Last night we hosted a group of 5 cyclists that came through OKC.
They are a group of 5 from NorCal, right out of college and spreading the news about living healthy and loving the planet.
Their motto: bike49: pedaling towards a sustainable future
They were VERY cool people! They arrived in town about 3:00, and made it to our house without incident. They had stopped at the Crest in Edmond on their way in. They bought supplies for dinner and cooked a SUPER delicious cornbread and also a really savory pasta salad. Yum!
Just look at this yummy cornbread- the best I've ever had!
We had quite the feast! It was a scrumptious dinner- and it was great that they cooked for us- what a treat. Score! Guess I should invite random strangers over more often- especially if they'll cook for me.
We visited a lot during the evening. They were very kind and entertained me by answering my million questions about their trip and their lives. They had very interesting stories to share, and provided me with hours of entertainment. I'm like a kid always asking tons of questions. Here are some tidbits I found out:
Sara has hiked the entire Continental Divide trail (3000) miles in 4.5 months- that's AMAZING!
Tommy and Aaron (I think) biked the Pacific Coast before this tour.
Matt is majoring in soil science and will be studying amazing new ways to help agriculture.
Allysum is a fabulous photographer- and a botonist.
Sara broke her ankle and was out for 9 weeks so she wrote and illustrated a book about a giraffe that learns to ride a bike and start making his community a bike-friendly place. The book is FABULOUS!
The next morning we woke them up MUCH earlier than they were used to getting up, and we headed to school to do their presentation. On the road in the morning:
1st-6th grades stayed for the presentation and seemed to really enjoy their talk and pictures. They did a GREAT job with the kids, and the presentation was entertaining for the kids as well as the teachers. I'm so glad they were willing to do this and show the kids alternative vacations/options of seeing the country and showing that cycling promotes a healthy body and a healthy planet.
After their presentation, they headed out west towards Cheyenne and the Grasslands. It's quite beautiful out there, and I'm certain they'll have a wonderful time seeing that part of the state. I rode them out of town on good, quiet, neighborhood roads, and took them to Route 66 to head west. The wind was really blowing fiercely, and I can only imagine how long their day will be fighting this wind. I had a difficult time myself just pedaling the 15 miles back home from where I left them.
Getting their kicks (or getting kicked by the wind) on Route 66.
It was great to meet them and to hear their VERY interesting stories of the adventures they've had. I'm envious of their travels (all have been US adventures) and of their free spirits. Makes me wish I were 15 years younger and just getting started in life- so many possibilities and so little responsibility before you have the career and mortgage, kids, etc. Not to say that you can't still take these amazing adventures when you have all that, but it just gets harder the more entrenched you get in everyday life and involved in the task of building a career. Rian and I still have amazing adventures, and we do things that people think are pretty amazing (like backpacking in the Grand Canyon, or doing an Ironman, or taking a week and doing Freewheel). I think I have a lot of the hippie/wanderer in me that I still need to let loose. :)
After I left them, I headed to Lake Overholser and stopped to have a little snack- an orange. The wind was so fun, I hardly enjoyed it. Ate it quickly then mounted my steed to complete the 15 miles back home.
There's wind, and then there's stupid crazy wind. Today is stupid, crazy wind. Wind gusts in the 40's. Sustained winds in the 30's. It's just stupid. Crazy stupid. There were times I was hammering into the wind on a flat and a gust would come and stop me nearly dead in my tracks.
Yes, you read that right: 6.5 mph. How did I get a picture? Well, it's pretty easy when you're traveling that slowly. I was pedaling with all my might. Then the gust would let up and you'd be flying at 9 mph. ;) While waiting at an intersection, some stupid high school boys shouted something out their window at me. He was leaning out of his car window so far I kinda hoped he would lean just a little more and fall right out. Why do yelling motorists think we can even understand what they're saying??? I noticed that riding with a group of 5 other cyclists, you get bullied a LOT less by cars. All cars gave the group of us wide berth, were very courteous and polite. When I was alone I got buzzed a number of times and yelled at twice. I guess 6 is intimidating- 1 is not. I need to ride a tandem with a dummy on the back to keep from being harassed...
It was a great time with the kids from bike49. They are great, and I wish them well on the remainder of their journey. I'll be praying for their safe travel, and living vicariously through them until they've completed their journey.
Happy trails, guys!!
