In my quest for route variety I rode north on Loop 494 and then east on FM1485 to Casey Ridge and then some back streets into Roman Forest. I don’t ride this very often for some reason. The back streets at Casey Ridge can be rough and sometimes I think the dogs could be a problem but they never are. Riding through Roman Forest brings me out on US59. At that point I turn onto the southbound service road and head back to Kingwood. This route came to 34.51 miles, a little shorter than normal because I turned east on Northpark Drive to get out of the rain under the US59 overpass. I did manage an average speed of 15.5 mph.

Earlier I dodged the rain on the US59 southbound service road as I approached Valley Ranch by darting under the gas pump canopy at the Texaco station. I waited there about 10 minutes before resuming my ride south. While I waited I could hear thunder to the north and wondered if the rain was coming or moving away. It turned out that the rain stopped about 1/4 of mile south of the Texaco station and the streets were dry. As I got closer to Porter and FM1314 the rain drops reappeared but only lightly. I stopped at the Star Express Exxon station to get a Diet Pepsi but they changed the fountain machine to Coke products so I settled for ice and water to get me back home.

The rain drops almost disappeared as I headed toward Northpark Drive on the south service road. About a mile from Northpark I could see there was rain ahead and I sped up trying to beat it to the US59 overpass. I didn’t make it so the rain got me pretty good as I rode under cover. Again I waited for the rain to stop which it did leaving the streets wet. With the heat and some sun the road started to dry out some and I started on the way home south on Loop 494. Turning into Kings Manor the streets were drying out. By the time I rode onto my street the rain signs were gone.

With the rain the temperature range was 86 to 89 although I think it was hotter until I hit the rain. Humidity must have been high because the sweat was pouring off me whenever I stopped.

I continue to make progress on my June goal of 524 miles reaching 319.56 miles today and 2759 miles year to date.

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