Yelling Tractor Driver
I was off to Huffman again but this time I choose a route that goes east of Huffman, “FM2100 – Huffman Eastgate – Huffman”. I wanted to ride enough miles to push the week total over 200 miles. The 35.23 miles today did just that with the week’s total now at 202.17 miles. The year’s total improved to 5383 miles. I didn’t start very early leaving home at 11:41 which meant the temperature had time to heat up but as I was riding I felt a bit of coolness in the wind as I rode. It was 86 at the start under mostly cloudy skies but by the time I finished at 2:36 it was up to 93 degrees.
The wind wasn’t much of a factor during the ride and my legs held up fairly well. I probably rode harder than I should have for 22 miles when I turned back west on Huffman- Eastgate off of FM1960. I was riding strong and got my average speed up to 16 by then. Riding on Huffman – Eastgate as I approached Willy Lane a tractor pulled out on the road. We were going about the same speed and I was probably 200 feet behind him. Continuing west the tractor started to slow down and move left of center. I wasn’t sure what he was doing and got closer. The driver started yelling and cursing at me for being too close. I slowed down and he turned onto a dirt road on the right still yelling. Since he didn’t use any signals I am not sure how I was supposed to know where he was going. I rode onto FM2100.
Reaching FM2100 I was looking forward to a rest stop at the Huffman Chevron. I made it there and took a place under the canopy. Unlike the other day the wind was not blowing much and the sweat was rolling off my arms and face. Too many cars were under the canopy blocking what little breeze there was. A few left and I felt a little air moving. The sweat was drying some and soaking the paper towels I had on my knees as well as the Greensheet I was sitting on. Up to there I rode about 23.8 miles. The time to leave came too fast and got my legs moving. After refilling my waterbottle I headed to home for the final 11+ miles.
My average speed was 16.0 mph when I left the Chevron station. I kept it there until I turned off of FM1960 into the residential streets where it started to slowly fall. By the time I got home it settled at 15.7 mph. My legs were complaining from all the effort.
A couple of other bicyclists were out today along the route.
Tomorrow’s weather could be a few degrees cooler. I may ride my mountain bike for some variety. While I was riding today it rained .07″ at my home.
Garmin Connect and RideWithGPS.
