A little farther on Brays Bayou Greenway Trail

I headed out Friday morning.   I would have gotten out earlier, but the dogs demanded a walk before they would let me get on the bike.   Weather Wife predicted rain by 1:00.    Had to turn around after a block because my Covid mask was still in the house.  I stopped a lot to take pictures for the previous post, and that added to my time.    And then the headwind.   Now, the guys with 5% body fat, on the fancy bikes, don't seem bothered by wind; me, I was bothered, but I kept going.

The portion of Brays Bayou Trail between Gessner and Buffalo Speedway is very pleasant.   The bikers, runners and walkers come in all shapes and sizes, and are a very diverse group.   Some are in a hurry, many are out enjoying the view.     Everyone is nice and there are many places to rest.

I have counted 3 of these maintenance stations, so far.    Bicycle tools on cables, and a sturdy air pump.   This is just downright friendly of Harris County, or whoever put them there!





After Buffalo Speedway, the grass turns into concrete and the trail moves into the concrete canyon that is Brays Bayou in the Medical Center.   I saw no more families, and traffic thinned out, which is good because the trail is a little narrow, and just a bit closer to the down-embankment than I like.

 Then, we're opposite Hermann Park, and the trial sweeps left and right, and up and down.   Note - if you want to cross the Bill Coats Bridge, and it is beautiful, as is the other side, better take the higher trail as you go under Cambridge, as that is about your only chance.   There is a lower trail at water level, as you go under Texas 288; I was glad I passed on it, as I could see the water had taken over at one point.

Just past 288 is a new H-E-B.   I may stop there sometime.    The next landmark was what I had been looking for - Columbia Tap Trail crosses the bayou here.   If you turn North, this new trail will take you all the way to BBVA Stadium in EaDo.   This is a Rails-To-Trail.   It's an abandoned rail line and goes right through TSU and the 3rd Ward.   I must try it some day - after I finish Brays!



I stopped here and parked my bike at the corner by New Hope Baptist Church.   Bus Line 4 stops here and will take me back through the medical center and all the way back to Alief, all for $1.25! 

My next goal is MacGregor Park, where Brays Bayou crosses MLK and the Metro Rail.   This may take a while.  I feel like I've made progress.   In early May, I rode 2 miles.   Friday, July 27, I rode 18 (at least) miles)

Your Homework assignment for next time - Why is it Brays Bayou, but Braeswood? 

Keegans Bayou Trail

Keegans Bayou Trail is my gateway to Brays Bayou Greenway Trail.  The current trailhead is at Kirkwood and Keegans Bayou, just North of West Bellfort.   The City's master plan for bikeways will extend this trail West to Synott.     Doing so will bring the trail through my neighborhood, but the $64 question is WHEN?   The current trail, according to Houston Parks and Recreation, is 4.04 miles from Kirkwood to Gessner, where it joins Brays.

Trailhead, Kirkwood, just north of West Bellfort.

If you enter Keegans from Brays Trail, you will go under Gessner and seamlessly start on your 4 mile journey West.   I have read that Keegans is an extension of Brays; it's really supposed to be a branch.   To continue on Brays Trail, take the upper trail and cross the bridge at Gessner, then turn left onto the North bank of Brays.   Don't get excited when you see the sign pointing towards Arthur Storey Park, the sign guy got his work done a little faster than the trail builder.   The trail ends abouit 2000 feet from Gessner, at Braeburn Glen Park.    Bus 65 crosses the trail here at Bissonnet.   More about trails and busses another time.   My point is that eventually (I'm 67 yrs old, don't have much more time) Brays Bayou Greenway Trail could follow the bayou all the way across Alief.   There are several parks built around detention ponds, including Arthur Storey Park, but right now, as they say in New England, "Ya cahnt get there from heah!"  Hopefully they will all become part of the master plan.

The vast majority of Keegans Trail is an eight foot wide ribbon of concrete.   Nice.   But the city must have run short of funds at some point, as there is a segment just east of Wilcrest that is crushed granite.   Still nice, but a little prone to ruts.   On the other hand (where I have 5 fingers) this little stretch is quite scenic, isn't it?   There are turtles and all manner of cranes, heron, etc.   Just try to look past all the trash in the bayou, and the bags someone left along the trail.   We Houstonians are a trashy lot.

The part that goes under Southwest Freeway is a little disconcerting:  it's a small homeless colony, but they have never bothered me, nor I them.  Just know you may see legs sticking out of a tent up under the roadway.   Also, this part of the bayou could really use a work day or two.

I read some past complaints about this trail; but I think the city has fixed it up pretty nice.   There can be a little mud on the trail after it rains, but keep in mind the primary purpose of this property is flood control.    The city has been fairly regular this summer about mowing.   If you want quiet, and not well traveled, you are home.   There is not much access to the trail from neighborhoods between Braeswood and Wilcrest, so most traffic will be those who are going more than 4 miles.  

There are four rest areas on the 4 mile long Keegans Trail.   Very quiet and restful.

About a mile into the trail from Gessner, is Riceville Cemetery.  When I first came across it several years ago, the trail was new and there was no fence arounc the cemetery.   There is a nice one today, and the gate across the way is locked.  This and Riceville Mt Olive Baptist Church seem to be about all that is left of Riceville.   This African American community, founded by Leonard Rice in the 1850s was annexed to Houston in the late 1960s.   As late as 1982, there were no city services, no public water or sewers.   There were about 300 residents.   -  Handbook of Texas

  My aunt and uncle lived less than a mile from here, and I never knew it existed.    The foot bridge moves the trail from one side of the bayou to the other.   There is also a minor trail to the South that ends in a neighborhood.

By the way, if you go all the way to Kirkwood, you might want to check out the El Rancho Grocery.  It's what we got when Randall's closed.   They have an extensive collection of prepared Mexican dishes.  In the same center is Boba.   They open at 11:00 and offer a real good Mango Smoothie with popping bobas.   Don't ask, my granddaughter told me what to order.

Alexander Hodge, American Revolutionary War Veteran

While my friend Don and I were lost in Sugar Land's Cullinan Park (remember we had become accidental BMX riders) we stumbled (almost literally) apon a rustic old cemetery on the Northwest edge of the park.   We stayed on the edge of the cemetery as I do like to respect the dead.   As we caught our breath, I could see a street sign for Old Richmond Road on the other side of the plot of land.   I resolved to do a little research.    Many of the markers are wooden crosses close to six foot tall.    There are a couple of tombstones, but the place does not look real well kept.  Was this another prison cemetery? 

That afternoon, I did a little research, and then drove back to the cemetery.

Hodge's Bend Cemetery is on land settled by Alexander Hodge, one of Austin's Old 300 settlers.  He brought his family to Texas in 1825 when he was about 65 years old.   His sons fought in the Texas Revolution.    Alexander, his wife and many of his descendants are buried here in Hodge's Bend Cemetery, on Old Richmond Road, just outside Sugar Land city Limits.  These were some of the earliest Anglo settlers of this area, and of Texas.

What really makes him interesting is that Alexander Hodge, while still in his teens in the late 1770s, fought in the American Revolutionary War with Francis Marion, known to all of us 1950s Disney fans as - The Swamp Fox.  Their exploits and successes are legendary, and Fort Bend County, Texas is the final resting place of one of those soldiers.

Had we not gotten way off the planned route, we would never have seen this.

By the way, Spell Check and I fought with each other all the way through this little story.   Apparently, there is no "A" in "cemetery"    Who knew?

Sugar Land and Cullinan Park

Friday morning, my friend Don, and I headed from Huntington Village (Alief, Dairy Ashford) to Sugar Land.   This is a vary pleasant bike ride through quiet neighborhoods, all the way to Highway 6. there is a gap in Huntington Estates Dr, but a short ride on the grass will put you in Barrington Place, Sugar Land.

I always enjoy riding throuh Barrington Place as a speed limit sign will check my speed for me!  A little farther on was a mosque that showed we are all pretty similar

Our Baptist preacher had told us if we don't maintain social distance, he will turn this car around!

We always stop in Sugar Mill Park for water, and to watch the ducks.   It's also fun watching the toddlers and pre-schoolers try to feed/chase the ducks!

One of our favorite segments is the wonderful concrete trails in Imperial, the development that include Constellation Field.   Nicely curving, wide, sidewalks, with numerous signs warning of alligators!

Speaking of alligators, we crossed Oyster Creek and headed across Highway 6, North of Sugar Land Airport, and into Cullinan Park, a hidden gem inside suburbia.    I had seen a trail on Google Maps, so we swung onto a very scenic concrete trail that gently swept around the Southeast edge of White Lake.    Somewhere along the line, the trail narrowed to crushed granite, but was still quite navigable for this old fool.  There are little signs that advise you of the flora and fauna of the woods.   Suddenly, we found ourselves on a trail that would be a delight to some 13 year old BMXer, but which was rather frightening to a 67 year old biking neophyte.   I think I re-did my will in my head, and re-newed my relationship with Jesus, as saplilngs jumped in my way, and someone had routed the trail up and over a log by means of not-quite-enough little planks.  There was a definite feeling of being lost in the piney woods, except that clearings would always reveal a cell tower across the lake, and all along  the northern edge of the park, we were usually about 100 feet from a Sugar Land neighborhood.   But we kept going, and eventually found a trail that looked like it had been designed by park personnel, which led us back to the lake's observation point.   This is a very nicely done series of raised boardwalks over a lake that is over-growing with lilies and other water plants.   We saw a family of ducks, pretty common, but while momma was swimming, the ducklings were jumping from water lily to water lily!   Kids are kids!

Next blog will cover the cemetary we found on the Northwest side of the park.   Stay tuned.

Dan

Brays Bayou Trail for the Beginner

Brays Bayou Bike trail has become part of my life goals.    I started riding just a few months ago when my bathroom scale reached 300 pounds and my doctor complained (always something!) about my blood pressure.    So, I dusted off the $200 7 speed Schwin, aired it up, and headed to the beginning of the Keegans Trail.   That was two miles, one way.   Over the next few weeks, I went a little farther each time, until it was time to push on to Gessner where Keegans Trail joins Brays Bayou trail.   At this point, my goal became going as far down Brays as I could, and then I stumble over to the nearest bus stop where I ride Bus 68 West towards home. 

My first major goal was the Medical Center transit center.  I worked towards this goal since early May, but last week I had a great ride and blew right past it, finally stopping at Almeda, and got onto Bus 4, which took me deep into Alief where I live.    If you have ever wondered whatever happened to AJ Foyt, he drives an articulated omni bus on line 4!

So, my next goal is MacArthur Park, just Southeast of University of Houston.   I'm still researching the best bus route home, but sometimes I turn around in Meyerland and ride on back home.  I did that today, and the map says I accomplished 18 miles!   Compare that to my May 5 entry that says I rode 2 miles!

On the Brays Trail, I see all manner of walker and cyclist.   I see teams in matching T's, families with strollers and even a trailer behind Daddy's bike.   The most intimidating is not the ripped guy with spandex and the graphite bike who blows past me on rocket assist, but rather the little 5 year old on the 16 inch bike, who Daddy reports can ride 10 miles!    Way too much energy!

Dan