Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

8-31-90 . . . We set a heat record today. It was officially 106 degrees [Fahrenheit] in the Metroplex, the highest recorded temperature in 1990. I knew it was a scorcher when, during the afternoon, I saw “105.3” on my digital thermometer. But it didn’t deter me from riding. When I left the apartment at 5:23 P.M. it had “cooled” to 102 degrees. It was 94.5 degrees when I returned at eight o’clock. The ride was fun. Even though I hadn’t ridden in six days, I felt strong. There was no wind until I got to the base of Cedar Hill, when it kicked up a bit. Dark clouds began to form moments later, and by the time I got down the hill and crossed the first part of Joe Pool Lake huge raindrops had begun to fall. I proceeded to get soaked. Another rider was fifty yards ahead of me as we fought a stiff sidewind [i.e., crosswind]. A police officer went by in his squad car as we crossed the second part of Joe Pool Lake. “Looks like you guys are having a good time”, said the officer through his megaphone. I smiled and gave a thumbs-up salute. My average speed for the day was an impressive 19.11 miles per hour, the third-best average speed in twenty Cedar Hill rides. I attribute it to the lack of wind on the way to Cedar Hill and a tailwind on the way back. (Of course, when I knew I had a chance for nineteen miles per hour I rode harder to secure it.) Two more things: (1) I tied my speed record of fifty miles per hour; (2) I rode 665 miles this month (an average of 21.45 miles per day), making it fourth on my all-time list.