A good solid ride today. Sorry no photos as I forgot my camera this morning. As I read the cue sheet, I had some concerns reading “very cool route, with hardly any flat moments”. Often I am just as happy with those flat moments as the really short choppy hills. While there was both hills and wind today, it felt like a good solid ride. I walked a hill or two, but overall it was a fun ride.

We left under partly cloudy skies and cooler temperatures. This morning had a 300km brevet departing at 6am for the real strong riders. Supposedly, 11 of them rode. I was there with many of the other riders at 9am. Once again, I picked the B route, posted for 66 miles. We cut across town on our standard routes and then out in the country. A brief stretch of 290 at 9 miles before taking 1376 south. This was a small road and as advertised we had some good hills to climb over as we rode this road for 20+ miles. We also had tailwinds which helped. It was still overcast and never really warmed much today. The last few miles into Sisterdale had a fun downhill. Zoom, despite the hills we were making good time. The hoard of hungry cyclists had consumed most of the good stuff at the store, but there was still one chocolate bar left. Myself and fellow cyclists wondered how much headwinds we would get from here.

The next 7 miles was mostly cross wind and some gentle hills. From here we turned north on old county road #9. This was nice quiet country road and mostly followed a water drainage with gentle hills. After 8 miles there was a steep climb up to the Old Tunnel State Wildlife Area. The wildlife area was named for a 920 foot long railroad tunnel that had been dug underneath the hill (too bad cyclists couldn’t use it). It had been abandoned in the 1940s but now this area was home to more than 3 million bats. Starting in April, there were evening viewings where you could come watch the bats take to the skies. Also nearby was a small cafe with very tasty burgers. That made for a good lunch.

After lunch, some more gentle riding into the wind, though more downhill this time. We then zigzagged through country roads for 8 miles or so, before the last 4 miles into the wind on Texas 16. I felt pretty slow into the last headwind, but overall am feeling like I’ve been riding stronger than 10 days ago. A fun Texas Hell Week ride today.

68 miles today.