https://www.relive.cc/view/v1vjAVZyRYq
😂First I must say "thanks" to my RGV cycling friends that keep in touch and still want to connect for a ride when they're nearby...😍 Friendship is important to me so it means a whole bunch.
Guicha mentioned she would be passing through my area and she and her boyfriend Eric wanted to go trail/MTB riding in my area and if I knew where to go. Since I lived about 13 years next to McAllister Park? Of course I knew where to go. The three of us met at the main parking lot for the trails and dog park inside the park well off of Wurzbach Parkway. I started out the day with road tires still on my mountain bike (work commuting) with the intention of changing them to my knobbies once I arrived at the park, knowing I'd be plenty early enough and ahead of their arrival. I'm glad her boyfriend is prior military and she's a police officer. (Two types of on time people) As I was about to pump up my 2nd tire, here they are and ready to go. We set off on the road leading towards the soccer field then towards the playground opposite the fields and onto the dirt, rocks and tree rooted trails. We kept a slow pace which was great for all of us to take in the pleasure of the ride. A few thoughts ran through my mind of "I never should have left this area" but that's another story completely. I lead us right to my old house which is the first house off one of the unofficial park entrances. I couldn't help but take the very familiar trail to what always was thought to be my personal park entrance. I told a few stories of the neighborhood and park relationship then we were back on the trail. Next little story stop was near my kids old Wetmore elementary school and stories of walking them to school through the park when I could which was usually once a week. Off again and through smooth to rough terrain over and over. We eventually found ourselves behind the police station on Thousand Oaks and on the high trail now out in the full sun. This was our first full sun exposure as this park is basically a South Texas forest with light to deep shade within the trail system. McAllister is usually listed as a park for beginners but if that's the case, I don't think I want to ride Novice or Expert level trails. We kept to what I would consider easier to novice trails and took a few photos along the way, laughed and said "Oh S**t" a lot. There's a few climbs that are fast and steep and if you don't take the right line with the right gear you'll find yourself at an abrupt stop and walking your bike, hopefully not falling over. After 13.5 miles we decided it was enough and headed back to the parking area. I kinda planned this as I started is out in the extension of the park away from the parking area and kept us within a mile or so of the parking area after 7 miles or so. This way if anyone was tired we wouldn't have far to go to finish our ride. We made it back to our vehicles and said our bye byes and made our keep in touch promises with the real feeling that we actually would do so. Fun had by all. I appreciate the invite, the thoughtfulness of having me in mind to ride and WOW! what great weather for a not to early park ride. If this was a road ride, morning traffic at 9am would be on the rise but as a park ride it was PERFECT. I think we started out with 68 degrees and finished at 76 or so. I had a sweat shirt to wear plus my long sleeve base layer shirt. Start to finish I only wore the base layer shirt and considered rolling up the sleeves. Anyone could tell this park is the place to ride, hike, run, play soccer, and baseball. A place to have a party or bring your dog as we saw and heard a little of some of that but A LOT of people on bikes. This day is already a blessing and I hope everyone reading this today or any day gets out to enjoy the day.
Be blessed and RIDE ON!
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