As I turned off the I-69/US59 south service road onto Valley Ranch Parkway I could see the giant New Caney ISD Texan Stadium scoreboard was lit with the US flag. Tonight is the first football game and I suppose they are getting everything ready. As I rode closer I could hear marching band music and I thought the band was practicing but looking on the field no band was there and the music was piped in. I pass the stadium when I ride the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route which I was on today. I have heard the scoreboard is the largest high school stadium one in the US in 2015 but I don’t know if they still have that honor in 2016.

The ride started at 12:23 as I was slow to get going. The overcast sky was not drawing me outside and the small rain clouds on the radar was not encouraging. For the first couple of miles I rode in an intermittent drizzle but it wasn’t enough to turn back. The temperature was in the mid 80’s and the humidity was around 66% which made for a muggy ride. Whenever I stopped I could feel the sweat moving around on my body. Thankfully the wind was from the east and not a big problem and it became a nice tailwind on the way south from Tavola.

I arrived at the Porter Stripes at 2:02 at the 23 mile point of the 34.45 mile long ride. The timing wasn’t great because I would need to pass the Briar Tree elementary school during dismissal. My Elemnt screen when I stopped and the weather half way during the break.

No Gatorade today, just ice water to wash down the two packages of snack crackers. This helped shorten the stay at the station and I was back on the bike at 2:30. I thought I would get passed the school before the parents took up the road but they were lined up on each side of the road approaching the school. I rode in the left lane to get around them until a couple of cars coming the opposite direction came into the right hand lane I had moved to. I stopped for them to position themselves so I could ride around.

Making my way through Oakhurst on the way to Kings Manor I hoped I would miss that school’s traffic but they were lined up there too. I suppose the first week of school causes the traffic to move slowly as parents get used to the flow and timing. Bear Branch Elementary traffic was long gone by the time I rode by there. I finished the ride at 3:28.

Two dog sprints today. The first was on E. Konx Drive just west of Loop 494. I had not seen this dog before and she stayed on the side of the road barking. The second was in Kingwood which is very rare. I was less than a mile from home on Oak Gardens Drive and a large white dog came out of the driveway barking and chasing me but he gave up after about 150 feet. I haven’t seen this dog before either.

I am up to 652 miles for August, 148 more to go to reach my 800 mile goal. The weather may not help me though. Rain is possible Saturday and Sunday.

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