After taking 2 weeks off I got back on the Canyon Endurace CF SLX to ride the “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route for 33.28 miles. During the break I was with my wife Hazel Marie for her last days in her fight with breast cancer. She fought the cancer for over 16 years but on September 3rd at 2:59 AM she died to enter the Church Triumphant with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I miss her greatly after 43 years of marriage. No more will I be able to answer her question when I get ready to bike, “Where are you going today?” She always wanted to know in case anything happened.

Our last road trip was in February to Harlingen for the Jalapeno 100 bike ride. After I finished the ride we went out to eat and afterwards she got very sick, throwing up for almost 2 days. I felt so bad that we went there and she got so sick. My trips to bike rides will be alone now.

Today’s ride started at 10:33 AM after I watched stage 12 of Vuelta a Espana. The weather still was warming up to the projected 100 degrees which I avoided when I finished at 1:15 PM. But it was on the way up. Weather during the bike ride: start 92 (57% humidity, 74.6 dew point), a few clouds, wind calm. Finish 98 (39% humidity, 68.5 dew point), partly cloudy, wind SE 7 mph. With low humidity the wind didn’t feel so hot but whenever I stopped I could feel the heat.

I stopped at the Huffman Chevron to refill my water bottle and to return a phone call. The shade felt good and the ice water helped me get ready for the 11 miles left.

Not much different during my absence along the route. The video below shows clips from the ride and maybe conveys the heat and dryness.

My goal for September is 700 miles but with the days off it may be difficult to ride that much. The rain will not be a problem for the next week or so.