Day 1 - Houston to San Felipe - The Bigs Start Retirement Right! - CycleBlaze

April 6, 2025

Day 1 - Houston to San Felipe

A spring cold front came through Houston yesterday with rain and cooler temperatures. The forecast for today was dry, but we woke up to 52 degrees this morning after a high of 80 yesterday. 

I am not a fan of cold weather but packed my warm clothes so I'll survive! I know those of you up north are snorting at this. Even though I grew up in the north I have been in Houston more than 30 years - my blood is thin! Fortunately, it will be warming up starting tomorrow so it is only one cold day to deal with!

Loaded up and ready to roll!
Heart 2 Comment 1 Link
Scott AndersonYou look cold.
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1 week ago
The blue skies with a little sun were not frequent enough today.
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It was windy even early this morning and the forecast was for winds out of the NNW at 15+ mph. Well, the forecasters were right this time! We were headed west and south, so the south parts were very nice but the rest was not! The wind was a Bear (or other appropriate "B" words as you see fit to use!).

With the cold wind, cloudy skies, and suburbia, there weren't a lot of picture-worthy moments. 

It took us 15 miles to get outside Hwy 99 (The Grand Parkway), which is the third, and outer, loop around the Houston metro area. What I'll term "officially" out of town.

My funky flower-print leggings did their job keeping my legs warm.
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As we were riding, Dave said "we're on vacation", then had to stop and think about it. I guess it's really not vacation if you don't have to go back to work. So we settled on "we're off to play" with stupid smiles on our faces!

Traffic wasn't too bad since it was Sunday morning but I wouldn't want to be riding any of these roads during normal days. Houston and the outlying areas continue to grow. Outside the Grand Parkway all we saw were new subdivisions and cleared land for even more houses. 

We took a break at 25 miles at a convenience store that looked to have a grill inside but it was closed. We got some snacks and just hoped the restaurant in Pattison is open like it says it is on the internet. 

We finally made it to Pattison about 2:15 for a late lunch. We got lucky - the restaurant was open - and we had a great lunch at Patti's Diner.  Small-town diner for the win! Big Dave even took an extra sandwich for dinner in camp tonight. 

One more stop at the food mart before leaving town to stock up on snacks for camp and the morning, and then it was off to Stephen F. Austin State Park for the night. We rode into camp at 4:30 with plenty of time to set up camp and relax. 

Crossing the Brazos River right before camp. It has plenty of muddy water.
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First nice patch of the famous Texas bluebonnets.
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Close up of the Bluebonnets.
Heart 5 Comment 2 Link
Scott AndersonOh, so that’s what they look like! Maybe we should go back.
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1 week ago
Laura SeiditaTo Scott AndersonStay tuned for the next entry - bluebonnet overload!
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1 week ago
I think these are Giant Spiderwort. I saw a lot of these today but not sure this is the right name. Bill?
Heart 2 Comment 2 Link
Bill ShaneyfeltSpiderwort for sure. They all look about alike to me, and there are several species in the area. It could be you are correct.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/169865-Tradescantia-gigantea/browse_photos?place_id=18
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1 week ago
Laura SeiditaTo Bill ShaneyfeltCool - at least I got close with Google. Thanks!
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1 week ago

It has cooled down quite a bit as I finish this entry and it will be somewhere in the 40's in the morning. Brrr! 

Big Dave made me a nice fire tonight to keep me warm.
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Tonight's camp.
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Peri MashburnI was worried about you last night in that cold wind. You had to have had headwinds all day. I hope you were able to sleep. It is a beautiful day today!
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1 week ago
Laura SeiditaTo Peri MashburnWe slept great last night - wind wasn't a problem. But it was pretty cold. I woke at 12:30 and had to put another shirt on plus my jacket. Slept great then!
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1 week ago

Today's ride: 46 miles (74 km)
Total: 46 miles (74 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 4
Comment on this entry Comment 8
Steve Miller/GrampiesWe feel your pain in the cold, and we are from Canada. For us, the Goldilocks cycling temperature is between 65 and 75 degrees. That is just right.
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1 week ago
Laura SeiditaTo Steve Miller/GrampiesSpring temps are really unpredictable in SE Texas. Hopefully we will have some of those Goldilocks temps. I prefer a little warmer even.
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1 week ago
Peri MashburnTo Steve Miller/GrampiesOoh the Grampies commented. I love reading their journals :)
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1 week ago
Laura SeiditaI've read several of theirs as well. I feel real privileged that they are reading mine!
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1 week ago
Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Laura SeiditaWe try to follow as many "interesting" journals as we have time for, especially when we are on tour at the same time. Sometimes it is hard to read them each day though, especially if our own day was long or difficult. Sleep is then the priority.
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1 week ago
Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Peri MashburnThank you for following along on our journeys.
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1 week ago
Melanie LacyLooks like a great start to your adventure!
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1 week ago
Laura SeiditaTo Melanie LacyThe wind has not been fun! But the rest has been good. It's always an adventure!
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1 week ago