Bike Ride & Texas A&M Football Game

For Ethan's 10th Birthday, I thought it would be fun to take him to a football game at my alma mater, Texas A&M. The games there are very exciting because of the fans and the field, plus there's a great mountain bike trail at nearby Lake Bryan. I got the tickets, and we planned for a full day of fun.
We got to the trail head a little late (Ethan forgot his helmet so we had to get another one), so it was already in the 90's when we got started. Luckily most of the East loop is in the shade. Here's Ethan at the top of a wash where we found some petrified wood (Ethan loaded his pack up for the rock tumbler). We rode about 12 miles in 3 hours and then took a shortcut back to the van to get cleaned up and ready for a quick meal and the game
We ate dinner at my favorite burrito joint of all time, Freebirds (Ethan likes it too). We stop at Freebirds every chance we get. Ethan get's an adult size burrito with chicken, BBQ sauce, lettuce and tomato every time


We found some good parking behind Northgate thanks to some tips from Aggie football regulars and began the walk across campus to Kyle Stadium. They were just finishing the North section of the stadium when I was there ('97 - '99) and that place is huge. We had great seats on the West side, in the shade and not in the student section where you stand for the entire game (one of many Aggie traditions).
We missed the band's entrance to the field but caught the jet fighter fly over and the team's entrance. Ethan thought both were very cool.
Ethan was very much into the game and even making play comments to the young coed next to him. I think she was a bit surprised because he knew what he was talking about. I had given him a new Aggie shirt for his birthday, along with the tickets at his birthday party and ended up getting a new shirt myself. It's very important to wear maroon at these games.
Even in the shade, it was still smokin' hot. And even after a huge burrito, Ethan was hungry again by halftime. I let him get whatever he wanted, as long as he brought me back an ice cold soda. He got a burger and chips and two ice cold sodas. Thank you Ethan!

The game was a lot of fun even though the Aggies lost. All in all it was a near perfect day; 12 mile bike ride, Freebirds burrito, and a great football game with my #1 son.