| Description: | Wednesday was a day before another rain storm, so, it got warmer (to about 80F) and much more humid. Fortunately, it got cloudy because if the sun were out it would be quite hot. I first rode southeast on one of the less busy roads which were signed as a bike route. It was not too bad. Here and there I sandwiched in short sections of dedicated paths and neighborhood streets. The area is definitely low income with mostly black and latino population. Then I headed straight south by mistake on a road that's not a bike route. Obviously, it was more busy but I survived. I was happy to turn west and rode for a while on another 4 lane road which was not too busy. Then a bit north and west and south again to a bike path that then lead to the Astrodome - which was blocking my westward progress - it and its all parking lots are all fenced out. North of the Astrodome starts the sprawling medical complex of the UT medical campus. I crossed the Braes Bayou and went west on the trail that follows the Bayou (a nice word for a concrete canal) for quite a while. I rode all the way to the western terminus of the trail, and, was getting tired in the process. The ride was smooth and not stressful so I opted for coming back the same way - and continuing on the trail to the eastern end, past the UT medical complex and University of Houston. Then I rode back to a new rail trail that goes towards the downtown. This trail goes through the inner city so it will hopefully spurr some positive growth in this depressed area. At the end of the trail showed up the sprawled silouete of the convention center and I was back in the downtown.
Overall impression of riding in Houston - it did not disappoint - I was not expecting much and did not get it. I feel sorry for those living here but they most probably don't care. Still, you can't beat being hot riding at the end of October when it's snowing in SLC. So, for a conference location in the late fall or winter, Houston is a pretty good choice. |
