| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
66.04 miles
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Altitude Gain:
4,229 ft
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Avg Speed:
14.96 mph
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Route:
Caddo Valley-Hot Springs
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Avg Grade: 0 %
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Max Grade: 0 %
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Max HR: 0 bpm
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Hills
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Bike: Look 585 Carbon Road
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Club: Schuyler County Cycling Club |
| Weather Conditions: Light Rain 76 F SW wind @ 8 mph |
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Left Texas and started heading north for the holiday. Stopped and rode in Caddo Valley, Arkansas. Heavy thundershowers were forecast for the day so I suited up with anticipation of getting soaked. Have ridden a shorter version of today's ride a couple times as an out and back along SR 7 and always enjoyed the ride. Today I decided to extend the ride a little and head out on some secondary roads running parallel to SR 7 to Hot Springs then returning on SR 7. The secondary road was primarily CR 128 which turned out to be a good choice. It lacked the scenic vistas of the highway but gained an Ozark Mountain climb. CR 128 had a good surface but no shoulders. Wasn't much of a problem as there was very little traffic. Had numerous dogs chase me on the route but the dooryards of the houses are so far back from the road that I had for the most part an insurmountable lead by the times the hounds got to the road. Passed a pack of beagles in the road but they were on the trail of more interesting game as they let me pass unmolested. Hit my first real climb in over a month as the grade reached a maximum of thirteen percent. The climb wasn't too long though and don't think the elevation change was too much over five-hundred feet. The backside of the climb provided a fun twisting descent. Had escaped most of the ride with only light rain but must have been just dodging the thunderstorms as some sections of the road had standing water. Rode into Hotsprings which turned out to be very rolling terrain and headed to the hub in the center of the city to pick up some lunch and connect with my return leg of SR 7. Was not impressed withn downtown Hot Springs which is definitely a city in transition. Am not sure whether it was really nice once and is now experiencing urban decay or it has been blighted and is now experiencing urban renewel. City had several homeless looking guys hanging around the restruants and stores as well as some thuggish looking fellows. Stores and parking areas were protected by barred windows, graffitti covered roll down doors and abundant chain link fence. Choose not to stop in the area although that is where the Hot Springs National Park visitor center is located. I'm sure one of the homeless guys would gladly have watched my mount while I checked out the center and had lunch. The daredevil part of the adventure was the trip back out of the city on Central Ave. It had a clearly marked share the road bicycle lane but it was cut out of a forty-five mph four lane that barely had enough room for two cars to pass without even taking me into account. Still it was ridable except for the areas where concrete islands would cut into what limited bike lane there was and I would have to merge into the trafffic flow. Had one car pass me so close that I am sure the hairs on my hand brushed his paint. Escaped alive and uninjured and not one driver honked or yelled obsenities at meet over the seven mile section for which I was appreciative as it couldn't have been pleasant for the drivers passing me either. Remainder of the ride was going back over the mountain ridge on the highway and was happy to remain dry and had plenty of room to ride safely. Continued driving out of Arkansas on I-30 and got through a few hours before the road was shut down because of flooding. The road gods were indeed kind to me today in letting stay dry.
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