Day 32 (Riding Day 24) – Navasota, TX to Cleveland, TX

Someone asked, so I thought it would be helpful to clarify. It has been 32 days since we departed San Diego, California on March 12, 2023. We have only ridden 24 of those days. Some of the days off were for rest and the others were to spend time with our family in Tuscon, Arizona and Austin, Texas.

Beating the rain on a cycling trip can be quite the challenge, but it can also make for an exciting and memorable adventure. Today, the goal was to ride from Navasota, Texas to Cleveland, Texas, with the hope of beating an incoming storm.

The night before, I noticed rain was forecasted to start at 2pm in Cleveland, Texas. I suggested we leave early to beat the rain (maybe like 7am) but getting Dave out the door and on the bike that early is more challenging than riding 100 miles. To the surprise of no one, the day started off with a bit of a delay as it took some time to get Dave out the door and on his bike. We didn’t depart until 9:04 am, leaving us five hours to go before the storm was scheduled to arrive. Despite the delay, we remained optimistic and set out to cover as much ground as possible before the storm hit.

About 25 miles into the ride, we came across a McDonald’s and decided to take a rest break. While I enjoyed some salty fries (salt is an essential electrolyte), we almost forgot about the approaching storm.

But as we got back on the road, we picked up the pace to make up for lost time relishing in the salty goodness of McDonald’s French fries. We passed through several towns, including Stoneham, Plantersville, Dobbin, and Conroe, on our way to Cleveland.

With just 10 miles left to go, we could see the storm ahead. According to my bike computer, we were going to arrive at the RV park in Cleveland at about 2:10 pm, which meant we would likely get caught in the rain. However, we were determined to beat the storm and picked up the pace even more.

We managed to arrive at the RV park at 2:04 pm, just as the rain started to fall. We only got a little wet, which felt refreshing after a long and challenging ride. It was a small victory, but it felt like a big one.

Beating the rain on a cycling trip can be challenging (especially if it involves getting out the door early), but it can also make for an exciting and memorable adventure. With determination, a bit of luck, and the right attitude, cyclists can overcome any obstacle that comes their way. And who knows? Sometimes, getting a little wet can even add to the fun and excitement of the journey.