Visiting friends was the purpose of today’s bike ride as well as recovering from yesterday’s flat tire. Setting off at 11:17 AM on a modified bike route heading north the Canyon Endurace rode nicely after I replaced the rear tube, added a new spare tube, and aired the rear tire up to 92 psi. The Canyon sparkled from the wash job. The route would follow my usual “Kingwood – SH 242 – Kingwood” roads but swing into Tavola, east on Roman Forest Blvd to Linnwood Drive to enter Woodbranch village. It has been several years since I biked in Woodbranch Village and I wondered how much it changed.

It turned out that had not changed too much even tough parts had flooded several times. I saw new houses under construction but not at ground level. On Linnwood flooding is a problem so the houses were up in the air on stilts this time. I found the street my friends Charles and Marion live on and rode into there driveway. They were who I came to visit. We had a great safe distance visit for almost 2 hours. Charles gave me two cucumbers that fit in my jersey pockets when I got ready to leave. I play Mexican Train dominoes with them but we haven’t played since the virus arrived in town.

Earlier when I entered Tavola from Loop 494 a mint green Kia Soul pulled over a little ways in front of me and the driver waved me over. He has two bikes he wants to sell and wanted to ask me if I knew anyone who might be interested. We talked about biking and the bike ride in Liberty, TX. Dennis is from Liberty but lives in Tavola now. He teaches at a school in Cleveland. After he left I remembered a website that might help him sell the bikes so I rode to the street he told me he lived and looked for his car. He arrived just before I pulled up. Visit number 1 for the ride.

The ride north was into a headwind, a strong 16 mph one. Working the pedals my average speed got to 13.5 mph when I stopped in Woodbranch Village. The wind helped keep me cool but I hoped it hung around for the return trip. It did and my average speed improved to 14.6 mph by the time I turned into Oakhurst.

Weather during the bike ride: start 81 (73% humidity, 71.6 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind N 16 mph. Finish 88 (61% humidity, 72.6 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind N 8 mph. Its a good thing the tailwind helped me get back to Kingwood because my fuel level was getting low at the 3:55 PM finish. My shorts and Ohio short sleeve jersey were a good combination for the weather and temperature. No rain threat today though the forecast said late afternoon rain was possible.

The ride today totaled 39.13 miles, making up for some of the miles lost yesterday due to the flat tire. My week now totals 149.64 miles putting 200+ miles for the week within reach if I can biked Saturday and Sunday. The weather looks favorable both days.

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