Doobage
07-10-2005, 10:52 PM
Last Friday my daughter went to spend the night with her Grandmother. My wife and I were going to go to a movie (using the bike as transport) when, to my surprise, my wife suggested we just go for a ride and blow off the movie. Not quite having any destination in mind, but knowing I want to avoid traffic lights, I steer us toward the closest country roads around us.
My wife was still using her "horse" helmet (think half helmet). So I was trying to aim for the safest route possible. We crept the speed up to around 70 mph and that seemed to be about as fast as we cared to go on account of wind noise. Occasionally I got a couple wind blasts where I could understand some of the "back wind pressure" people have posted about. Fortunately, like the heat issue, it only appears to show up when many factors come together to create the environment needed (speed, my seat position, my wifes seat position, posture of both of us, wind direction, etc...).
The temp was in the low 90's and one of my more cooler rides so far since acquiring my ST. We got to the park in about 40 minutes. Having only $5 cash on hand, and needing $6, the park ranger was kind enough to charge one of us as a senior citizen. We putted around the park and I saw 2 raccoon, 4 stags, 4 doe, 8 alligators (one of which was about 6 feet long), and a million different species of bird. (Great Blue Heron being my favorite out of the list, if you really want to know other birds out there, feel free to ask). I'm always amazed at the diverisity of birds at the parks around here. The one short walk we took also showed us a million water lillies in bloom. The flowers glowing that bright yellow green that a fresh can of tennis balls seem to eminate. Then I thought of Bill Murray in Caddyshack and just wanted to go "club" a few....Cinderella Man...outta nowhere. But I digress.
If you live in the Houston area, especially on the south side, I highly recommend this park and the ride, albeit a mostly straight shot (as most roads are in this part of Texas), it's quiet, got room for high speed, big shoulders in case of emergency, and a fun place to visit or practice over night camping with your bike. As a bonus, the park features a small wildlife center that the rangers can play show n' tell with snakes, birds, small mammals, and baby gators. There is also a big telescope in their observatory which is open on Saturdays. The trails are in "great" condition and they have some tall towers for which you can bird or gator watch from.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/brazos/
Footnote: I took my nearly 7 year old daughter for a ride today for a grand tour of Friendswood and all it's schools. After 40 minutes of riding, and it getting rather hot (95), she still did not want to go home. On the last stretch I did some sharp twisties on a straight road and she couldn't help but grin.
Be well all and hope to see you all out there riding!
My wife was still using her "horse" helmet (think half helmet). So I was trying to aim for the safest route possible. We crept the speed up to around 70 mph and that seemed to be about as fast as we cared to go on account of wind noise. Occasionally I got a couple wind blasts where I could understand some of the "back wind pressure" people have posted about. Fortunately, like the heat issue, it only appears to show up when many factors come together to create the environment needed (speed, my seat position, my wifes seat position, posture of both of us, wind direction, etc...).
The temp was in the low 90's and one of my more cooler rides so far since acquiring my ST. We got to the park in about 40 minutes. Having only $5 cash on hand, and needing $6, the park ranger was kind enough to charge one of us as a senior citizen. We putted around the park and I saw 2 raccoon, 4 stags, 4 doe, 8 alligators (one of which was about 6 feet long), and a million different species of bird. (Great Blue Heron being my favorite out of the list, if you really want to know other birds out there, feel free to ask). I'm always amazed at the diverisity of birds at the parks around here. The one short walk we took also showed us a million water lillies in bloom. The flowers glowing that bright yellow green that a fresh can of tennis balls seem to eminate. Then I thought of Bill Murray in Caddyshack and just wanted to go "club" a few....Cinderella Man...outta nowhere. But I digress.
If you live in the Houston area, especially on the south side, I highly recommend this park and the ride, albeit a mostly straight shot (as most roads are in this part of Texas), it's quiet, got room for high speed, big shoulders in case of emergency, and a fun place to visit or practice over night camping with your bike. As a bonus, the park features a small wildlife center that the rangers can play show n' tell with snakes, birds, small mammals, and baby gators. There is also a big telescope in their observatory which is open on Saturdays. The trails are in "great" condition and they have some tall towers for which you can bird or gator watch from.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/brazos/
Footnote: I took my nearly 7 year old daughter for a ride today for a grand tour of Friendswood and all it's schools. After 40 minutes of riding, and it getting rather hot (95), she still did not want to go home. On the last stretch I did some sharp twisties on a straight road and she couldn't help but grin.
Be well all and hope to see you all out there riding!