Rain Avoided – Eagle Springs – Walden – Huffman Bike Ride
I skipped biking in the rain today if you don’t count the drizzle and wet roads from rain before I got to there. I rode the “Eagle Springs – Walden – Huffman” route for some variety and for enough miles to reach 200 for the week. I rode 35.36 miles today putting the week’s miles at 202. The ride started at 11:52 rolling out of the driveway. Before leaving home I checked the weather radar for rain but it was to the west and far east. It did rain early this morning at my home but only .09″ and I had to look close to see the evidence. The weather before I left home.
It looks like summer is not too far away. The mostly cloudy sky let some sun through and the 70% humidity made for a muggy ride. At each stop sweat appeared within seconds on my arms. The time to start wearing wrist bands has arrived.
Today’s route takes me on some streets I don’t ride very often and is generally light traffic. I turned on Aerobic Drive rather than go to W. Lake Houston Parkway and turn left. The mile or so on W. Lake Houston to enter Walden has much more traffic. On Aerobic Drive I went passed the neighborhood pool will many children enjoying the water.
Riding through Walden on the way to FM1960 I looked in my mirror and saw some dark clouds to the west. They were moving slowly in my direction. Lake Houston seems to be a rain cloud magnet and I was biking near it. I wanted to get to the Huffman Chevron before the rain caught me. I upped the pace and on FM1960 riding east I kept an eye on the approaching dark clouds. On Fairlake Drive and Old Atascocita Road I could look in my mirror to watch how I was doing. So far no rain. On FM2100 looking toward Huffman the dark clouds appeared to be overhead but the closer I got I saw they were north of Huffman. I got to the Chevron station about 1:32 and took a picture of my Edge 520 and later while I was resting the weather.
As I sat under the pump canopy I watched the traffic coming from the west. A few cars had their windshield wipers on but most didn’t. A lady pulled up in a car and her windshield was covered in rain drops. When she came back out we chatted and she said she lives west of the station and it was raining off and on there. I waited a few more minutes, finished my drink and went inside to refill my water bottle. Then it was time to leave. I moved to FM1960 and in a short distance the road was wet which explained why some cars had their wipers on. I felt a couple of rain drops but nothing more. The road was wet until I got to E. Lake Houston Parkway. From there to Atascocita Shores Drive the shoulder was dry but from there to Pinehurst Trails it was damp and I rode around the puddles. I turned right onto Pinehurst Trail Drive to ride home. Once in awhile I felt a few drizzles but not enough to make me any wetter than the sweat had.
Navigating side streets and W. Lake Houston Parkway I avoided the rain but some dark clouds were visible to the west, south and east. I crossed Kingwood Drive and finished the ride home at 3:02. Ride completed without getting soaked. I will wipe off the road spray on my bike from the damp and wet roads. I checked the mailbox and my new Wahoo Elemnt was in side but the postal jammed it in so tight I worked for a couple of minutes trying to get it out. Finally I wiggled it out. Later I will set it up.
I am up to 271 miles for June. Only 704 miles to go!!!
The Wahoo Elemnt initial ride should happen tomorrow.
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