Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Photos of FreeWheel 2010

Day 4 of 7-Muldrow to Tahlequah

64 miles. 5 hours.
I was out on my bike again this morning after my day off yesterday. Pretty early start..5:50am. Trying to beat the heat. Rode 64 miles today...the hills were the worst yet everyone said. And I agree. I blew out my glove...lost the center padding on the right. Oh well..they were starting to smell. I'm not my usually bubbly self in camp (hee hee)...I dismissed myself to the Tahlequah Middle School Media Center to post. This room (which I would call a library) has 30 computers...and there are only 3 people in here....me, a girl on facebook (of course) and a man sleeping on the floor. Its air conditioned and quite. FreeWheelers will sleep about anywhere. Word is that it will be open all night...pretty nice gesture on part of the school.

Tonight is SpeedWheel, an amateur racing event for cyclists in the region/state. They will close off the streets downtown to make a route for the cyclists. Spectators will line the streets with camp chairs...or just sit on the curb and watch them whiz by. The announcer does a great job...calling out "10 more laps. Will So and So maintain the lead? We have a new leader....and my favorite, a premium lap...where the winner of that particular lap wins a prize...even if he loses the race. There will be several Category of riders...all faster than I could ever imagine going.

I'm gonna try to put some photos on this post, not sure the Media Center will let me download them....but anyway...Tommorrow we head for Pryor. Just 53 miles! Till then...

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Three Days Down!-A Post from the Muldrow Public Library


Sunday-Day 1, Hugo to Clayton.
55 Miles. 4 hours and 37 minutes.
Good weather...little warm...Nobody slept well..dogs barking, cats caterwauling. no breeze..muggy....street lights..No wonder we didn't sleep! I had my alarm set for 4:40...but I was awake by 4am...so I was already ready. We filled up on peanut butter sandwiches and bananas and rolled out from the Hugo Depot at 6am. Fifty Five beautiful miles...hardly a hill to speak of.

Some FreeWheel firsts for me...Normally road kill is not worth mentioning..we see alot of it and its your run of the mill armadillo, possum, turtles, etc. But all the talk on Sunday was of the dead bob cat just north of Antlers I think. There used to be a person who kept circus animals around Hugo....and when I spotted the dead thing in the road I thought "It's one of those durn circus tigers!" I still swear it wasn't a bob cat although most in camp agree it was. No pictures are to be had..who wants to be taking a snap shots of road kill? But then who else should appear? Mr. Beaver! He must have been out late Saturday night. "Where was he going,?" my sister asked, as if it were somehow his fault for venturing out so far from his green pond just visible in the distance. Even now we occasionally ponder, "Why did the beaver cross the road?" No good answers are available.

Clayton was small and friendly. No internet...or at least it seemed to small to even attempt. Camped at the rodeo grounds. Live music spilled over to the campground we are sharing with fellow Guthrians. A practice game of Phase 10 was held...the real match is scheduled for later this week... I talked some smack...enough so that wise old Bob had to join our game...he will probably beat us all...but watch out for Sis. She plays it dumb but somehow she beat us on most hands...watch her.

Monday-Day 2, Clayton to Heavner
65 miles. 5 hours.
My dear brother-in-law is so helpful to other campers....but had he looked my way this morning as he delivered a bright lantern to the man camped behind me, he would have gotten the death stare--or at least a good look at his sister-in-law topless! There I was in the DARK of my tent, preparing for the day when I saw the light approaching....I acted fast and every avoided harm for at least another day. Guess I better just zip up the windows from now on.

Another nice day on the bike...stayed cool until we hit the hills. I hung around with brother-in-law and sister for the first 25 miles. Sis dropped out at Talihena and I went on up the Winding Stair Mountains on my own. It was tough...an 8 mile climb they told me later. I just took it easy and stopped at the top for a few fig newtons and more water. Maximum speed on the downhills? 35mph. A little frightening. Guess who followed me up? Brother-in-Law! He just can't lay off once he gets started...although later, when he made it to camp, he said he wished he had stayed with my Sis.

I missed the Rune Stone in Heavner...our campsite is really lots of fun..other than food we didn't feel the need to venture out. Rumors of the flooding in central Oklahoma spread around the camp..then the forecast for rain in the evening caused all the rain flys to go up...just in time. We really have had good weather for riding so nightime rain doesn't usually bother us.

We tucked into our tent as the rain started...8:50...pretty much bed time anyway...But Mom and I were wired up so we played a game of Uno by flashlight. I beat her 2 out of 3. The rain wasn't too threatening...really cooled things down and we slept like babies... a few drips here and there....

Mom and I got called down for being loud during the Uno game. (The rules state "you must yell UNO!...not whisper). Offically posted quite time starts at 10pm, anyway. It was only 9:30! Some dude issued a verbal warning from a few tents down...
and then the train went by--tooting its horn long and loud. Of course Mom and I cracked up again.

Tuesday-Day 3. Heavner to Muldrow.
No miles for me...64 were on the schedule. But I melt in the rain!
A nice heavy rain at 4:40am means Inger rides the Chevy to Muldrow. The rain was cleared by 7am...but that's an hour late start...and I need to avoid the heat/sun....and I'm tired! Today was the worst day for hills as well.....so it didn't take much to convince me to stay in the tent with the sound of the rain putting me back to sleep. We got up by 7:30 and packed up. Rolled out to Muldrow. Set up the tents in the sun to dry. Brother-in-Law wanted a meal...I wanted the public library so I could post our progress. Tommorrows route will take us 65 miles to Tahlequah. I'm up for that. As long as it doesn't rain!

The library ladies said the snake man is due here at 3 for a childrens show. I'm clearing out before he arrives with his exhibits! See you down the road.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Dishes Washed in Guthrie....

Well, it's almost time. Soon I'll travel to Hugo to prepare for the Sunday start of Oklahoma FreeWheel 2010. My sister and brother-in-law have vowed to join mom and I on the adventure. Last year (2009) was an anomaly....just mom and I. This year it's our usual crowd.

But wait...I sold the Toyota...what's a girl to do? How will we get our bikes loaded without my usual roof rack/truck combo? I'm counting on my handy dandy brother-in-law! I haven't seen the contraption yet but I can tell you that it attaches to the receiver hitch on his truck and will accommodate up to two bikes and a ice chest of beer! It will be sturdy (you don't want to loose that ice chest en route_!) and very functional! We just hope Mom remembers that it is back there while she drives the truck each day!

A phone call confirms the Mt. Ida crew is underway...That's good. I don't want to pick the campsite. Too much pressure. Oh...how about those campers at Albert Pike Campground on the Little Missouri River/Caddo Gap in Arkansas that died in the flash flooding? Terrible. Stay Alert and Live! (that's a slogan off a helicopter guide I found in Dad's old Weyerhauser briefcase)

Tonight we will camp next to the Depot in the City Park...This is the first place Sis and I ever camped. Back in 2001? Her then beau dropped her off...I caught a ride down with the late, great Bill Burke of Stillwater. What a wonderful old man....I will think of him often this year...I know he is riding a bicycle in heaven..climbing the clouds...and the wind is probably always at his back, too. He's right at home...he certainly was full of hot air.....That's for you Mr. Burke...you know I had to say it! :)

Tomorrow we ride out at daylight-(6am)-headed for Clayton. Doubt I'll find a internet "hot spot" but I'll keep my fingers crossed...

Friday, June 11, 2010

Standby...2010 Oklahoma FreeWheel on Deck

For those just joining me and aren't sure what all the fuss is about be sure to recap my adventures on last year's FreeWheel Oklahoma cross state bicycle tour beginning with my May 20th and 29th, 2009 posts. That should catch you up to speed on "What is FreeWheel?" and why I'm even attempting this thing. My dad got this whole thing started years ago...and he never even got to ride the ride!

More fun will be had this year...sister and brother-in-law are along for the trip this year...and of course Mom is still in charge of the SAG (Support And Gear) vehicle.

Hoping to add to this years blog? Maps! You know I love Maps! More photos, too.

Don't be shy...comments are greatly anticipated! Check back soon....

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