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Day 13
Tour de Winds!

YESTERDAY                  TOMORROW

ROUTE: Pampa TX to Elk City OK DISTANCE: 97 Miles WINDS: NNE 20 MPH at departure, lighter in the neighborhood of 10 by afternoon
WEATHER: Sunny...cold (38 at departure, 75 at destination) TERRAIN: Mild...rolling TOTAL CLIMBING: 2100 feet

DAILY REPORT:  Today we entered our 5th state...Oklahoma.  At least that's what the sign said, but if you ask me, we must still be in Gallup NM...what's with all this cold?  Last night the winds were howling and not from a favorable direction.  We walked to dinner and about froze...it was no different when we woke this morning.  The temperature was a mere 35 degrees and we had northerly winds about 20...so for you folks that thought it was going to be warm in the south...not so fast!  We planned a later departure to allow a little warm up and we only had a mere 97 miles to ride albeit into a pretty stiff wind.  As everyone pulled out, I was amazed how light the luggage trailer was...I think everyone had about all their gear on today.

Leaving the motel wasn't too bad...at least for me in the van.  Seriously, the departure route went about 3 miles due south right out of the motel and with the north wind...it was a breeze.  Pun intended.  When they turned eastward, the brutal wind made handling the bike a little challenging but the biting temperature took the mind off of anything as trivial as bike control.  About 4 miles after that, the road bent to the NE...then it was all everyone could do to keep moving forward.  That stretch only took them about 4 more miles before the road mercifully turned ESE ward where the wind was about 10 degrees behind their shoulder...whew, forward progress!

By the first SAG at 33 miles, things were getting a little better.  The winds were moderating to something much more manageable, but the direction was still out of the NNE which gave us a cross wind most of the day.  It was time for me to ride so it was a good thing.  The temperature was also starting to warm up enough that a wind vest and arm warmers were enough to keep comfortable...but we kept them on the rest of the way.  When we got to the motel, the temperature was in the mid 70s and the winds had almost died to nothing.  Wish we could have started at 1:00 in the afternoon...then we'd been riding in the nice part of the day.  But even with the challenges at the start of the day, the riders stated it was a great day to ride...they have short memories.

The terrain today was pretty gentle most of the day but it did start to roll a bit after the first SAG.  It continued to roll most of the way to Elk City but the overall terrain dropped about 1000 feet in the process.  We had a shoulder the entire day while we were in Texas but the surface was a little rough until we got near the first SAG and into Wheeler CO...bravo to Wheeler CO...smooth as silk and clean shoulders.  About the same time the riders got to the smooth part the weather started to get better too...life was starting to get on the good side again.  Spirits were lifted as everyone contemplated putting their cold gear into the van.  When we got to Oklahoma, we lost our wide shoulder we'd had for the last 2 days.  The road surface was excellent and the lanes were wide in spite of not having a designated shoulder.  Since we came through 2 years ago, Oklahoma had added a nice shoulder for the last 25 miles into town...that was a nice surprise.  Now we hope they will continue the rest of the way to the TX line...that would be sweeeeet.  Even when we were on the narrower part of the highway, traffic was very light and what did come by gave us plenty of room when they passed.

One pleasant highlight today was Wheeler TX.  As we rode through I just happened to look to the right along the town square and noticed a classic car show going on.  It wasn't a huge one, but it was a happening thing in Wheeler.  We took a little time to check out the classics...they had a couple of Chevys that were mint...as were almost every car on display.  Perry graciously took my photo by this old Ford...the engines were much simpler then.  One T-bird especially caught my eye with 4 on the floor and white interior.  They had made it a carnival type atmosphere complete with buggy rides, burger bar, kids rumpus room, and much more.  Seemed like everyone from near and far had come to swap car stories in Wheeler...and we were there.

Elk City is also a pretty happening place.  There are several historical museums on the route to the motel and the most interesting one was the Route 66 museum complete with gift shop and memorabilia from a time past when Route 66 was the main route between L.A. and Chicago.  If you ever come through here, it's a must see.  Karen and I took the time to wander through the outside exhibit of old farm implements, windmills, and simulated main street.  It was just nice to take a little time away from all the riding just to see something a little out of the ordinary.

All in all it was another successful day.  It started out tough, but got easier as the day wore on...much better than the other way around.  Now we rest, for tomorrow we set out again and a little longer mileage too...127 to Chickasha.  The riders don't know it yet, but there's lots of navigation and no traffic signs in the outback.  It will be interesting to see if they all get to the motel without any "bonus" miles.  Check in and see if all my chicks make it to the nest.  See you then.

 

HEARD ON THE ROAD TODAY:

"I found a water bottle cap laying on the side of the road.  Did anyone lose one?"
"Yes!  It's mine!  Where did you find it?"
"Where you lost it."

"Darn, I rode all the way across Texas and didn't get a photo of Texas culture...I hope I can get one of Oklahoma culture."
"I'm sure you'll get one 'Sooner' or later."

"We have to get an early start tomorrow, Barbara is riding."  Heard from the tandem team after Barb passed them on the downhill into Tucumcari.

 BICYCLE BRAIN BOO BOOS:

I think I've already picked on Reverend Scott for sending his warm clothes home.  Well, it was cold again today and I wasn't sure if Scott hadn't tried to call USPS to see if he could have a "Return to Sender" label put on it before it showed up at his home.  Anyway, today the riders were kidding him that he'd miss interpreted the sticky note on his luggage..."Scott, send your warm gear home in two days, GOD."  To which Scott replied, "No, I read the note from Mike that said, 'Your luggage is 7 pounds overweight...send stuff home now!'" 

DAILY PHOTOS OF OUR ACTIVITY

AAA rated deluxe accommodations...nothing's too good for ABB riders.  It comes complete with a path to the john and running water in the brook.

Those must be Mac Daddy fajitas!

That thought passed through most of our minds about 10 miles out of town this morning.

When Bill and Scott asked the sheriff if this was a good place to get a sasperala, all they got for an answer was, "You boys aren't from around these parts are ya?"

With the winds like they were, Karen and I found an alternate means of transportation to Elk City.

Now that's one goofy looking long horn.

With the chill in the air this morning, I'm sure the riders were wishing they were near the "other" Miami.

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