I was slow getting started today. The sky looked dreary and the forecast mentioned rain. After pausing stage 11 of the Vuelta a España with 64k left I got ready to ride. I rolled out the driveway on my Cervelo Caledonia bike heading north on the Community Drive – Cumberland – Oakhurst route at 9:43 AM. I changed up the early streets for variety and add to the distance. The ride went through Elm Grove Village, Sherwood Trails Village, and Woodridge Forest. I exited Woodridge Forest on Adams Street which I don’t ride very often. Next I rode the long loop through Brooklyn Trails on the way to US59. I planned on taking the TX99 frontage road to Loop 494 but changed to Community Drive. I wasn’t on Loop 494 very long before returning to US59 on the west bound frontage road. Approaching the Valley Ranch retail center I turned right on Valley Ranch Blvd. The flowers in the esplanade caught my eye and took these photos.

From there Valley Ranch Parkway was the way to FM1314. Riding FM1314 NW the wind was friendly all the way to Cumberland Blvd. I turned right by McDonalds to use the traffic light to cross FM1314 because the left turn signal changes too quickly. Cumberland Blvd. took me into The Highlands and the round about sent me back to FM1314. The ride SE wasn’t as easy as the NW because the headwind made me pedal stronger. My legs were up to the effort. The right turn onto Old Sorters Road shifted the wind to my left rear quarter and pedaling was easier. I made my way through Briar Tree, Oakhurst, and Kingwood Place to the south bound US59 frontage road. Approaching the Kingwood Drive the u-turn was blocked by four Montgomery County Sheriff cruisers and a black SUV crashed into the curb and sign. The video shows the details. I used the main turn lane. Into Kings Manor and then Kingwood brought me to the finish at 12:45 PM. No rain and the dreary sky turned blue during the ride.

The ride covered 37.16 miles, slightly longer than the usual ride on the route. I’m now need 60 miles to reach my August 904 mile goal. The weather may get involved the next three days with rain getting more prominent in the forecast. Today’s ride weather: Start 77 degrees, humidity 93%, dew point 74.8, mostly cloudy, wind N 5 mph; Finish 88 degrees, humidity 68%, dew point 75.7, mostly cloudy, wind NE 7 mph.