With the Grand Parkway segment scheduled to open today I thought it would be interesting to ride north to see if the opening happened. I rode the “New Caney – Roman Forest – Valley Ranch” route taking the northbound US59 service road to Community Drive. As I passed the west bound Grand Parkway entrance from US59 north the ramp was still blocked at 2:10 pm with a construction company truck sitting on the ramp with lights flashing. I guess the west bound lanes were not open yet. I turned right to take Community Drive to Loop 494 where I went north to Roman Forest Blvd. It has been a while since I rode on this section of Community Drive due to the construction work.

The start was late today getting away from home at 1:23. The sky was overcast and the temperature was 75 degrees with a light breeze from the SE. Looking at the weather radar I didn’t see any rain nearby.

Making the turn to the south at Roman Forest Blvd. I stayed on the service road until Valley Ranch Blvd. where I turned right to go to FM1314. This road goes under the Grand Parkway and when I got there the barriers were still up. I think it was about 2:40 pm. There were two construction workers there and I asked one when the road was going to open but he didn’t give a time. I made my way through the barriers heading to the Stripes station at FM1314 for a short break. My Garmin Edge 520 when I got there.

I went inside to get a Greensheet newspaper to sit on while I ate a couple of trail mix bars and emptied my water bottle. I didn’t want to stay too long so I wouldn’t cool off too much but I couldn’t leave too quick or I would get caught in the Briar Tree school traffic. The weather looked like it would stay dry as I checked my phone.

I went back inside the Stripes store to refill my water bottle and use the restroom before heading out. I was chilled some from cooling down at the break since I decided to not wear a short sleeve jersey over the long sleeve one I had on. I rode into Briar Tree and the school traffic was gone. As I rounded the first curve my glasses started to get misty from a very light mist. This was around the 23 mile point. The mist stayed with me all the way home when I arrived at 3:59. The temperature had dropped to 71 degrees and the wind increased to 10 mph. I was glad to be home before I got any wetter. I wiped the bike down and went inside.

With today’s ride March miles are now up to 693, 62 miles over my goal for March. I am not sure I will get to ride the last 2 days of March with rain in the forecast both days.

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