Date: March 16th 2017
From/To: Mineola, TX/Dallas TX
Daily Mileage: 85 miles
Total Mileage: 1010 miles
Conditions: Overcast, mid 60s, little wind
There’s not much of a difference between Upstate NY and Eastern Texas, not that I can tell. My ride today took me along roads dividing forests and farmland. At certain points I forgot I was in Texas, I imagined myself coasting along Eastlake Road on Seneca Lake sometime in early June back home. The air was dry and cool, the winds were relatively calm, and I spent most of the day climbing the rolling hills towards Dallas. If I had to complain about something, it would be hard to make much of an argument for it. The only problem I faced was U.S. Route 80 West, which became busy as I neared Dallas. I decided to take this route because it was much more direct than the other options GoogleMaps provided. I had to choose between an 80 or 95 mile ride, I decided on the busier route that covered less distance.
I didn’t have any problems until I hit Lake Ray Hubbard (the little bump on my route shown above). The area around the lake had been closed to the public for years, a post 9/11 security precaution, because the lake is a potential threat to the city of Dallas if the dam was to be destroyed. As a result, nobody is allowed into the area around the lake, and of course GoogleMaps didn’t know that. I ended up approaching a turn that was blocked off by a barbed wire fence, saying no trespassing.
There was no way around this route other than the busy highway. I noticed an emergency phone number on the gate entrance. I called the number, and told them my situation. After some back and fourth arguing, I was finally given permission to cross the lake in a pickup truck. I was driven two miles to the other entrance, and dropped off on the other side of the gate, perfectly set up for my last 15 miles into Dallas.
I finally made it to my cousin Rhiannon and her husband Trevor’s home in East Dallas, also know as Deep Ellum. I was greeted by Trevor upon arrival, and Rhiannon was home from work soon after. They treated me to a delicious and traditional Texas dinner at Hard Eight BBQ in Coppell.
Texas has definitely been a welcoming place. I enjoyed the evening with Trevor and Rhiannon. We went back to their house after dinner and went to bed shortly after that. They both had to work tomorrow, and I had a long day planned in Dallas as well. Please check back for more on that adventure!
Enjoy The Ride,
-Matt
