I missed the big group start of the Freewheel at 6:30 a.m. this morning. Left at 6:40 and felt like I needed to catch the field. Then I caught up with my two friends at the rest stops. They actually left after me and rolled in after me.
There were rest stops every 12 miles or so including lunch at Wapanuka, Oklahoma community and senior citizens center. Flash backs to junior high cafeteria: barbecue beef on bun.
We made good time and rolled into Coalgate, Oklahoma at noon. 15.5 MPH over 65 miles. Rolling hills and a bit of headwind but nothing bad.
I'd say Kevin and I were among the first third to arrive , early enough to get into the indoor camping in a big room. Wall to wall air mattresses...
everyone else is outside in the park.
Coalgate has gone all-out to welcome us, all 900. You gotta love the friendliness of these little Oklahoma towns and their quirkiness-:
* Durant boasts the world's largest peanut- about 2 feet in size and made of cement. Why?
* every small town has a Dollar General, family Dollar store, Subway restaurant, and sonic.
* lots of friendly and helpful people with great accents.
* several congregations on Coalgate got together, came to the park with food and a worship band, that definitively fell into the " joyful noise" category.
* little cafes and convenience stores that always run out of ice, but go all out when the cycling locusts descend on them, but do their best to serve.
Well, Another 60 miles tomorrow. More hills than today.
There were rest stops every 12 miles or so including lunch at Wapanuka, Oklahoma community and senior citizens center. Flash backs to junior high cafeteria: barbecue beef on bun.
We made good time and rolled into Coalgate, Oklahoma at noon. 15.5 MPH over 65 miles. Rolling hills and a bit of headwind but nothing bad.
I'd say Kevin and I were among the first third to arrive , early enough to get into the indoor camping in a big room. Wall to wall air mattresses...
everyone else is outside in the park.
Coalgate has gone all-out to welcome us, all 900. You gotta love the friendliness of these little Oklahoma towns and their quirkiness-:
* Durant boasts the world's largest peanut- about 2 feet in size and made of cement. Why?
* every small town has a Dollar General, family Dollar store, Subway restaurant, and sonic.
* lots of friendly and helpful people with great accents.
* several congregations on Coalgate got together, came to the park with food and a worship band, that definitively fell into the " joyful noise" category.
* little cafes and convenience stores that always run out of ice, but go all out when the cycling locusts descend on them, but do their best to serve.
Well, Another 60 miles tomorrow. More hills than today.
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