As I made the bed up this morning I asked the Google Assistant what the weather forecast was for today. She said rain but I believed that applied to other people and places.

I paused stage 16 of the Giro d’Italia until the final 21.6 km to resume after my bike ride. I checked the weather radar and saw a big glob of rain to the southwest. I figured it would take several hours to move to Kingwood. Getting ready I rolled the Lynskey R300 out the back door. My plan was to ride my “Atascocita – Walden – Huffman” route but I was slightly pessimistic on that. Punching the Bolt computer start button at 9:58 AM I set off. Before leaving I aired the Lynksey’s tires up to 80 psi because they didn’t pass the squeeze test.

As I rode through Kingwood making my way to W. Lake Houston Parkway the sky looked threatening but I attributed that to my sunglasses. Crossing the San Jacinto River the sky darkened to the east and the south but I thought I could ride to FM 1960 and turn back if it got closer. Thunder popped a few times, once seemed right over top of me. Lately I turned left off W. Lake Houston Parkway onto side streets but today I stayed on W. Lake Houston Parkway to Upper lake Drive heading to the Atascocita Hike & Bike Trail. As I rode on the trail I decided that was as far south to ride because the sky looked dark and wet. Good plan but as I approached Pinehurst Trail Drive riding back to Kingwood the rain caught me. I thought about places to get out of the rain and the closest one was a gazebo at the park on Kings Way Parkway. I tried to ride fast to get there as the rain soaked me. The wind picked up chilling me but I made it to the gazebo. The wind blew rain under the gazebo but not enough to make me wetter. Waiting for the rain to slow down I remembered seeing people wearing trash bags for rain coats. A trash can was not too far away and when the rain slowed and the wind slowed I got the trash bag. Fortunately no trash was inside and only a little water. Back under the gazebo I poked holes for my head and arms. Putting the bag on I got on the Lynskey and started riding. My arms got wet but my torso started warming up with the bag blocking the wind. I was tempted to stop when a place came up to get out of the rain but I was already wet and that would delay getting back home which I did at 12:05 PM. As I write this the rain stopped and the blob has moved to the NE.

The route changed to “Kingwood to FM 1960” and 21.18 miles.

Maybe tomorrow I can make a bigger contribution towards reaching my 700 mile goal for the month. I need 160 miles.