Monday, October 6, 2008

Day 23: Ponca City, OK to Bartlesville, OK – October 6, 2008


Rain prep 2008 10 06_1928, originally uploaded by rhanke.

Miles: 75 Miles
Ride Time: 4 hours 52 minutes
Avg. Speed: 15.5 Mph
Total Climbing: 3000 feet
Work: 2706 kJ

Our fifth and final day in Oklahoma again looked like weather would do us in. For the past few days we had been watching a storm move across the United States towards us. The prediction was 100% chance of rain and that is what we got. At first when I woke up I thought we may be able to get out in front of the storm but that idea only lasted until 6:30 am when it first started to drizzle. By 7am the clouds had opened up and it was dumping buckets outside. We waited around for awhile but we all new we had to get started. It would not get better for a long time so we headed out at 7:45.

For 45 miles of riding it rained on us. Our group had numerous flats as it was almost impossible to see the road for glass as the rain pelted us. Thanks heaven that the road had a wide shoulder and we did not have to worry about the traffic. Finally as we reached Pawhuska for lunch the rain stopped. Hollywood was a champ and had warm hot chocolate for us. He had been feeling under the weather the past two days and was assisting our guides who were taking great care of us.

After lunch we rode through the most beautiful part of Oklahoma we had seen on Okesa Road. We were lucky that it had stopped raining so we could fully enjoy it. The green rolling hills were dotted with pastures for cattle and small forests with the occasional oil well thrown in. At times the sun would peak out from behind the clouds and warm us.

We reached Bartlesville in no time as the roads were smooth and assisted with a mild tail wind. It looked like the clouds would regroup and rain more but it never did. Later in the afternoon I was able to walk to Starbucks for a coffee. The first Starbucks I had since Durango, Colorado.

Hampton Inn Bartlesville 2008 10 06_1930


Life is good when you can relax in the afternoon with a coffee and read the paper. For those keeping score at home, the final tally is 3-1-1. I had defeated the Oklahoma weather. I guess my original fear of Oklahoma’s wind was overblown.

Tomorrow we ride to Missouri and say goodbye to Oklahoma.

Today’s photos at Flickr.
All Photo sets at Flickr

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