I pressed the start button on the Bolt computer at 12:33 PM. The sky was dark in places but the radar showed the rain was not near even though I heard light rain on the patio cover. I chose a route to the north and set out on my Canyon Endurace CF SLX bike.

No rain but the streets were damp until I crossed FM 1314 where the road turned wet. The clouds looked threatening to the west but I continued on the route. At the Valero station on Loop 494 I made a quick switch to find cover from the rain. I waited there for at least 20 minutes until the rain slowed. Next I stopped at Buster Brown Propane in New Caney to get some information. The roads dried some but the dark clouds moved closer. I planned on riding my “Kingwood – FM 1485 – Kingwood” route and headed to the frontage road and over Caney Creek. I made the u-turn under US59 and rode south towards FM 1485 and the rain started. I took shelter at the US59 and FM 1485 overpass. I don’t remember how long I waited for the rain to slow but while I waited the thunder and lightning picked up.

Finally the rain slowed, I headed south on the frontage road to Valley Ranch Parkway with more thunder but no rain but as I passed the New Caney ISD football stadium the rain came down. I lifted the Canyon over the chain blocking the parking lot entrance and found a dry place at the ticket booth. More waiting while the rain came down. It slowed and I set off to my next goal, the Grand Parkway overpass at Valley Ranch.

When I got there the rain came down again. I rode through the traffic light to get under the overpass and out of the rain. That was as far as I rode. I waited and waited for the rain to slow but it never happened. I started thinking of ways to get home but none looked good. Finally around 4:05 PM a lady stopped and asked if I needed a ride home. I said yest, I loaded the Canyon in the back of her large pickup and thanked her many times. Getting home wasn’t easy with the rain, flashing traffic lights and lots of traffic.

Soaked and gritty I walked the Canyon up the driveway and got inside out of the rain. I tossed the rain dice and lost.