Oklahoma FreeWheel, 2001
June of 2001 found me not in shape for a week-long tour up the hilly East side of Oklahoma but needing the time away from home. It also found my long-time friend, Jackie Smith ready for his first FreeWheel. A decision is made, Jackie and I will both sign up for FreeWheel but, for the most part Max and I will serve as Jackie's personal sag.
Max (my Maxima) and I drive to Tulsa where we pick up Jackie and add his bike to the roof rack.
Jackie poses in his FreeWheel 2001 shirt just before we depart his house for the start in Hugo.
We arrive in Hugo and find a parking place. Time to scout for a campsite.
Tents set up with chairs set out. Time to wonder around, find old friends and introduce them to Jackie.
The tour officially starts tomorrow but Jackie is ready to ride now.
I think my trusty steed is ready to go but judging from the parking place he found, he may be suffering from an identity crisis.
We decide to head out for the Red River and Texas. This will give Jackie a chance to say he rode all the way across Oklahoma, starting in Texas and ending in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
After about 10 miles of riding South and crossing this big river, we were pretty sure we were in Texas. This confirms it.
Jackie takes his turn on the sign.
And we find another cyclist who has made the extra trek to get us both.
Time to head back to camp. Looks like Oklahoma is just as proud of their side of the river.
Back in Hugo, we arrive in time for Libby's opening announcements. Hugo had a really nice band stand in the park for the meeting.
And Jackie catches me engaging Libby in a conversation before we turn in for the night.
The camera pretty much got lost in the baggage for the rest of the ride. I'm sorry, no more pictures. Some highlights of the tour; Sunday night found us camped out at a church camp more that 10 miles from any towns in the Kiamichi Mountains. Jackie made the 8-mile steady climb right out of the camp without a hitch and finished the 65-mile day, just a little tired.
A little twist to this year's tour, both Wednesday and Thursday night's overnights are hosted by Tahlequah. Although Libby had mapped some optional loops for us to ride Thursday, we opted for a float trip of the Illinois River with our friends, Tom and Sylvia Brown and others. After setting up camp Wednesday afternoon upon our arrival, Jackie and Sarah found a laundromat to wash some clothes while the rest of us explore the town. Laundry finished and taken back to the tents, we all go exploring just before a BIG Oklahoma-style thunderstorm hits. Straight winds were clocked in excess of 100 mph while we hold up in (where else) a bar on old down town. Extensive flooding made it hard to get back to camp after the storm but we found everything still in tact with little leaking.
After the storm and the float trip, the rest of the tour was a little anti-climatic for me but Jackie thoroughly enjoyed his first FreeWheel and successfully crossed the state of Oklahoma with only the effort of his two legs.