Fiesta Wildflower

  

Fiesta Wildflower

San Antonio, Texas

June 20, 2021

 

Staging area was the Rolling Oaks Mall.

This was just one of the many parking lots. Unfortunately, it appeared that COVID had forced the closure of many of the mall stores. 

Across the lot can be seen the starting/finishing arch. This must have been an overflow lot as it was full when we finished. 

Bikes everywhere

I heard one person say that over 3,000 riders signed up. Off to the right, the 60 milers were lined up and ready. If people complied, the 20 mph crowd was supposed to be first, and the recreational 60 milers behind them. 

These were supposed to be the 40 milers. Waaay up ahead one can see the red and yellow start/finish balloon. 

There was at least one happy 40 miler.

You will notice no photos for the first 20 miles. We were in urban areas, although the intersections were well guarded by local deputies. This ride is the first I've ever seen to have closed its registration a week or two before the event. We appreciated the official who warned everyone at the entrance to Krueger Canyon. It was steeper than 6%.

And then suddenly we were at rest stop 2. 

A word of explanation concerning the lack of ride pictures. The first 10 miles were steep up and down hills. There was a huge crowd and therefore bunching. So, no way was I to let loose of the handle bar and snap a picture. Too dangerous.

So, I waited until we were on level highway and not bunched up so much. At last--rural parts of the route. We really are country folk at heart.

Rest stop 3.

Always grateful to rest stop sponsors and volunteers.

Nearing the finish line, Christine had waited for me to catch up. 

Finish line ahead. We only saw one heat/humidity casualty transported to hospital via ambulance. 

But, we had a happy ending as there were great saugage wraps and other goodies and drinks for the riders. So we had a nice picnic sittting on a curb in the shade of a tree. Thanks to all the volunteers who made the ride possible. Good job. 

Tour de Agua

Tour de Agua

Dublin, Texas\

June 12, 2021

Start/finish was at the Dublin High School this year; also, it was a new route. Not sure of the number of riders (100+), but the parking lot was full.

A feature was that one could start anytime one wanted, so people got ready and pedaled off. 

Hills were plentiful but were the long rolling type rather than the long or short steep ones.

As one could discern, the Tour de Agua was not a race this year; thus, I could stop and smell the flowers every time I saw a patch.

Note the road. Dublin had one of the better stretches of smooth roads of organized tours.

Rest stop 1. The rest stops were spaced out about 9 miles apart so we didn't need to rest. There was just no hurry to finish the ride. (Plus they all had good cookies).

Hard to tell in the above pictures but it was a beautiful overcast day, cool, and no wind to speak of.

Rest stop 2. Again not tired, but Christine wanted to sit on something softer than the saddle. While visiting with the gentleman beside her, she almost had him convinced to buy his wife an electric bike after she went on and on about how she enjoyed her bike.

Finger over lense. Not an excuse, just a new camera and not holding it correctly.

At first I tried cropping out the finger; however, there were so many that I just gave up.

My old camera was taking blurred pictures, so I got a new camera. The blur wasn't the camera's fault. It was the photographer's fault so now I have blurred pictures with a finger in them.

Rest stop 3 and the last one for our 40 mile route. They still had plenty of good cookies left. Again no rush, so this time Christine got into a long discussion with one of the nice volunteer ladies. 

One of the steeper hills. 

Some nice flowers just to the left of the finger.

Nicer picture of flowers with the finger cropped out.

If one squints, behind the clearing is a large dairy farm.

If one enlarges the above, it is an old barn with some horses off the right corner of the barn. I guess if I had stopped and zoomed in it would be more picturesque but I am still practicing my point and shoot from a moving bike (without getting my finger in the way).

Left this mistake in to show the smooth road.

Edge of town.

Coming up on the greeters near the finish line.

FInish line and staging area. Ride over. Outstanding weather and roads. Shortly after we finished the sun burst through the clouds with a vengence. 

We thank the organizers, volunteers, and sponsors for putting on the great ride. We hope they continue the ride for many more years and continue to provide needy people with clean water. 

P.S. Got the results back from my PET scan and I am currently cancer free. Fingers crossed to stay that way.