Today’s ride started out in the low 60’s. Mostly FM (Farm to Market) roads. More chip coat surface with a narrow shoulder. The hill climbs are becoming shorter and smaller! 🤗
20 miles of the ride was in Sam Houston National Forest. There was minimal traffic but several very wide trucks carrying logs.
The only excitement for today was when one of our riders rode several miles off course. 🤦♀️ She had to be picked up by the SAG vehicle which canceled our last SAG stop at mile 60.
On a very sad note: a cyclist was hit and killed by a truck last week along the route we plan to ride tomorrow. Our leader, Abby, scouted the road today and decided the road was too dangerous for cyclists. The road is under a lot of construction and is torn up in multiple places and there is no shoulder. Riders have the option of not riding at all or being shuttled over the first 25 miles and ride the rest. It was originally a 64 mile day. 10 riders have decided not to ride at all.
Tomorrow is our last full day of riding in Texas. The scenery has been beautiful, the country hills were overwhelming and the overall infrastructure of the roads leave a lot to be desired. And the wind was wicked. El Paso, Fredericksburg and Austin were the highlights for me. Riding by fields of Blue Bonnets and Indian Paint flowers was magnificent.
Sam Houston National Forest