Finally some sunshine broke through the mostly cloudy sky. It didn’t last too long though as the clouds closed ranks after I started the bike ride at 9:54 AM. Warmer than yesterday by a few degrees but not as hot as last week. I looked up a route from 5/29/2020 and decided to ride try and duplicate it but I ended up with a few different streets. But today’s mileage was slightly longer at 39.88 miles. This won’t be a 200 mile week but I am working on at least a 100 mile week with 81.8 miles so far. Missing 3 biking days due to the weather broke my string of 200 mile weeks. I crossed over the 400 mile point for September with 435.52 miles. My 700 mile goal is getting closer.
For some reason my left knee hurt early in the ride until I stood up and pedaled some as I exited Woodridge Forest. I don’t have knee problems. Maybe my shoes were not in the position they usually are. The cleats have a few degrees of float.
Two dog encounters during the ride. The first one came on Linwood Drive in Woodbranch Village as I neared Railroad Ave. A house on the left had two dogs behind a fence. I only saw one as I pedaled by because of the bushes along the fence. As I neared the stop a sing a small dog darted across the street barking and chasing me. A pickup was in front of me causing me to slow and giving the dog time to get close. The pickup turned left and I sped up turning right with the dog beside me now growling. Once on Railroad Ave. the dog stopped running beside me and I rode away. A near miss. Encounter two happened later at Rock Creek and Northpark drives. I stopped for the traffic light and a dog I have seen there before starting barking at me from a distance. Whenever I looked his direction he started barking but stayed about 30 – 40 feet away. This time another dog was with him but stood silent behind the barking one. He didn’t move but the other one would move towards me when he barked but stayed a “safe” distance. The light changed, I turned right onto Northpark and the barking dog ran along with me but in the grass barking. I’ve noticed on other rides when the dog reached a point where the construction fence dips out he would stop running quickly like a barrier was there. That happened today too. He wants to chase and bark but there is a limit on his travel. I pedaled fast here too.
Riding south on the frontage road from FM 1485 I saw the northbound main lanes traffic backing up, red lights flashing, and 2 ambulances. A truck was laying on its side. You can see this in the video.
Weather summary: start 81 (77% humidity, 73 dew point), partly cloudy, wind W 6 mph; finish 82 (75% humidity, 73 dew point), mostly cloudy, wind NW 8 mph.
