Start: Bristow, OK
Finish: Claremore, OK
Weather: 110 degrees, sunny
Bike Time: 6.5 hours
Miles: 71
Distance to date: 1,061
When the sun came up this morning it was a fireball, not a cloud in the sky; 95 degrees by 9:00 am, 110 degrees before noon. Fortunately, I planned an easier day and rolled into a cool motel with a pool by 2:00 pm. I took a long swim and have spent the rest of the afternoon charting the next week’s route – it is a challenge to find a bike friendly path that is not on Interstates.
I left my cell phone charger in some hotel, so I took advantage of going through Tulsa to get off Route 66 and visit to a Verizon store for a new charger. Once off the route, I took the bike path along the Arkansas River for several miles, wandered through the neighborhoods, dropped by the Philbrook Museum, and generally soaked in a bit of Tulsa. It is a beautiful, shady city.
I reunited with 66 on the east side of town and had a wonderful ten miles heading east on 11th Street. Officially I was still in the City of Tulsa, but it was beautiful ranch land. Then I headed northeast to Claremore along a highway that had a great shoulder and also had a series of terrific bridges.
I have hit the 1,000 mile mark but my expensive leather bicycle saddle has still not worn into a comfortable seat. I have used up all the saddle soap that was supposed to make it soft, but my butt is still sore, so I picked up more saddle soap and some cream for me. Already it feels a bit better.
I am in the land of Will Rogers. So far, I haven’t met a man here that I didn’t like.
Do you want that on your tombstone: “I haven’t met a man here that I didn’t like.”
or… “still not worn into a comfortable seat. “
OK, now I’m following you on the Rand-McNally…Can’t wait for the book!
Can any seat feel comfortable if you’re sitting on it for so many hours every day?