BIKE: Route conditions

[Lane S. Wimberley]

I meant to send this out earlier so it would be more timely, but I got
side-tracked.  Sorry for the delay.  These are a few observations from
my commute in today that might be helpful if anyone finds themselves
on the same route anytime soon.

While the water had largely receded at 10 AM this morning, there was
still significant flow over the low-water crossing at Sider's Oaks
park (Shoal Creek, between W. 38th and W. 34th streets).

There is a fair bit of slippery mud on the path under the 38th street
bridge crossing Shoal Creek.

Oddly, there is very little mud under the Lamar street bridge over
Shoal Creek.

There is a LOT of mud, in 6-inch-deep drifts, under the 10th street
bridge over Shoal Creek (or, at least, there was at 10:20 or so; it's
possible that crews may have cleaned it up, as I saw a crew sweeping
and cleaning the debris from the Shoal Creek trail just south of
W. 9th street, east of Henderson, but you never know).  Might be best
to take the high road -- there is a trail that leads from the SC trail
up to 10th street on both north and south sides of the street.

I believe the low-water, and largely trailless section of the SC
"trail" between 5th street and West Ave. is completely impassable for
high rushing water.  Better to take surface streets like West and
9th/10th.

All of my route south of Town Lake, which is Dawson, Bouldin, Mary,
Annie, Eastside, Woodward and the rest of the hellish I-35/Ben White
misery were relatively unaffected, with the occassional exception of a
small downed branch or limb (so, be careful in the dark!).

And, that's the (relevant) extent of my experience this morning.

-Lane

_______________________________________________________________________
Lane Wimberley, Wayport, Inc.,  512.519.6195 (voice)  512.519.6200 (fax)
Southpark Commerce Center II, 4509 Freidrich Lane, Austin, TX 78744