Paluxy Pedal

 

Paluxy Pedal

Glen Rose, Texas

October 3, 2020

Thank you Glen Rose for continuing your bike tour.

Before we left for Glen Rose, BikeReg had 417 registered cyclists.

At the line up, they announced that they had over 500 registered. Cyclists can stand stationary bikes just so long and then need to get out on the road and in the open air.

The "open air" was a little chilly but the thoughtful organizers included logo neck gaiters in the swag bag. Note the couple and the cyclists on the right wearing the gaiters. I did too. Very convenient. 

Start time 8:30. Obviously we started East as most of the first leg had the sun in our eyes and I knew any photos would be glary. So I missed a lot of hills but could make up for it by the rest of the ride.

Above is another way of saying VERY hilly. 

First rest stop was not too well attended as we had just started plus-at least I-didn't drink much water as it was chilly. Just enough to keep hydrated.

Thoughtful volunteers would offer to hold your bike rather than putting it down on the ground. Thank you. 

One of many such hills. The climbs were long but not extremely steep. (Except for a few).

Occasionally there would be stretches of near level road. Roads this year were rough compared to last year. Some may recall that a blog was done about Paluxy Pedal having the best roads of the season.

As with all uphills, there are downhills-thank goodness. 

Then there was a short stretch with yellow wildflowers adorning the roadside.

Shows the rough road so I left this photo in.

Up at the curve started a very long steep climb but signs were placed by the road letting us know that it was NOT THE WALL.

Photos never show the inclines as they are. 

Still going up.

Rest stop at the top of the hill. Might not tell, but there were a lot of riders at this stop and the pickle juices was as popular as the Oreo Cookies.

The only one smiling at the rest stop. Christine must have an electric bike.

After we left the rest stop, we began a series of inclines again. I started wondering if this was the start of the Wall.     

But no, this was the start of the Wall.

 I have often complained that photos do not adequately show the grade incline. So I have a corroborating statement of a fellow cyclist from the event webpage:

"The published grade at The Wall

is 19 percent - that must be an average.

Every year I ride, my GPS shows a section before the Peak at 24 percent

for a few hundred feet.

There is a bailout to avoid the Wall.

Don't be too embarrassed if you walk it -
you will have plenty of company."

– Three-time Paluxy Pedal Rider

Now I will admit that I was taking photos only when I could control the bike and not need to hold onto both handle bars to get up the hill, but trust me and the rider above that it is a steep incline.

At the top and leveling out.

We are treated to a nice long downhill after the Wall. Maybe give some perspective to the climb just completed.

Getting close to the last leg.

Nice smooth highway which is what I remembered all most the whole ride last year.

Home stretch.

Response to my survey of did you enjoy the ride.

Quaint "barn" on the way to a steak house just outside of town

We drove around town Sunday before we left to go home. Nice Courthouse and the spirit of Halloween is prominent. 

Mrs. Barnard presenting a pumpkin to her husband Charles.

Across the street from the back of the Courthouse.

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The Paluxy State Park has a lot of dinosaur tracks in the river bed. 

Old printing press outside the museum 

Grinder

Across from the Courthouse side is an old ice house.

Among the information in the sign is how ice house paved the way for children (and adults) to experience ice cream.

Ending with a little history extracted from an article about the statue:

"The statue of the “First Family of Glen Rose” is on the courthouse square in Glen Rose. The sculpture shows Charles Barnard standing and his wife, Juana Cavasos Barnard, astride her horse Pigeon.

Charles and Juana Cavasos Barnard operated an Indian Trading Post on the Brazos River from the time they married in 1848 until the government moved the Indians to the Indian territory in 1859. The settlement at the trading post was known as Barnardville and later as Fort Spunky.

After the Indians left, Charles and Juana moved over on the Paluxy River and built a grist mill. The settlement that grew there was known as Barnard’s Mill. Charles sold the mill to a Mr. Jordan in 1870, and he and Juana moved back to the old trading post on the Brazos, where they lived out the rest of their days.

After the Jordans bought the mill, Mrs. Jordan decided that because the Barnards were no longer connected to the mill, the name of the settlement should be changed. Thus Glen Rose came into being."

Speaking for myself, Christine, and 498 other cyclists, we are glad that Glen Rose came into being and decided to hold the Paluxy Pedal despite all the confusion and mixed signals.

And a big thanks for the volunteers and sponsors that made the ride possible. See you next year.