Greg and I left downtown Mansfield at 7:00 am this morning to ride my Mansfiend Mambo 128k permanent. It was obvious from the beginning that this humidity was going to have me wheezing more than usual, and I was slow right from the beginning. Greg said an easy pace ride was fine with him, so we took our time as we headed southwest toward Rio Vista.

We stopped at a store at mile 19 just west of Alvarado. The weather radar on their tv caught my attention. It showed a line of storms approaching Fort Worth and Denton from the west. It looked like we might be just south of all the rain, so we rode on, hoping to stay dry (at least as dry as a bike rider can stay on a humid day like this).

We turned onto FM 3136 at mile 20, and wouldn’t you know it, the entire 6 mile stretch of this road that the route travels is now fresh boulderseal. The closer we got to Rio Vista, the darker the northern sky got. There was obviously some serious rain north of us. We thought we might be able to dodge all the showers, but just 3 miles short of the Rio Vista control, the downpour started. We took shelter on a porch for a few minutes until the rain let up, then rode on.

When we left Rio Vista to ride 6 miles east on FM 916, we discovered that, you guessed it, that entire stretch is also now fresh boulderseal. If we thought our complaints with the condition of the roads were over, we were mistaken. When we turned left at mile 56 on CR 204, we discovered that it had had fresh gravel spread on it, but the new sealer hadn’t been applied yet. Right where the loose gravel was the worst, I encountered two large dogs who easily caught me, with my slow speed in the gravel, and seemed determined to dine on bike rider. I believe it was the first time I have ever stopped and charged a dog, brandishing my bike as a weapon, and it was an effective tactic.

At the next control in Venus at mile 67, we ran into Jerry Trimble and some FWBA riders having lunch. We chatted for a few minutes, then rode on against the north wind, noting how hot and humid the afternoon had become. We finished at 1:45, for a total of 79.8 miles, and total time of 6:45. After a very unhealthy lunch at a nearby DQ, I headed home. Despite the rain and road challenges of the day, it was a fun ride. Thanks for joining me, Greg!