I can’t begin to describe how beautiful the weather is today in southeast Texas. The humidity is the lead item in the weather: 22% when I left home at 12:08 and 21% when i got back at 3:37. Whenever I stopped I was almost instantly dry. Sweat was nonexistent. In fact when I first sat down in the shade at Stripes I felt chilly even thought the temperature was 93. The blue sky looked great and the 9 mph SE breeze accentuated the dryness. This should Houston drier than Phoenix.

Riding a route I have only been on three times this I went to the north on the “SR242 – Old Houston Rd – FM1314” route. The last time was almost 2 months ago. Back then i commented on the lack of activity at the Grand Texas site on SH 242 west of US59. Today I saw this:

The construction appears to be utilities. As I rode further west on SH 242 I could see land cleared to the north behind a screen of trees. On the south side of SH 242 the RV park is starting to take shape. Several Entergy electric trucks were working at the entrance to the Grand Texas RV Park.

Riding on SH 242 I was fast enough to get the average speed up to 15.6 mph. I maintained this until I reached the Stripes station. My route went south on Old Houston Road to FM1314. I took these pictures at the intersection at FM1314 looking west.

Once upon a time Country Village was a promising subdivision but it never reached its potential. Old Houston Road is a nice asphalt road from SH 242 to FM1314 and I ride it when I don’t want to take SH 242 all the way to FM1314. From these photos it was about 6 1/2 miles to the Stripes station. I got there at 2:16 with 30.03 miles ridden out of what total 41.9 miles. I took my usual spot under the gas pump canopy to eat and drink before leaving for the 11+ miles to home. The weather screenshots while I was Stripes.

Notice the 10% humidity, even drier than my home weather station. While I was eating a young man in a black pickup truck pulled up and asked if I needed a ride home or if I was resting. I told I was okay and just taking a rest break.

Usually when I leave Stripes I ride through Briar Tree and then Oakhurst subdivisions but today after going through Briar Tree I turned in Auburn Trails and then to the southbound US59 service road. I wanted some variety. Riding south on the service road I was able to maintain 18 to 19 mph even though the wind was from the SE. Arriving at Kingwood Drive I made the u-turn under US59 and rode north to Kingwood Parq. Riding through Kingwood Parq brought me to Loop 494 where I went north to enter Kingwood at Kings Manor. My timing was good with the elementary school already dismissed and the traffic gone. From there I rode residential streets until I reached Kingwood Drive where I took the greenbelt trail parallel to Kingwood Drive to South Woodland Hills where I moved back to streets for the rest of the way home.

October miles are increasing faster than last year. I am at 454.74 miles this year compared to 640.14 miles for all October 2014. I think with 17 days left in October I should surpass last October’s total. 2015 year to date I am at 5972 miles.

The beautiful weather is supposed to stay around until the weekend. More biking planned for tomorrow. Saturday I am riding at Atascocita High School.

Summary of all the rides on the “SR242 – Old Houston Rd – FM1314” route this year.

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