started. The drizzle stayed with me until I circled back on Atascocita Shores Dr. at FM1960. My first thought was to head back home but I looked at the windshields of the cars coming from the east side of Lake Houston. Not one of them had their wipers on and I decided to ride east over Lake Houston. On the east side I did not encounter any drizzle.

My original route went south on FM2100 to Stroker Road looping east back up Ramsey Road to Old Atascocita Road. Old Atascocita Road intersects with FM2100. The trouble with this route is if it rains there is no place to get shelter. With the gray clouds I did not want to take a chance. When I got FM2100 rather than going south I went north to FM1960. As I turned north onto FM2100 I saw two bikers about 200 yards east of FM2100. They stopped to adjust something and our paths did not cross. I stopped at the usual Huffman Chevron planning to ride north on FM2100 to Smith Road after I ate my snack.

Habit overcame my plan as I left the Chevron station going west on FM1960. I realized my mistake but the traffic going east was heavy and I kept going west. Riding over Lake Houston on FM1960 exposes one to whatever the weather wants to do and as I neared the west side I got back into the drizzle. Riding north on Atascocita Shores Dr. I left the drizzle behind after a few blocks. Later as I rode north on W. Lake Houston Parkway two other bikers came towards me on the bridge sidewalk. I waved at them and they waved back.

I ended up riding 30.4 miles averaging 15.4 mph. My original route would have been 37 miles. February is starting well but tomorrow rain and a cool front are supposed to arrive. I will probably not be able to ride for several days until things warm up. Year to date miles total 345. The goal for February will be 370 miles duplicating February 2013.

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