This weekend, it was hot. Again. So on Saturday I made sure to get out by 7:30 am on my long ride to make it home around noon. I rode north to Cele and then east towards Elgin for a total of 66 miles. You can see my route on Strava.

On Sunday I rode a shorter 41 mile route. One mile after leaving home, I got a flat in my rear tire. The same tire that was just replaced two months ago and then immediately got a flat the day after replacing it… makes me nervous for future rides.

This is my 9th year riding in Bike MS and this year I will ride Bike MS: The Road Divided. The ride takes place in Oklahoma on September 24 – 25, 2016 and goes from Norman to Guthrie to Stillwater. Can you support my participation in Bike MS by donating to the National MS Society?

On my way north on Cameron road towards Cele, I passed one of the many rural Texas churches:

The Cele Store – still actually open at times:

The expansive countryside:

Good morning, cows:

Big fields, big sky:

Fields and fields…

There’s a historical marker on the corner of this road – marking the tiny community of Carlson:

Country roads:

Barn and flowering tree:

These hay bales are for sale, if you’re interested:

Old bridge:

I paused at this community park in Manor and filled my second water bottle with water from a lion shaped water fountain:

One of the old stately houses in Manor:

The last few miles of my ride include the Northern Walnut Creek Trail:

Another old stately house from my Sunday ride: