I was optimistic when I left home at noon that the rain clouds would stay away but if they didn’t it was warm enough that I wouldn’t mind riding in the rain. I selected the “Splendora – FM2090 – FM1314” route to ride more than 50 miles; I ended up riding 51.46 miles. Those pesky rain clouds were just barely southwest of Kingwood. As I exited Adams Road lately I went south on Loop 494 to Memorial Drive to ride to US59. Today I stayed on Knox Drive all the way to US59. That was a good thing because when I came to the north bound service road and looked left the road was wet and it was raining. A pickup truck driving onto Adams Drive from the service road had their windshield wipers flapping. Turning right the pavement was just barely damp and after a couple hundred feet it was dry.

The sun was out over top of me but the dark clouds were moving north as I was. All was well until I went up the incline at Community Drive and through the first traffic light. By the time I reached the second traffic light it was starting to rain. Not heavy rain but enough to get me soaked. The rain lasted for a mile or so and by the time zi came to FM1485 the road was dry again. From there to Splendora the road was dry and the rain stayed away. In Splendora I stopped at the Chevron station (I have a thing for this brand, I guess) for water and ice. As I was looking south the dark sky was coming northwest. I waited a few minutes to see if it would move my way but it didn’t seem to. I was riding west on FM2090 to Grangerland and I decided to ride hoping to ride around it or after it. That didn’t happen. Around 24 miles into the ride I crossed a bridge over a creek and turned slight right and the rain drops started. The rain wasn’t heavy at that point but I could see what looked like heavy rain a mile or in front of me. There wasn’t any place to get out of the rain until FM1485 crossed FM2090 about 3 miles away. Around 25 miles I caught up with the rain and it was coming down briskly. A couple of big trucks drove by me with lots of spray which did not help my vision. My glasses tried to fog and the water was running down the lenses. The rain was stinging my arms making me thing there was some sleet too. Thankfully the cars had their lights on to help me see them through my wet glasses. Finally I crossed FM1485, moved to the left turn lane and entered the Caney Creek High School parking lot to find a dry place. There were construction workers under the bus cover and I found the ramp and rode under too. Now thunder clapped a couple of times to the northwest. Earlier before getting to FM1485 there was some thunder too. That is why I decided to stop at the school in case lightning would arrive.

I waited and watched the sky for a sign the rain was moving on. It slowed some and over the top of the school I could see blue sky to the south. After 15 minutes or so I got back on the bike and rode to FM1485 to ride to the sun. It was till raining but not near as hard. I rode south not stopping at the Valero station like I usually do continuing south on Old Houston Road to SH 242. Just before SH 242 the road turned dry and that was the end of the rain.

Arriving at FM1314 I went left on the way to the Shell station at Cumberland.The sun was out now and the water in my jersey and shorts was slowly drying out. By the time I got to the Shell station my jersey was about normal but my shorts and shoes were still very wet. I went inside and got a Gatorade and a banana and went back outside to sit under the pump canopy on the Greensheet newspaper I picked up. My Edge 520 screen when I arrive and the weather while I was eating and resting.

The warm breeze dried up some of the water. I hung my gloves on the top tube to let the wind dry them some. The Greensheet adsorbed as much water from my shorts as it could and the paper towels stuck in the end of the shorts on my legs started to fall apart form the moisture. I finished eating, wiped my shoes clean from the road spray and got ready to leave. The food refreshed me for the 14+ miles home.

When I made the turn onto Old Sorters Road I looked at the sky to the south and west. It was getting dark. I wanted to get home without getting soaked again so I picked up the speed slightly riding through Briar Tree and Oakhurst. I rode the rest of the way home without rain and got home at 4:28. After putting the bike in the garage and going inside I went back out to wash the bike. Other than getting wet twice it was a good ride. I continue to make progress to my June mileage goal.

Tomorrow’s forecast has a 36% chance of rain. Maybe I will stay dry when I bike.

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