The Eighth Annual Bike Around the Bay, sponsored by Shell Oil and benefitting Galveston Bay Foundation was held October 18th & 19th. The ride began in Baytown at 7:30 am on Saturday. The bike route took the riders over the Trinity River, through Wallisville, Turtle Bayou and through the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge. At Hwy. 124, the bikers took a right which led them over the bridge and into High Island. Then, another right onto Hwy. 87 to enjoy approximately 27 miles of coastline before ending at Galveston Bay and the Galveston Ferry Landing.
Samson Energy’s 50+ volunteers were stationed at the Ferry Landing greeting all the riders as they de-biked long enough to grab a Gatorade, water, banana, pickle juice, fig bars and Peanut M&M’s. As riders young and old began pouring into the Samson Station, Ingrid Hillhouse, from Houston, was the first lady biker to reach the Ferry, Steven & Sara Dobbs, Downtown Houston, were the first tandem riders. Alex Bartz, along with his Dad, Chris, were on a tandem also. Alex is 12 years old and attends the Honor Roll School in Sugar Land. This was Alex’s 7th Bike Around the Bay – he’s been riding tandem with his Dad since he was 5 years old!! Alex guided the bike onto the Ferry while Dad followed behind.
A short ride across Galveston Bay, then off to Seawall Blvd. for a 9.6 mile ride to Moody Gardens for their first overnight stop in Galveston. The first day’s ride clocked the riders at 94.3 miles. Sunday morning early, the bikers set out for the last leg of their journey, across the Galveston Causeway to Texas City, traveling along Skyline Drive and Beach Drive, through Kemah and Seabrook, cross the Fred Hartman Bridge and back to Baytown, for another 82.1 miles. Congratulations and thanks to all those courageous bikers, sponsors and volunteers!
The mission of the Galveston Bay Foundation is to preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its tributaries for present users and for posterity.
(published 10/21/2014)
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