Kelly (Port San Antonio ) Bicycle Ride with the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club (hcbtc.org). February 1, 2009.

Kelly (Port San Antonio ) with the Hill Country Bicycle Touring Club (hcbtc.org). February 1, 2009.

Of course, it’s another beautiful, clear, cool day in San Antonio – no, we never get tired of them. This was my first time to ride the Kelly ride, which Vern leads every month or so (check out www. hcbtc.org  for the next ride.) It’s a great way to see this area  that has been so important to San Antonio.

The airport is located on Highway 90, just West of San Antonio, at the General Hudnell exit. Here’s the official website blurb:
“Port San Antonio is a master-planned, 1,900 acre aerospace, industrial complex and international logistics platform, centrally located in San Antonio, Texas. Created from the former Kelly Air Force Base, Port San Antonio is approximately equidistant from the East and West coasts of the United States and at the center of the NAFTA Corridor between Mexico and Canada. The entire development enjoys designation as a Foreign Trade Zone (#80-10).”

To read more, see: http://www.portsanantonio.u

As I was saying, the HCBTC crew was up and out on this cool morning – it must have been in the low 40’s. I went in shortsleeves, and riding shorts, but probably would have been more comfortable with a light jacket.   However, after about 5 miles, the jackets of others were being pulled off and stored for the remainder of the ride.

The meeting place is a big open parking lot off Hudnell and Crickett Dr.   From there, we rode through the east side of the old base, with a swing out to the left. Debbie took the lead, as we swung around the south side of the airport, down towards SW Military Road. The Kelly ride essentially does three dead ends, since you can’t ride through the gates of the airport, but we’re looking for miles, views, and light traffic, so this set-up provides all three.

The primary impression is that THERE IS NO TRAFFIC at this time of morning on a Sunday. We had no “car backs” for the first half, and very few as we wheeled to the west side of the airport.

Then we come back through the front of the base, and down to what is obviously the old military personnel area, with broad lawns, Mediterranean style buildings, and the airport tower in the background. From there, we swung out towards Highway 90, to go in front of the main runway, where C-130 Hercules transport airplanes can still be seen doing “touch and go’s”. The road from there swings over to a long road towards the Grouden Auto Pound, where there’s nothing but a few unfortunate people trying to pick up cars that have been towed, and a long empty road for a last speed run for those with the energy. We turn around from there, and head back to the parking lot, totaling some 18 to 19 miles in all.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.