Segment 3: Ride Day 16

Route: Atoka, OK to Pauls Valley, OK (First United Methodist Church)

Distance: 80.7 miles

Riding Time: 5 hours: 47 minutes

Average Speed: 13.9 mph

Max: 36.6 mph

Weather: Yup, it is definitely less humid, but still pretty good and hot. Projected high of 100 today and I think we got there just after we rolled into the church today. Thank goodness we started before sunrise! (on the road by 6ish - Wahoooo!)

Bob (who used to own a restaurant that had over 500 different baseball caps displayed in it) made us some amazing "hot cakes" this morning. Note: These are not the same as Flapjacks nor ordinary, everyday Pancakes. No sir.

Doug has a 3-D plastic rendition of his own head on his bike that he printed out on his 3-D printer at home in Akron, OH. No big deal. Also, this is not creepy at all. Nope.

Sunrise Oklahoma.

The clouds were absolutely stunning. This picture does them no justice.

The thistles were also stunning... and a little scratchy on the legs when I went ditch - diving to capture them.

Rest Stop #1. How on earth do I manage to do this almost every day? Also, just in case this happens to you, it turns out that orange peels are very effective at removing it. Awesome!

Steve and Alex... I think they meant to do that to their faces?

Why yes. Yes they did.

Intimidation. And, just for the record, that is actual grease from their chain rings.

We see a lot of this along the way. Turns out in Oklahoma that when your car dies you just leave it in a field or an old gas station awning and it looks really, really awesome. Bonus points if it is older than you are.

This was probably the highlight of my day! Ethan, Sophie and Kevin (friends from Goshen, Indiana) happened to be taking a road trip through Oklahoma on their way to Arizona and happened to be just a few miles away when I called them at around mile 45 today. Amazing! We met up on a bridge over OK 3 and had a little time to chat before we had to head our separate ways. Also they gave me a bag of delicious granola from Lorrine! Happiness! Thanks SO much guys for cheering me on! It meant so much to me to see some friendly faces from home along the route!

Mmmm... veggies for supper. Yum.

Doug and Brett have taken up residence in the Ladies Lounge.

This is not ok... mostly because it is the softest carpet in the church. We are headed to see a rodeo downtown shortly and all I can say is, they better be out before we get back or else... um... well... I guess we'll just have to share it. Bummer.

Goodnight, friends! Hope your week is coming to a great close...umm because it is Friday, right? Yes I just checked my phone, it is Friday. Good deal.