After the early morning rain ended around 9:30 AM I waited for the streets to drive off some before beginning the bike ride today. According to the weather forecast rain probability increased to round 80% around 3PM. I chose the “New Caney – Tavola – Valley Ranch” route avoiding the extra side streets to keep the miles around 32 and get back home by 3 PM.

I got dressed and started the ride at 12:12 PM. By then the streets dried off except for the part by the curb. The sun even made a few appearances giving me confidence in my plan.

Riding north the wind helped get me to Tavola and once I rode through to Roman Forest Blvd. I thought I made good time and positioned to get back home by 3 PM. The SW 12 mph wind slowed my progress down on the ride south on the I-69/US59 service road until I made the right turn onto Valley Ranch Parkway. The wind got in the way once I reached the Grand Parkway. I then noticed the sky darkening to my right ahead but thought my dark sunglasses made it seem darker than it really was.

Fighting the wind to FM 1314 and then on to Briar Tree I began to be concerned about those dark clouds ahead. I even dipped my glasses down a little to check them out. Yep! the dark clouds were real. I rode into Oakhurst and decided to take a shorter route on Belvon Valley Drive when the light rain began. I sped up thinking the rain was isolated to a small patch but it increased. I thought of the closest place for shelter and decided to stop at the Oakhurst Pool and Community Center building on Rock Creek Drive. Trying to stay somewhat dry I moved to the trail beside Rock Creek Drive under the trees. This help a little as I raced to the shelter getting wetter as I rode.

I arrived at the shelter a few minutes before 2 PM. The rain came sooner than expected. I checked the weather radar on my phone and it showed rain covering a wide area so I called for a ride home. My wife saind she would come and get me. As I waited the rain continued and I got chilly from the wet clothes and breeze blowing. I took these photos while I waited.

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So the ride ended at the Oakhurst pool. My wife arrived around 2:30 and I put the Canyon in the back of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Before the ride I installed the Cateye Rapid 3 (model: TL-LD630-R) flashing tail light on the Canyon bike. I received the light for Christmas but kept forgetting to install it. The installation was easy and light is bright.

With today’s ride the Canyon Endurace CF SLX now has 7,614 miles on it. I bought it February 2018 and started riding it February 27th, 2018.

Later this evening another cool front should pass through drying the weather out while cooling down to the low 60’s. I don’t know if biking will happen or not.