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Wagon Trail 2008 - Hillsboro, TX

May 3, 2008

The folks in Hillsboro did an excellent job putting on their first bike rally. At the start, they had the police department control the intersections through town and provide an escort until the edge of town and beyond. There were many police, fire department, and other volunteers flagging major turns and intersections along the course. There were even several on quads that controlled exiting traffic at the 35E overpass and another that warned of a bad gravel patch on a downhill along 77. All the rest stops were appropriately stocked and had porta-potties. A vast majority of the road hazards had been marked with paint. The course had a lot of rollers, no real big up or down hills, and there was very little traffic except for a few stretches.. The chilly, strong NW wind made it seem like it was all uphill to Blum. My gps showed a distance of 74.5 miles from the parking lot start to the same spot for the finish. All in all, a very good effort by the organizers that made for a good day of riding. Hopefully the number of riders will increase next year.

Turn out for the ride was small, which was surprising. I thought the location would bring riders from both north and south. The weather did not cooperate, but that was really the only downfall. Traffic control by police and fire depts. was some of the best I have seen. They were at every intersection. We dropped down to the 36( which I had at 40 start to finish)due to the weather. The roads were all in good condition except the one into Osceola, but most bad spots were marked by orange paint. Traffic was almost non-existent most of the ride.I stopped at one rest stop and it was great. Fruit, cookies and Gatorade. My only suggestion is to find a straighter way back into town. The last few miles winding through neighborhoods was ok for looking at homes and yards, but got alittle old for me. It could be that I was dead from fighting the winds.
Can't wait to go back next year and try it without the wind.