Oklahoma FreeWheel, 2002
Day 1 - Snyder to Elgin
It's windy and rainy Sunday morning but Libby is "out there" with advice and support to all cyclists ..... what's new?!?!
Still raining as the start approaches, but check the recumbents to the right, warming up for the start. Maybe we should check in to these steads. Looks like the riders are having fun, even in the rain.
A few hours in to our first day's ride this year, Jackie snaps this picture of his stead against the entrance sign to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. No good pictures from inside the refuge but we did get to see Buffalo and, within the visitor's center, we got a good education on the history of them as the West was first explored and then settled by the "White Man". I'm happy to say that the prospect for these noble beast's survival is so much greater than it was when I was growing up in the 50's. From their lowest point, preserved here at that time, they have flourished and can now be found in the plains areas all over the country, including Osage county, Oklahoma, where we will be on Friday. Hell, you can even buy Buffalo burgers and Buffalo meat in many restaurants and stores throughout the United States.
After crossing the "cattle guard" exiting the refuge, it's a short but hilly trip to Meers for our lunch stop. Meet Mark, the "unicycle guy". It's hard to see here, but he rides (obviously) a unicycle across Oklahoma each year on this ride. No gears, no steering - it's just his strength and balance keeping him with us and all of our fancy bikes. Only about 100 yards long, it was a very steep hill to get in to Meers. Give Mark credit. Although he couldn't peddle up this hill on his first TWO attempts, rather than dragging his stead to the top and heading for lunch, he rode back down and tried again ..... until HE MADE IT! on his third try. Congratulations, Mark. You inspire us riders with more wheels to do better.
Waiting in line at Meers only and bestest restaurant for lunch, Sharon and Dean swap pleasantries while David looks on.
Dean, Sharon, David and Tom wait for FOOD. It was well worth the wait - cool inside and the food was tasty - providing us with all of the protein we needed to complete the day's ride.
After lunch, we enjoyed the rest of the day's ride without aid of camera. As always, riding East in Western Oklahoma things got greener as we rode.