The weather started off with a fog advisory which did not cause any issue here. I watched the Tour de Romandie Prologue on BeIn Sport (thank you Dish channel 392) and handled some business before getting out the door 11:52 with the object to meet the Amtrak train at Old Atascocita Road around 1:00. I rode hard to get there and shortened the usual route to Huffman. I got to railroad crossing a few minutes before 1:00. I waited until 1:25 but no Amtrak train. While I was waiting several cars stopped to be sure I was okay. One lady stopped and I told her about the train and she was surprised that the Amtrak train came this way. I told her about my wife and I riding the train from Houston to New York City last October. She thanked me for telling her about Amtrak and seemed like she was going look into it. A bicyclist came by too and asked if I needed any help. I think he had a Texas A&M jersey on.

I gave up and rode to FM2100 turning right to ride to Spanish Cove to add a mile or so to the ride. As I rode south I heard the train whistle in the distance and figure it was the Amtrak train. A failure to rendezvous again like last Thursday. I need to be more patient. Last Thursday the train went through about 1:07 PM but it apparently varies quite a bit. I had time to ride my usual streets but didn’t know it.

As I rode the sky cleared out and the wind picked up. When I left home it was 5 mph from the west. When I stopped at the Huffman Chevron for a break I checked the weather on my phone: wind NNW gusts 22 mph. I could tell the wind was stronger when I rode to the north from Spanish Cove on FM2100 but thought my legs were tired from the effort I used getting to the train crossing.  I pedaled slowly and finally reached the Chevron station. I took a break at the Chevron eating a snack and Diet Coke. To add to my ride I went north on FM2100 when I left the station. Again my legs struggled to turn the pedals against the wind. Thankfully I turned left onto Smith Road and the wind was not so strong among the trees and houses. As I got near the left hand turn onto E. Lake Houston Parkway I heard a noise that seemed to come from my tires like something was stuck to the tire and brushing against the bike. I stopped to check it out but couldn’t find anything except dust. The ride south on E. Lake Houston was much easier thanks to the strong tailwind.

Riding east over Lake Houston on FM1960 I found the right shoulder nice and clean.The street sweeper had visited. About 200 yards from the east end of the causeway the shoulder got dirty again. I suspect the sweeper got full from all of the debris and left to empty. The clean shoulder was great to ride on. Going back across the causeway headed west the sweeper was finishing up the dirty section. Dust was flying everywhere. We haven’t had any rain to speak in awhile. When i was riding to the east over the lake I had to battle the wind wanting to push my bike around. I thought it would be the same when I went west but the wind was a help instead. My legs needed some help. The temperature was a very pleasant 84 degrees when I got home. A cool front is supposed to move through later today and tomorrow is forecast to be in the 70’s as the high. I wore a short sleeve jersey and shorts today. I had to break out a new can of spray on sunscreen. With the wind perspiration was not an issue. My bandana was just barely wet.

The route totaled 32.47 miles and I averaged 15.3 mph. April miles now total 844.15. 70 miles so far this week and 2104 miles year to date.

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