Today’s bike ride followed the “New Caney – Gene Campbell Road” route for a total of 36.36 miles with a riding time of 2:28:04. High noon is a great to bicycle with the great weather we are experiencing: 79 at the start and 84 at the 3:04 PM finish. The wind was only 5 mph from the SE and the sky was almost totally blue. This is a picture I took while stopped at the Porter Stripes station on FM1314.

Nothing unusual about the route today. The surface on Gene Campbell Road seems to have a few more rough spots as the asphalt takes a beating from all of the 18 wheelers traveling to the businesses in the industrial park. One of these days I expect (hope maybe is better) to see road work signs go up and new asphalt going down. Not long after I turned onto Gene Campbell an 18 wheeler came up behind me but the oncoming traffic would give him enough time to go around me. I kept my speed around 17 mph to not bog him down too much. After about a mile or more the traffic stopped and he went around me leaving plenty of room. I was glad he was patient.

I thought about taking a rest stop at the Sorters Road Valero station but kept biking to the Stripes station at Valley Ranch Parkway and FM1314. I rode into the shade of the the pump canopy about 1:42 after biking 25.0 miles.

The great weather while I was eating at the Stripes station.

I wasn’t able to refill my water bottle with ice at the Stripes station because the ice machines were broken. Tap water washed down the granola bar and Kashi Trail Mix bar. If it had been full summer weather I would’ve missed the ice but today it wasn’t too bad. I kept my stay short and left about 2:10 to avoid the school traffic at the Briar Tree schools. The school buses followed me to the elementary school so I didn’t have a problem with the traffic there. When I got to the Kings Manor school cars were lined up but I stayed in the left lane to get around everyone before the classes let out. I thought this would put me at the Bear Branch elementary school in the thick of dismissal but when I rode by the school only a few cars were there. They must’ve dismissed early today.

October’s mileage is now 125% of the goal I set. With a few days left and the weather looking great I should continue to add miles. Last year on this date I did not bike. I think the weather was 20 degrees cooler and wet.

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