June 8: Chandler
Have run into trouble with flats. One in the front and today in
the back. Rode one mile to the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma on the flat.
Believe it or not I talked Dawn, the owner of the cafe to give me a ride
into the Lincoln Motel. Dawn is the President of the Route 66 Association
in the county where Stroud is situated. What an incredible story she had
to tell. I almost had a ride in a pick-up truck from one of the other
waitresses but she had an appointment for a tatoo that she could no t
change. Nonetheless, I completed back to back centuries which is
something I have not done in many years.
June 9: Weatherford
Another day of partial riding. It was very hilly and I had fun climbing
hills. I arrived very tired and hot. The sun is very intense. Several
of us ate at the Sonic drive-in and sat all over the sidewalk. The group
I am riding with is fantastic and really awesome company; vetran PAC Tour
riders and someone who has qualified for PBP.
June 11: Amarillo
Have you missed me? Look under Marie's entries, she's
been entering for me under her name. Rode all day and it was wonderful, my
third over 100 mile ride this trip. Had a great time riding with Misha and
we played cat and mouse all day and charged up hills. Rode through
downtown Armarillo, Texas and it was really hot after 2 p.m. I regretted
giving the Camelback to Marie figuring that for 20 miles my two water
bottles would be enough. Went to the BIG TEXAN for dinner and saw an Opry
show. The food was very good and Gerry tried to eat the 72 oz. steak
dinner and nearly made it.
June 12: Tucumcari
Worked in the van all day. Because of the rain storm
last night had to work at the first rest stop and finish preparing lunch.
We made tortillas so there was alot of diceing to do. I enjoy being the
cook's assistant. Another border crossing today we made it to New Mexico.
Even though I did not ride today, I rode Marie's bicycle over the border.
It was easy because we had set up the lunch stop a few hundred feet from
the border. Nick G. brought several Ultra Cycling Magazines yesterday and
I have been reading the stories every chance I get. I love this
periodical. Tomorrow I plan to ride all day, it is likely to be tough --
we climb over 5000 feet right up the wall after lunch. I better taken
extra calicum supplements.
June 13: Las Vegas
Cannot believe the tough ride today. first of all, let me retell you about
my downhill as told by one of my riding companions, Sylvia. Copper colored
rock shale with the blue sky in the foreground, the grayish pavement with
the yellow line down the middle and me flying down with my blue and white
jersey. It was breathtaking. She asked me if I would climb back up the
mountain and do it again so she could take a picture. As much as I would
have enjoyed coming down again, I had to say NO. The tough part was the
climb up to lunch. I got so tired and hot that i accepted a ride in the
back of a pick up about a half mile from the top.
June 14: Albuquerque
What a rainy day we had. The locals were so happy to see it and thanked us
for bringing it along. Many of the riders rode all morning in the rain.
am so surprised. I had a more enjoyable evening with my daughter and Susan
at dinner.I throughly enjoyed listening to Susan tell us all about her
cycling career. She is an amazing woman and her husband, Lon, is just
incredible. I marvel at him. I will say one thing about revisiting Route
66 now that we are so far west from Chicago, that in 1950 when I drove with
my mother, dad and sister nothing much has changed. So the more I see the
less it has changed and that really applies to New Mexico and probably
Arizona too.
June 15: Grants
After such a rainy day we were blessed with a beautiful day and tailwind.
I decided to not climb the 9 mile hill and took a short nap in the van on
the way to the top. Then Susan and Marie joined me for a ride. Marie only
rode about 30 miles but Susan and I rode about 60 miles. What an
exhilariting experience!!! It was great to be push the envelope and ride
with Susan. What an honor. I will admit it was a challenge and I was
tired when I reached the motel but it felt good. Tomorrow we cross the
border into Arizona and I cannot believe that we have been riding and
crusing down Old Route 66 for two weeks and there is only one week to go.
This is such a special experience.
June 16: Chambers
Nothing much to say. I worked in the support vehicle with Gerry and fixed
flats. Riding on the Interstate has been tough on my tires and inner
tubes. Enjoyed the ride to the Continental Divide in New Mexico and say a
few of the Harley Davidson guys that will be meeting up with in a few
days. Those bikes are gorgeous.
June 23: Santa Monica
Here is one thing that I really recall when I drove out to California with
my mom, dad and sister in the 1950's. I remember the switchbacks going
into and out of Oatman, Arizona. I recalled driving back to Chicago,
Illinois with my dad (the women opted to fly back) and coming into Oatman
in the pitch dark. Lucky for me I got behind a local who knew the road and
I decided to follow closely behind him. Then my dad yelled, " Mikey, slow
down were are going to go off the road and down the cliff." My reply was,
"Dad it is a local and I have to follow his tailights, he knows what he is
doing." My dad won and I had to slow down. Today I was a passenger in the
the company vehicle with Gerry behind the wheel. The whole experience
brought back a whole lot of memories.