Bike buddies

 I may have a new bike buddy.   Not trying to replace Don, my Saturday bike buddy, but as a fully retired guy, I find I have room in my schedule to ride several times a week.

Jerry is new to the Brays Bayou area, but has lots of cycling experience.   He told me he wanted a 10 mile ride, no more than 8-9 miles an hour.   Great.   I'm there.   We ended up with 12 miles, but we enjoyed the ride.   I enjoy the company, and Jerry liked having someone who knows the route.  I also find, for good, or bad, that when I ride with someone, my rest breaks are not as long as when I ride alone.

One of the things we talked about was the possibility of putting together routes that can be shared with others, especially those new to cycling, or new to an area.   He was also interested in how easy it is to use a B Cycle.   I guess I need to learn a few more features of my Under Armour bike App.   It says I can share my maps, but I have been hesitant to share.

Those who like to bike on Keegans Bayou Trail should be aware that the flood control people are reworking Keegans Bayou, probably for the next little while, between Southwest Fwy and Dairy Ashford.   There is a lot of dirt piling up just off of Dairy Ashford, and the trail itself, between the freeway, and Kirkwood will also be affected.

Back to the Beginning

 If you have recently discovered my rambling thoughts on Houston B Cycle and the almost-over Tour de Bicycle, and don't quite understand what is going on, let me suggest that you scroll down to September 25.   It was just a month ago, and I did give an overview of the fun, but no one seems to have read it.

And (Ms Northen, English III, told me to never start a sentence with 'And"), as you are reading any of these posts, I remind you that part of social media, is being "social".    At the end of each post, there is a place to comment.   Please.    I know someone is there, because my view meter says something like 30 people peeked at this blog, but its been a while since anyone offered a comment.   Agree, disagree, tell me how you did it, share your thoughts on the crazy idea of riding all over Houston looking for a geeky bike with a basket.   By the way, I now look for the biggest basket, so I don't have to WEAR my backpack.

Hermann Park Conservancy will sponsor its 8th annual Park to Port Ride Saturday, November 5, 7:30am at the Bill Coats bridge.    About 20 mile ride to Mason Park and back.   Last year, it was about the most organized thing I went to .

Hermannpark.org   

Will I see you there?

Uptown and Memorial Park

   

One of the challenges of bicycling as well as B Cycling, is getting to the start point, if you live some distance away.  I have gotten pretty good at taking Park & Ride buses down Southwest Freeway to downtown and the Medical Center, and then getting on my own bike, or using a B Cycle, but how the heck can you get to the Post Oaks and 4 Oaks Station in Up Town?

I am very leary of parking in Houston.   Commercial Park garages charge too much, and most store parking lots have signs that threaten to tow me away if I am not a customer.   One of my favorite group of videos on YouTube are the tow truck videos (GTOGER) where idiots who ignore the numerous signs, come back to find they must pay $150 if they want their car back.

What to do then?   Well, in Uptown, there is the Silver Line.   This is a bus that acts like a Metro Rail train, with it's own dedicated roadway, and stations, but without the massive cost of  overhead power and tracks.   I parked at the Lower Uptown station on West Park and took this novelty.   Do not be afraid of the fact it's a bus, I was almost the only rider.   The bus took me right to the 4 Oaks station area.    Stopped at one of the nicer McDonald's for a fish sandwich, and then crossed the street to look for the B Cycle Station.    Aah, someone is getting sneaky!   The app said there were four bike, and not only were there NOT four bikes, slots 10, 11, and 15, that showed bikes, the slots didn't exist!    What the......?   I looked around for a few minutes, and found the rest of the station a block away!    Don't I have enough trouble with technology?

Got me an E Bike and headed North East, following Uptown Park Blvd right to the Loop frontage road, where I turned left onto an almost hidden, but very smooth concrete trail that took me North to Woodway, where I crossed under 610 Loop and entered Memorial Park.   Full separation from car traffic, put the brain in neutral and cruise!   I soon found myself at the Living Bridge and a B Cycle station.   The Living Bridge makes about 3/4 of a circle up and over Memorial Drive, then falls prey to construction detours.   That's OK, I had nothing  else to do.   

I followed a very nice dirt/crushed gravel trail that followed the Memorial Loop Dr, a fair piece until I found a legal way to cross loop drive and headed back South where I picked up an East Bound trail that took me around the Land Bridge construction and almost out of the park before it would let me cross Memorial and go to the MP Picnic Loop, where another bike station is.    Continue West on the trail.

Right in the middle of Houston, it looks like they are recreating the prairie that once was here.   The city planners, I guess they miss their Tonka Trucks,  are constructing two land bridges over

Memorial Drive and I hope eventually there will be cool trails over them.   But right now, I kept going west until  I encountered the trail that parallels the railroad.   A bonus today was two trains heading south at the same time.   I will tell you the first one was going to Sugarland Business Park, because I have chased that one so often, that I know these things!

I got back on the Memorial Drive trail and headed back to Uptown, with a minor trip down South Post Oak lane.   Total distance on the bike: 7.19 miles, but I could have done a shorter trip into the park.

If you take your own bike on public transportation, remember:   Silver Line and Metro Rail, take the bike into the train.    standard city bus, put it on the rack on the front of the bus (there are only three steps and they are numbered!), and there is a rack under Park and Ride buses where you can slide your bike.   I would drop the seat before stashing.

And a final thought, it took me a long time of experimenting, but if I insert the pictures first, I can type around them and put the text next to the right image.    I can be taught, but it is very messy.

Texas Medical Center by Bicycle and a final Evening ride

 Wednesday, October 19.

I actually went by Bill Coats Bridge the other day, but its a cool bridge.

I drove to Hermann Park and grabbed a bike.   I visited B Cycle Stations South of Brays Bayou last Saturday, so today I just had to mop it up.   I have been joking that riding a bike in Houston is like playing Frogger.   The real game can be played in the Medical Center, at any Metro Station!   Try to cross lanes of traffic, only to find there is a train in your way, and there is no median of safety between the train and the car lanes!   But, none of the 257 ambulances in that area were for me!

A few blocks South East of the Metro, in the part of TMC where patients don't venture, is something called the Commons.   A food court with water wall on the outside!

Thursday evening, I was back in Hermann Park for a group ride through the Museum District.   It was a short ride, four stations.   We went past most of the more popular museums.

Our group consisted of about 7 young people (I'll guess around 20-30 yrs old) and me, who will turn 70 in November.   During introductions, one young man, after 3 weeks of riding, has four points.   I was feeling smug, until I realized it's not the age that makes a difference, it's the time!   I am fully retired and have made myself available up to three times a week.   I can take public transportation to Downtown and TMC and I have not been worried about getting to work on time.   So, time definitely makes a difference!  Which doesn't explain the first two gentlemen who finished this treasure hunt in two weeks!   My bike helmet is off to them.

So, anyways, I finished!   Mary tells me I get all sorts of SWAG, including the right to name a bike.  I don't do flashy nicknames, and my dog Cocoa really doesn't resonate with anyone but me, so I think I will ask for "DAN, THE MAN".    Many, in and out of my circle, seem surprised I did the Tour de Bicycle    Even more question WHY I did this biking exercise.   I'll tell you.   It was there, and I thought I just might be able to do it.  I saw interesting parts of Houston, previously unexplored by Nagel eyes.

Here is a thought for all of us.   I saw a number of people trying to figure out how to check out a bike, while those of us on this scavenger hunt would pull out our phone, or the cute little key fob, and be on our way in seconds.    Could we establish a volunteer group who would hang out at a couple of busy stations, like Centennial Park, or by the Zoo Train, with brochures, and a friendly offer of help?   If the first ride is frustrating, there may not be a second ride.   We might even suggest a couple of routes.   Give me a B Cycle T-Shirt, and a clipboard, and people will assume I know what I'm doing.

Here is one more thing before I change subjects:   Any time I had trouble with the station technology, I called the service desk.    Even if Daisy (also known to me as Angel) couldn't answer the phone, if I left a message and/or emailed her, my station problems were resolved very quickly.  The staff tell me that many of my fellow riders would yell at Daisy if things didn't go well.   Not nice at all.   It's not like we are on bikes that cost $20 and hour, a monthly pass is what?, $15?    Daisy kept me from getting stranded in some pretty isolated areas.   I met her last week, she is just as sweet as she sounds.

On to my exciting news!

I went riding in Alief (Southwest Houston) yesterday.   My ultimate goal was Der Wienerschnitzel on Hwy 6, but I'll tell you I was riding to see how the Brays Bayou Extension is doing.   Without crossing any construction barriers, I was able to ride 1.3 miles East from Arch Bishop Fiorenza Park, on eight foot wide concrete trail, with underpasses at Eldridge and Synott!   Serious work is being done all the way past Wilcrest.   It is very possible that Summer of next year, I will get an opportunity to ride from South of Addicks Dam, all the way East to the Ship Channel!  There is a great spot where Broadway meets Harrisburg Blvd, to look out across the ship channel and see ocean-going vessels up close and personal! 

Looking East from Synott Rd in Southwest Houston

Midtown by B Cycle

 Again, I am running behind on my posts.   This trip actually happened Monday, October 17.

I took the Park & Ride bus up Louisiana and got off around the Pierce Elevated.   YMCA let me use the restroom.    Hey, I'm almost 70, I don't pass up many opportunities.  My first intended stop was behind Randalls, but was out of service, so it good that I started at YMCA.   Then I started meandering around Midtown, defined, apparently, by B Cycle, as East of Spur 527, South of Pierce Elevated, West of 288, and North of 59, except for Peggy Park, which became my bridge to Texas Southern University.  Was that sentence too long for you?

I read the Historical Marker in the middle of Midtown.    Way back when, the state fairgrounds were here, with a baseball park and a racetrack, at the edge of the prairie that marked the end of Houston!   I enjoy the murals that have been constructed all over town.   I very much like the idea that most of them remain undisturbed by vandalism.

Houston Community College has their main campus here in Midtown, near the old Sears building, which is now The Ion

Columbia Tap Trail is one of my favorite Hike and Bike trails.   It goes from the soccer stadium, through TSU (my destination) across Brays Bayou, and ends at Dixie Road where a short ride will put you on the east edge of Hermann Park, and the Bill Coates Bridge.   This is one of Houston's Rails to Trails.   Years ago the railroad ran from about downtown, to West Columbia, on the Brazos.  "Tap" is a railroad term meaning the line was usually owned by the industries (sugar and cotton) that it served, and letting these industries tap into the main trunk line.   I enjoy rails to trails because of the lack of hills for my 70 year old knees. 

Had to take my picture because this station ate my bike!  Mary, at B Cycle will give you credit for out of service stations, if you show were actually there.  No need to notarize and certify.

Texas Southern University is a beautiful campus, fairly compact, and with five bike stations.   You can be at University of Houston in about 5 minutes, and at Hermann Park in about 15.   But TSU seems to be a much slower pace than UH, and also is not near as crowded.

Hermann Park has wonderful bike trails, Bill Coats Bridge, and the kiddy railroad.   It tried to rain pretty much all day, which kept the crowds away.   

Rice University is full of the super intelligent students, although they didn't LOOK any smarter than me.  Maybe one of them knows what this sculpture represents!

I finished up and went back by Memorial Hermann to catch the Park & Ride.   One of my fellow commuters had his bicycle, and I watched him load it in the compartment under the bus.   I had tried this last week, and maybe I read the instructions too carefully, because this guy literally threw his bike onto the rack and then slammed the rack shut!   And it fit!

We are getting very close to the 153rd B Cycle Station!

I 

Eastwood Home Tour

 I'm getting behind on my postings.   Part of the problem is I still haven't figured the most efficient way to move photos from my iPhone, to the computer, and to Blogger.   Se, for right now, I may leave pictures off, so come back in a few days, and I promise (pinky swear) to post photos.

After church on Sunday, October 16, I headed to Greater East End, as B Cycle calls it, or Eastwood as the civic association knows it.   Old neighborhood, crossed by Polk, Telephone and Lockwood.   This is an area I have been through with the Tour de Bicycle this month, and the paper had an article last week about a home show.    1935 is a common build date.   Some architect converted the old Church of the Redeember into 45 affordable units, and four of them were available to see.   A challenge for the remodel was that this is on the historic register, so the exterior couldn't be changed, which made things interesting in that the original sanctuary lacked windows.   The new design is interesting, and I had a nice conversation with one of the residents who did 85% of his decorating from Goodwill, etc.   I liked it.

One house was stripped to the studs, and is now quite the contemport home, while another has left most of the 1935 character, while totally modernizing bathrooms and the kitchen.    

Those of trying to complete the B Cycle Tour de Insanity will appreciate this:    I hit Greater East Side five different times to complete this neighborhood!   Last Thursday I took my siblings on a bike ride through there, stopping at several stations.   At one point, I must have zigged where I should have zagged, because I was still missingTelephone @ Eddington, which, it turns out, is right across the street from registration for the home tour.   I rode around the parking lot, and put an X next to it on my neighborhood list.   

This is neighborhood I knew nothing about prior to the tour. 

Inner Loop Southwest, and other sins

 Saturday morning's outing proves that the good people who placed these B Cycle stations, never gave any thought to crazy people trying to bike from one to another in some crazy game.  But this is my biking area, so I figured it was high time to knock it out, even though my biking buddy stood me up, again!   This time it was lame excuse like being on call, and getting assigned four jobs Saturday Morning.   Several times in the past two months, he has thrown me over because his wife wanted to go somewhere, and once he cancelled on me so he could go see his Mommy!   Talk about misplaced priorities!   Not sure this Bromance is gonna make it!

Anyways, I often ride down Keegans and Brays Bayou Trails.   I have actually gone as far as MacGregor Park (and took a bus back!), so this is my territory.    I started at the Meyerland Jewish Community Center Station, parked my car in the neighborhood, and grabbed a bike.    The Bayou bridges at Chimney Rock and South Rice are almost completed.   Workers are now playing with temporary water pipes and have been spraying grass seed on the banks of the bayou.

Before you get to S. Braeswood and Linkmeadow B Cycle station, be sure to stop at 3 Brothers Bakery.  I am certain there is a city ordinance that all bikes must stop for hammentaschen!   At Linkmeadow, I managed to grab an E Bike, which made my left knee very happy.   I consulted a map and headed almost straight to NRG park.   I went through the parking lot to the north of the stadium, to get to the station on Fannin.   Stop in the park and enjoy the rodeo-themed sculptures. I guess this is what they bought with the profits from all-things-deep-fried!.

Texas Medical Center is bigger than anything I ever imagined, and this little trip made it bigger.   I rode through UT student housing, saw an olympic sized pool in use, and watched people play cricket in a paved parking lot!   They had to dodge streetlights as part of the game.

I thought I would take a shortcut through the VA hospital grounds.  Note to self, not all gates are open on Saturday morning!  

I was dictating notes on my iPhone, at the TMC Innovation station on Holcombe, when a young couple stopped at the station to check-in, check-out, wax-on, wax-off just like all of us are doing.  Not sure if it was the dictation, or the image of me on a bicycle, but one of them asked me if I was "the guy that blogs!"   Wow, I have been validated.   Someone really is reading this stuff!

A further note on this station.   The upcoming Park-to-Port ride will probably offer this parking lot as an option, it IS the closest lot to the starting point of the ride, but while it was handy, and easy to get into, when all of us tried to leave the parking lot at once, I spent 30 minutes in line.   I'm going to park by the Zoo.

It was decision time - do I stay South of the bayou, finish my stations, or do I head across Hermann Park for several more hours?   I headed home, which was good, because this smooth ride was about to be interrupted.

The station at Bertner and Braeswood is BEHIND the building, and you drive under the building to get there!  Sneaky

I took my E bike to Smith Lands and pushed it into the slot.   The station grabbed the bike, but would not admit it had said bike.   Since it has not recognized the incoming bike, it would not let me have another bike, and the clock was ticking on my E Bike rental.   I called Daisy, but apparently she was trying to help 20 other riders, so I pulled out my Metro bus card and climbed on Metro Rail, heading home.   Soon, however, Daisy at the Service Desk, got my message and reset my account, so I grabbed a bike at TMC transit station and finished my trip.  I have said this before, the technology may not be perfect, but the B Cycle staff are!  

At one station, I met a mother with a three year old, both on the B Cycle.   Seems she had a URider child seat that quickly attaches to the seat tube and then rests on the main down frame.   the kid has a seat, a front handle, and basically rides between Mom's knees.   I did find it on Amazon.   I saw how she had it mounted, and believe a bungee cord would help stabilize the front of the frame.   Mom told me she had just returned from the grocery store!

This is Cocoa and me.   I decided if I get to name a bike, I will name it for her.

I have lots more to say, but I need to go to the store.   Next posts will cover Sunday and Mondy, October 16 and 17.

  

East Side of Houston

 Let me start by asking a favor.   I know you are out there because my stats say I'm getting hits, but part of this Social Media bit is being "Social".   There is a place at the bottom of each post for you to comment.   Did this post trigger a memory?  Can you add to what I wrote?    My writing is almost exclusively about my observations,  I would appreciate a little background.    I'm not asking everyone to comment just to be commenting, but maybe we can get a conversation going about some of the hidden sights of our home city.  Apparently you can be anonymous, one of my commenters used that tag.

Wednesday, I met up with Myles, a B Cycle tech, for a group ride.   It was just the two of us all over downtown..   The liberating part of traveling with a "group" was that I was not constantly checking the App, or a frayed piece of paper in my pocket, in order to hit all the stations.   I just went with the flow.  I don't always need to be in charge, heck, I don't always want to BE in charge!   Downtown  has the greatest concentration of bike stations in this game.

This Tour De Bicycle treasure hunt, or as I call it, "FROGGER",  has helped me to find some very useful bike routes that are not always visible on Google and iMaps.  The B Cycle app is pretty good about this, but you may have to manipulate "zoom" for full effect.  Lamar St will take you acroos downtown, and Austin and LaBranch will take you, safely, from downtown, to Hermann Park.   Then there is Polk and the Harrisburg trail that neatly links Greater Eastside with Downtown.   I am told that the term for the bumps that separate bike routes from the cars are called "armadillos".   There is one on Cullen that has been pushed to the side, that I have an urge to take home as a souvenir., but it's a bit big for the bike basket.

Wednesday, after riding downtown, I started visiting stations in midtown, but got sidetracked  to Third Ward, which actually pulled me further from my planned "exit" bus stop than I wanted.

Emancipation Park is a very serene and beautiful place.  Across the street is Navy Seafood.   I wanted something light, so I went in.   Typical local fast food seafood, countless combinations of shrimp, fish and oysters, but I chose the fish sandwich.   As I waited for my meal, I was overhearing the two elderly locals, and it was interesting.    The first guy would mention a college football player, the other would off what he knew, and then it was his turn to offer a name.   Many of the players are long-gone, but it was interesting to hear.    When my sandwich was ready, it consisted of no less than three pieces of breaded catfish between two slices of bread, with lettuce.   Very tasty, and it was obviously fried in clean oil.

Down the street are the Project Row Houses, an art project in the Third Ward.   These old homes have been fixed up and offer art from various Southern artists.   Not my cup of tea, you understand, but nicely done.   The lady in the office offered information folders to help explain the whole thing.   She mentioned a bakery in the block, so I trundled over for one of the better, if more expensive, brownies that I have ever eaten.   I asked for ice water and she sent me next door to Doshi House, a delightful little coffee shop that I wish were closer to my neighborhood.   Friendly atmosphere, and young people staring at laptops.

Greater East End covers a lot of territory, and some very different neighborhoods.   I think I have hit stations on four different visits, and still missed one!    I was trying to take my Austin siblings on a 20 mile ride, and wanted to show them some of the places on the home tour this weekend, and between bringing out my paper directions, checking the App, and keeping the five of us together, I totally missed Telephone and Eddington, and we crossed Telephone several times.   Every time we did, one of my sibs had to reference the song "Telephone Road".

Church of the Redeemer, now 45 units of affordable housing.

Magnolia station, part of an art project.   Don't know if it's the art, or the fact sister Kristen took the picture, but this is a good shot!

Three of my siblings (Lauren doesn't ride) and a bro-in-law, came to Houston specifically to ride with me to the ship channel.  I guess they don't have one in Austin.    We started at MacGregor Park and rode down Brays Bayou, a very pleasant, and good trail.   We took a break at Forest Park/Lawndale, to visit the graves of our grandparents, then headed for the ship channel.   We watched pelicans doing what they do, crossed the mouth of Brays on Harrisburg Road, and took a short side trip to a spot where we could gaze at no less than three large ocean-going vessels.    Next time I need to bring trash bags and my grabber, the clutter detracted from the tourism.

I had scouted out a Salvadoran restaurant at Canal and 76th street, because we like different.   The papusas were worth the trip.    I always say a place is authentic if I am the only gringo in the place, and having Allison able to translate just added to the experience.   Yes, they speak English there, but we enjoyed the Spanish.

Want to increase your enjoyment?   Think about organizing a B Cycle tour of your own, either right now, or for next year.   If your ask nicely, B Cycle might even be able to drop enough bikes at your start point to ensure everyone has a ride.   If you ride for so much a a weekend, it would definitely behoove (spellcheck liked it) you to download the app and sign up for a month.   I have the key fob that comes with the annual membership; between it, the App, and an occasional call to Daisy at the service desk, I can do all the riding I can handle.

I am heading into the final turn.   Most of my remaining neighborhoods straddle, or are close to Metro Redline.   I will finish this wonderful experience next week, assuming my left knee quits complaining.  Knees can be so whiney!   Just because I am making it carry 70 more pounds than it is rated for, it thinks it can express itself EVERY time I sit or stand!   

A Sunday game of Tidy Up

 After Church, Sunday, I decided to tidy up my checklist and pick up some orphan BCycle Stations.  You know, the ones that are quite a distance from the other stations.

I started down in Third Ward, around MLK and Griggs.  Caught three stations within a few blocks of each other.   The local Houston Public Library Branch has three large bird sculptures.   Closer inspection reveals that many of the feathers are book titles that have something to do with "birds" from Chicken Little to Six Days of the Condor.    Colorful.  

Someone pointed out a pit bull in a Spark Park.   I guess because I was sitting in front of the school, I must work there.  (It was Sunday) I informed an HISD officer, and offered the dog some water.   I think the gate shut behind him, but I was not going to let him out, even though he looked rather peaceful.

There are four bike stations at Lake Houston, so for the first time, I went to Deussen Park, as well as Eisenhower Park.  They are pretty much next to each other, unless you are on a bike or in a car, in which case that crow don't fly right!   Deussen Park is quite spread out and offers many picnic pavilions and playgrounds, as well as boat launching facilities.   I tried to join a couple of parties, claiming to be cousin Steve from San Angelo, but maybe it was my lack of a red T-shirt, but they we were not buying it.    The pavilions are spaced out so you don't feel crowded.   Looks like a great place for birthday parties and reunions.

Eisenhower Park, from what I could see, was two trailheads and a parking lot.    The trails looked a little too "mountain bikey" for this old man, and the sign said the trail was 3 1/2 miles long   Pass.

So now, I'm East of Beltway 8, East, so where should I go next?  Yep, almost to Beltway 8 West, off of I-10.    I'm pretty sure the local association or developer paid for these stations, they just seem to belong in the neighborhoods.    Good Luck finding Memorial City Club station,  but it is between the Mall and Bunker Hill.   The station  is within 20 feet of several visitor parking spaces, so there is hope.   The security lady watched me, but left me alone.

Get out your GPS, because I am going to tell you unless you know where Pearl City Center is, you will never get there.   Hint, it is just East of Fuddruckers, which may not help as that hamburger place is also well hidden.   But I can see where BCycle can really add to the experience at these little enclaves  of more-money-that-I-have.    What is needed now is a station at the mall to give these bikers a destination!  And if that is my picture, I need to smile more!

Monday was not a BCycle day for me.  My siblings are coming in from Austin and I will guide a tour from MacGregor Park, to the ship channel, west through Greater East End and then South to Universtiy of Texas.    I want them to think I know what I'm doing, so I rode about 18 miles and scouted a viewing area of the port (saw three big ships!) as well as places to eat.    As long as I was out there, I hit a few stations.   

If you haven't ridden Brays Bayou Greenways Trail (I just call it Brays) here is a tip.   Great parking at MacGregor Park but you need to enter from Calhoun.  Hint, the bridge is not yet open to traffic.   This is your standard Houston Parks Board trail, eight foot wide concrete trail with markers here and there.   Just past the golf course is a side trail that  will take you to Magnolia Transit Center, either to get credit for a BCycle, or to catch Metro Rail home.   Your choice.    Mason Park has a BCycle station way out there, you can easily take it to the Brays trailhead.  Take a minute to admire the hike and bike bridges.   If you cross Brays Bayou on Navigation, there is a track/trail that can take you to a nice viewing point for the Port of Houston.  Ignore the trash, this is, after all, Houston.

Speaking of trash, for next year's treasure hunt on wheels, I am recommending we all take a little time to police up some of this trash, especially the stuff in and around the bike stations.   I saw several parked bikes with baskets full of trash.   Maybe we could earn a "Good Samaritan" badge if we fill a couple of grocery bags and dispose of them properly.

I ate lunch off of Canal, at a Salvadoran place   First time eating Salvadoran food.   Basically similar to Mexican with several differences,  The tortillas were 1/4 inch thick, the beans were pureed and more seasoned, and the Pollo Guisada  was made with different spices.   I believe this is authentic, I was the only Anglo in the place.   

A hidden gem is the Harrisburg Rails to Bike Trail.   You get away from traffic, except there are cross streets every 500 feet, and that traffic don't stop.   Remember to look left and right so you don't become a hood ornament!

A piece of the track of the former railroad.

There are several pockets of very cute little homes in this area, but the neighborhood needs help.

I turned South on Cullen.   Protected bike route, complete with the "Armadillos"   I saw one that had been knocked loose from the street, and I wanted to take it home, but it just would not fit in my backpack!....University of Houston was very daunting.   I knew I was the outsider, and I tried real hard to avoid thousands of students moving between classes.   I also avoided the little robots that I think are delivering food!    It was fun when two robots met each other, one seemed to lose it's mind!  I hit a few stations, and returned to my car.

Brays Bayou Trail is pretty much MY trail.   It is a two mile ride from home to the Keegans Bayou Trailhead, then four miles to Brays @ South Gessner.   From my house, all the way to MacGregor Park, is 20 miles.   Been there, Done that, rode public transportation home.   From MacGregor to the port is about 6 miles or so.    The city and Houston Parks Board are busy extending Brays West.    By this time next year, if we all say our prayers, and mind our Mothers, you will be able to bike and hike from the Houston Ship Channel, all the way to Arch Bishop Fiorenza Park (he passed away last month) and a few miles beyond!   I am so excited, I check on construction every month.   There are a few ribbons of concrete west of Dairy Ashford!   This will be a long trail, separate from roads, and with many underpasses to avoid cars at the intersections.

As Dale and Roy sang: Happy Trails to you, until we meet again!

Home Tours

 For those who are new to this blog, I am trying to check out a bike from all 153 B Cycle stations in Houston, during the month of October.   I have biked through parts of town I had never seen until now.  Yoiu might want to look at my earlier posts.

Last week I rode through The Heights, and yesterday I rode through much of Greater East Side.   I try to take side streets in order to avoid being run over, so I am seeing areas I would never see from my car.   This morning's Chronicle has two articles on page D-1 about these neighborhoods.   The 2022 Eastwood Historic Home Tour is October 15-16 just south of Harrisburg, close to Cullen.  The Sanctuary, formally the Church of the Redeemer is now affordable housing.   Several units will be open to the tour.   Two houses are on the tour, as is a former ironworks, now office space.   

For information:  eastwoodcivicassociation.org     

The 2022 Norhill Bungalow Home Tour is in the Heights Saturday and Sunday.    Six homes are on the tour.   

For information:  norhill.org

For those of us who are admiring the local homes from the outside, this is a chance to see the inside.  And yes, it costs $$.  

Montrose and the Washington Corridor

 Friday night, I dropped a granddaughter off at a meeting in Montrose and started riding my bike in the south part of Montrose.   I have no pictures because it was getting dark.   Sorry.   I tried to stay on neighborhood streets with no traffic.   Fairview is a street that works well, as it will get you close to several B Cycle Stations.

I started at Freed Library, rode through St Thomas (nice little campus), And drove past the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection.  Alabama, Richmond and Westheimer have all sorts of little restaurants, cafes, and bars, most were rather busy on a Friday night.   Taft and Fairview has a busy Mexican Restaurant, but there is also an Art Gallery with the large windows where you could see the beautiful people being cool looking at strange art while holding their drinks and canapes  (I could not spell hor'something, and my spell check was no help).

Riding on Houston streets, especially at night, is like playing FROGGER.   If you ask me what that is, please send me a Geritol.   It seems that everyone in Houston, no, Texas, has a death wish.   Cars seem to take aim at bikes, pedestrians cross Southwest Freeway at 3:00 in the morning and we wonder why we have so many deaths, and we cyclists are just as bad.   We do not own the roads!   Stop signs and traffic lights are there for us, too.

I looked it up on the TxDot website.   November 7, 2022 will mark 21 years of constant daily highway fatalities.    People, we average 10 a day!  Even worse, during the pandemic lockdown when traffic dropped by 50 percent, fatalities actually went to 11 per day!

OK, enough preaching.

Saturday morning I headed to Buffalo Bayou and Eleanor Tinsley Park.  Road were closed because of an art festival, and the walkways were crawling with people on some kind of organized walk.   Parking is never easy down there, but can anyone figure out the signs on the Allen Parkway parking areas?   Every post says emergency no-parking.   I watch too many UTube videos from GTOGER where we watch tow trucks haul away cars because people cannot read signs, so I went to another station, parked, and started riding.

I am not the only one doing this Tour de B Cycle.   I met several.   The check-in and right back out is the give-away!    I lost track of how many times I crossed the bayou, but it was worth looking at every time.   Beautiful weather, many people out walking, riding, walking dogs, playing, and just enjoying NOT melting in the heat!  

Spotts Park had a parking space, so I started there.  Crossed the bayou and went to Eleanor Tinsley Park. The Sabine Bridge is real close to The Cistern, and I found my first restroom.  Short ride to the next station.   Took me a while to figure out how to cross Memorial and go up Sawyer to two stations.  Long stretch of back streets to Pearl Washington, and now I am heading south to the other side of the bayou.

The Lost Lake station is across Allen Parkway from Lost Lake, which looks like someone used a lot of concrete on a bog.  A notable feature of Lost Lake B Cycle is that it is in the shade!   How did that happen?   

My map told me I was close to the Royal Norwegian Consulate General, and I had never seen it.    Seen it, got the T Shirt.  My final Montrose station was Regent Square.   Nice buildings, the B Cycle is bolted directly to the concrete, has no solar panel, and just looks very neat.

I'm on my way home.   The nearest B Cycle stations to me are the Inner Loop SW stations.   Now, I love our B Cycle staff, but its obvious there were a number of spread out stations that didn't fit into a neighborhood.    Welcome to Levy Park, north of Southwest Freeway, and many miles from my Meyerland JCC station, on Brays Bayou.   Levy Park is not easy to get to, it's kinda hidden.    It is also a very beautiful little park that includes carts full of games, art supplies and books, and I saw teenagers playing with a pile of toy trains.   There is a dog park with some of the most active dogs anywhere!  The children's play area is incredible.    There is a putting green with toddlers trying to putt.   Cute.   Even some food trucks.

But here's the thing.   The bike station is across the street from the park.   It is labeled "Levy Park" and all bikes (I saw three E Bikes) have the City of Houston Seal.    Levy Park is a Houston City Park, with the longest list of rules I have ever seen, to inlude:  NO CYCLING.    I was asked to leave by security.  Despite all the rules, the place enjoys a lot of usage.

Went home and took a nap.   Sunday, I may pick up some loose ends.

F

 

Group Rides

 I heard about a group ride at the last minute, and fussed with rush our traffic for an hour.   Memorial Park.   Pleasant ride, but I don't recommend a 6 pm start time, as guess what happens on Houston road about that time?    Add construction on Memorial, and I was worn out.

The guide pointed out that getting from Memorial Park to the WinPark/Four Oaks, might not be that safe, so we skipped it.   Now, I wasn't gonna argue, but I have a lot of experience  playing FROGGER on my bicycle.    Hwy 6,  in Sugar Land, Southwest Fwy frontage roads, S Main.  

So, here are flyers for two future rides.   (B Cycle, if I am violating copyright, tell me)

The Heights

 On my last ride, I may have ridden too long.   I tried to fix that Wednesday.

I took the Park and Ride to downtown.   I managed to find an E Bike with a full charge (a first for Dan) and I kept it all day.    Here is a note about how the system works.    It's fine to check in and out all day with the standard B Cycle, but I now know that every time I checked this E Bike in and back out, the cash register went ding!   $8.64 for the day.    (B Cycle people, this was my doing, I should have known.)  Whatever, I worked about as hard as I do with the old 3 speed, but I went faster.

Monday, I had to go back home for my iPhone.   Wednesday, I reached into my backpack, and found that my insulated quart thermos of ice water was still on my kitchen counter!    Deal with it!  (By the way, as I write this two days after this ride, I asked a stranger to call my phone when I couldn't find it in the car.    It was on top of the car!   And we encourage this guy to ride a bike?)

I headed into the Washington Corridor for a few stations, then headed north to pick up the Eastern most Heights stations.  I rode through an old part of the heights, lots of old house, trees, and signs marking this as a historic district.  Bric-a-brac and wrap-around porches. and two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard, now everything is ........The Heights have so many cute little streets with cute little bungalows, and most of what I see is either restored homes, or new homes that try to blend in.   Three story homes no wider than the two-car garage seem to be the norm, but I see no McMansions.

Beach Park has an HEB water feature.   I may be 69 years old, but I hit the red button to activate the water jets, just as if I were seven!   

Where on earth am I?  The sign says 19th and Rutland and I thought I was riding through the Houston Heights, but I think I've been transported to downtown small town Americana!  Sorry, I forgot to take a picture.

I was ready to stop, and hey, here's Heights Central B Cycle.  Right here is Ike's Love and Sandwiches, so I parked my bike and ordered my sandwich, and now I don't remember what I ordered, but it is good, and I like it.  The bread is listed as their own Dutch, and it's very tasty.   The décor up in the ceiling is lunchboxes!

It's a school holiday for Yom Kippur.   There are a couple of boys just outside a park on the main MKT bike trail, and they are selling lemonade and cookies!   Good, too!   Ice in my cup.   It doesn't get much better than this!

I have passed three ice cream places so far today, all in the Heights!  but was too full to stop.    When I finished with the heights in Stude Park.   I found that the new connecting trail from Stude Park to the MKT railroad bridge is not quite open, so I turned East on White Oak Trail and on to MKT, into downtown, where I swapped the E Bike for a ride on Metro rail to Wheeler.   I climbed aboard 152 to Westwood  Park And Ride.   An interesting thing here is Bus 152 doesn't stop between Wheeler and Hillcroft  Transit Center, which made the ride shorter than taking Bus 65, which was also an option.   See what I have learned!

My trip Wednesday was a good two hours shorter than Monday.   Good plan.

5th Ward, Near North Side, UHD and a couple of miles too far

 Monday, October 3, I headed to the Park and Ride in plenty of time, only to find that I had left my iPhone in the house.   45 minutes later, I arrived at Park and Ride in time to see the last bus leave.   Fortunately for me, a commuter then chose to drive in, and by giving me a ride, she was able to use the HOV lane.   Worked out.

So, starting from a downtown station, I knocked out U of H Downtown.   Note that there is a back road from UH Daly lot to Burnett Transit center.  I had no idea University of Houston Downtown had become so big.   The lady who took me into downtown told me she went there for all four years plus her masters.   Nice, modern campus, easy walking or biking between buildings, and what looks like a very convenient shuttle from satellite parking lots.  

The Exchange at Hardy Yards doesn't look like anything on the map, but it's within walking distance of UHD and hosts the $5 million postcard view of downtown Houston!   These are beautiful apartments/condos that look to be the beginning of a livable neighborhood.   I missed the UHD Shay Street building, so I backtracked, and now I have earned my first badge.

From Shay Street I headed East past the Catastrophic Theater (what on earth?) and some other very quirky businesses in old warehouses.  Stopped to watch a train go by (lots of them, it turns out), 

I pick up Lyons Ave, which goes close to several stops in 5th Ward, but first I have to stop at St Arnold's Brewery.   I have been in Houston 18 years, and this is my first visit to the brewery.  I circled the parking lot and determined that the bier garten (German spelling) opens at 11:00 and it was almost that, so I had lunch and a beer.    Very good food and service.

Here is an observation:  When the Army sent me to Germany almost 50 years ago, Germany was busy consolidating breweries into just a few giants, and now, here in Houston we have little breweries all over the  city.   Go figure.

Continued East on Lyons picking up 5th Ward.    I can see some gentrification, and some houses that have been renovated, but I also saw run down homes.

Anybody know the story about this brick sculture on Lyons?

Crossed Buffalo Bayou and up Navigation.  From the bridge I could see some of the East River Project.   I was getting tired by now, so I just noted the sign pointing to the Houston Maritime Museum.   Maybe next week.    Cruised into EADO and struggled through downtown to Smith, where there is a stop every two blocks for my P&R bus.   It was right at 3:00 so the the express   buses were running.

Some random thought about the whole experience.

You don't want to be in a hurry.   Look around, there are many places we have never seen before.

I think most of us are checking a bike in, and immediately taking it back out, or taking out another, so we can get credit for the B Cycle station.   Give yourself a couple of minutes before you try to take the next bike, as the system needs a minute or two to reset your account.

If you run into problems at a station, call the service desk.   Many call centers want you to recite every number you know, including your Mother's maiden name, Daisy just needs your name and location, and she will fix any problem.

I ran across two B Cycle techs on the road.   Joshua bailed me out when I questioned whether that out- of-service station was really out of service.

And finally, whether you plan to hit all 153 stations, or just a couple of neighborhoods, I hope you have a great time, as I am.

Tour de Bicycle - I get started!

 I headed to 5th Ward after church.   I decided there were a few stations too far from the others for a full day's ride, so I headed to Mickey Leland Park.  Zero bikes.   Cross US 59 and go to Henderson Park.  Large Live Oak provided a shaded parking spot for the car.    Checked out a bike and headed back to Mickey Leland Park.    

Leland Park has a very nice memorial to the late congressman.   It is also the trailhead for Hunting Bayou Trail, so I rode down the trail, crossed a couple of bridges and came back to the station.   This is a very nice, paved trail that may someday go all the way to Buffalo Bayou.

Back at my car, I decided to scoot over to Moody Park.   Crossing the Metro tracks can be interesting, the park had families engaging in numerous Sunday afternoon activities.   Took a bike to Quitman nearnorthside Metro, then on to Leonel Castillo, where the station and I had some misunderstandings that the nice lady at the service desk helped me with.    One slot would not lock, and another slot would not unlock, so once the lady manually got me a bike, I decided to head back to Moody Park.

It was a nice day to ride.    Hopefully, we are done with high heat for a bit.

  

Be Positive

 I will get back to bike riding for my next post, but I wanted to share this:

One of my weekly activities is reading to small children every Thursday at our church's preschool.  I am really not sure who is having more fun with this:  the children, or me!    

I brought a couple of books about fall today.    I also brought a box of Autumn décor that my wife had gathered over the years.    I spread strings of silk leaves around, and over the children, and set a small, decorative hay bale on the floor.   It had ribbons and silk flowers, and had, at one time, been a centerpiece.  A herd of two and three year olds descended upon my meager decorations.   Four of them gathered around the hay bale as I attempted to share a pumpkin counting book.   At least one of the children has a tendency to cry, so as long as they were quiet, I wasn't going to bother them.    After a while, I looked down to see that these little angels had disassembled the hay bale and the flowers, and there was now hay all over the floor!  The older children found bits and pieces everywhere when they came in!   

For all the negativity in the world today, I can still find pure joy in the faces of preschoolers!   I think I could read the phone book to them (is there still one?) and have them interrupting me to add something that may or may not pertain to anything we are discussing, but they sure want to share!   I have long since learned never to bring up birthdays, new shoes, or puppies, if I ever want to finish reading the story!   But, I saw pure joy today, and believe I looked into the face of God!

Next week I will read Jeanne Titherington's  Pumpkin, Pumpkin, compleat with a bag of pumpkin seeds and some pumpkin cookies.   Not sure if I will be brave (or dumb) enough to cut open a pumpkin while they watch.    

Anyways, this is my best therapy.    

Houston Tour De Bicycle 2022

 

I know it's been awhile since I posted anything, but let's see if we can get back on this horse.

Houston B Cycle, you know, those bike racks with colorful, sturdy bikes all over Inside the Loop?

Well, Houston B Cycle is hosting a fun activity for October.    We are being challenged to visit all 153 bike stations during October.   That is quite a challenge.    By my estimates, I will need to hit the trails at least 10 times in a month/    There are prizes, but more importantly, here is an opportunity to see parts of Houston we may not have seen before.  Here is  their website:  

https://www.houstonbcycle.com/tour-de-bcycle2022

I registered and very quickly got an email from BCycle.   Among other prizes are a free month of bicycle rental, an aluminum water bottle that doubles as a place to put the badges (Badges! We don't need no stinkin Badges!  Name that movie). the requisite T Shirt, and at some point, you could even get a whole year of bike rental, and maybe put your name on a new bike (without getting in trouble!).   

The bike stations have been grouped by neighborhood.   When you check out the website, you may have a hard time reading the neighborhood list, and even a harder time printing it, but do not despair,  once you register for the fun, BCycle will let you download the list in wonderful PDF.

I'm a little analytical, so I have spent several days trying to figure out the best way to play this game.   I live outside the Beltway.   I plan to take Metro Park & Ride downtown during morning commute, grab a bike and head towards my chosen neighborhood.   I have decided on Near Northside and 5th Ward for my first foray, so I will check out my first bike in the County Courts area and head north.     On another day, I will take park and ride to the Medical Center.

The whole idea of B Cycle is to leave your car behind.    I stopped at a local supermarket service desk and bought a Metro Q Card so I don't have to fumble for change when I board the bus.     I will also study the Metro bus schedules.    It really is not hard.

I asked the nice lady at B Cycle about stations that are out of order.   She suggested I take a picture of the offending racks and send the picture to her, for credit on this treasure hunt.  I would not trust the map - the App shows the Castillo Communtiy center as out of service, but I found 4 bikes there, including an E Bike.  But, come to think of it, I did not try to check out a bike, so maybe......

Ah, E-Bike, the preferred method of transportation.   If you manage to get one, I would check it in and out from as many stations as possible, as long as the battery lasts.   Each time you dock or undock a bike, you get credit for that station.

Before you tell me you can't do it, you should know that I am a 69 year old overweight diabetic with other issues.   At the start of the pandemic, I could cycle 2 miles.    Saturday, my bike buddy and I did 24 miles, only a couple of those miles were because I cannot read a map!

Stay tuned,  I hope to start this ride on Monday, October 3.

Badges!   If you said "Blazing Saddles" you are either a Baby Boomer, or were raised by one.   If you said "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" you know your black and white movies!

Odds and Ends II

 Couple of quick thoughts.

As part of the Houston Citywide Cleanup, Neighborhoods to Trails Southwest (NTTSW) and Friends of Keegans Bayou will sponsor two cleanup sites Saturday,April 2, along Keegans Bayou.  10:00-12:00

Those working in the area between BW 8 and Wilcrest may either bike in, or drive and and park at Archer Collision Center, 11107 Southwest Fwy, North Bound frontage road.    We have been asked to keep the gate clear, in case a wrecker needs access.

Those working Keegans Bayou between S Gessner and Riceville Cemetery should plan on parking behind Fiesta Market.   We will start there.   I have not asked permission from Fiesta yet, but will early next week.

Volunteers should bring gloves and grabbers and sturdy shoes.   If you have big trash bags, please bring them.

Please email dannagel1@att.net or text 281-799-2673 to give us a headcount.   No  messenger pigeons, please, my pigeon flew the coop!

Dan Nagel

Self-Appointed third Assistant Resident Gadfly, NTTSW

Next thought:

You may know that my granddaughter is a barista at her neighborhood coffee cafe.  As Papa Dan, it is my job to provide an endless stream of "dad jokes" to include picking on all those people who order a Frappuccino with soy, turbinado sugar, a twist, and make sure the coffee is grown in America.    OK, you can tell I never order coffee.

But it suddenly hit me as I was fixing my iced tea:  decaf, infused mint, two yellow sugars, squeeze of fresh lemon and a shot of sugar-free raspberry syrup.    Yep, I'm trying to hide the taste of tea, just like the millennials are hiding the taste of coffee!    What's with that?