City Cruiser's Sunday Surprise

My wife would always tell me concerning The Valley "It's a different kind of hot down there".
After today's ride with City Cruiser's out of Brownsville, I'm a believer. A year away and getting used to New Braunfels weather will do it. Still south Texas in New Braunfels, but not 12 inches from the sun, convection oven breeze weather like Deep South Texas in the valley.  How Deep you ask? Well, after Brownsville, you're in Mexico.  As I write this, weather shows Brownsville at 90 degrees with a heat index of 99. At 0650 when we started riding I think it was 78 or 79 with high humidity. A good group showed today for what I thought would have been the usual Empanada Ride but today was different. We did an advertised 45 mile ride that was actually 47 miles. I could feel heat leaving my body every time we stopped along the way and found some shade. I kept up with the lead group for about the first 7 miles or so then started falling back. Eventually Rosana was there tailing me getting my draft,  then she took the lead into the first rest stop. Leaving there,  I jumped back in with the lead group for a short while then rode with Rox and others to the Starbucks stop. Every regrouping stop was good to catch a breath and some liquid and chomp on a snack bar and of course socialize. The next stop we had was at a large beach store with a dinosaur theme as you entered the parking lot. I really wanted to take photos but my body wouldn't allow me to get off my butt to do it. More liquids and snacks then the final 9 miles back to the event center.
"Sweat and motion creates a cooler me".   As I move creating a faster evaporation from my jersey, it made a real pleasant cooling effect. Add that there was not the typical valley 25Kts of wind with guest, and this was actually a nice ride. Traffic did pick up but the road shoulders were wide and out sag vehicle was typically near by. Only one person had a fall but not serious (the bike is ok) and no other real mishaps except Dan's bike at some point, but it got taken care of and he continued the ride. I gotta say thank you to Eliseo for hanging back with me towards the end as I limped into the event center. Thank you to Ben for organizing all the the City Cruiser's  do in rides, runs,  and giving to the charity he has each year. I hope everyone gets in a good ride today. John H, Rick S, Nancy, I hope you had a good 115 miles
Be blessed and RIDE ON! 🚲 🚵‍♀️ 

Saturday Wheels Down Surprise

I didn't mention to anyone that I would be in H town (Harlingen the jewel of the 956) for the weekend except to talk to John H. My intention was and I did ride with the Wheels Down Group knowing the Pacesetters were gonna be too fast for me. After checking Facebook for the meeting time, I got a night's sleep and just showed up ready to ride. Fist bumps and hug greetings were had as I pulled up into the Planet Fitness parking lot. I had already forgot to bring a water bottle from home knowing I was going to ride so I got one from Walmart that really doesn't fit my holder but I made it work. Less than a mile headed to the meeting spot, I realized I also forgot to pull up my bib short shoulder straps. So? Before we rode out as a group I took off my jersey and corrected my error. We rode at a leisurely pace on familiar roads with familiar friends. I didn't know every one personally but I got to chat with everyone along the ride. Meeting Sonia outside of Facebook was nice and we got to chat about riding, vacation spots and more. Although I've been by the fire station on Grimes many times in the past, this was the first time I stopped at the station and took photos with one of the trucks with Sonia climbing on the truck reminding me of my youth wanting to climb on the fire truck 🚒. Just before the fire station we made the turn onto Grimes Road only to see two nice sized Dobermans loose in their fenceless yard. It were pointed out but they seemed to be less than interested in us so I just proceeded slowly and they never gave chase... Good Dogs 🐕.  One thing I forgot to say was the tarantula we saw on the side of the road. Sonia. Gave a little scream then later showed a photo of her holding a tarantula...🤷‍♂️. I stopped to take a photo so you can see it but picking it up or holding a spider? Not on my list. We took photos at the donut stop and the "White Bridge" , proceeded on said our goodbyes at PF, then Officer Joe, Sonia and I went to breakfast at El Norteño. Migas Plate and 2 sweet teas later it was all about the conversation of future rides we could think of, Real Estate, kids and stuff. (Hmmm? I tell my kids to never say And Stuff)
This was a good start to my Saturday but now it's all about the shower and getting some work done.
I hope everyone gets in a good ride today. Be blessed and RIDE ON!