Quarter One:
The journey started with us locating Mel's Bike Shop. In true Texas fashion the road names changed (complicating finding the shop), but Mel was nice as a spring shower.
Mel said he had almost stopped working at his shop. Luckily for us he didn't.
We caught his aid walking outside and she got him for us. Mel, by the way is 89, has Parkinson's disease, and has been married to his lovely wife for 62 years. but he is as sharp as a whip. Mel owned a flower shop, sold it, and then bought the bike shop. He's been running his bike shop for 30 years and even though he couldn't do the work for us, he coached us up and taught us how to make the corrections.
We came to find out while he worked with us that Mel served for 7 years in the Navy as a pilot. Mel explained that he was one of the first groups of people to land on aircraft carriers. He said the Navy converted a ship to a "flat top" and in order to qualify he had to land on it 8 consecutive times.
He was a lovely soul and loved talking to us. He didn't charge us any money for any of the work, gave us supplies, and gave Ian a vintage pair of cycling shoes.
As he walked us outside Mel said to Ian in regards to his saddle, "You have a taste for the roughness." Hilarious.
I was thinking after leaving his shop that if we didn't have any of the mechanical issues or monsoons, we would have never met him. The universe works in mysterious ways. All in all, Mel is an all-timer.
The ride from Mel's was cake.
2nd Quarter
The next stop was Bowie, TX. I was hoping it was named after David Bowie. I wanted to see a life size mural of the Spider from Mars. No dice. We did however eat at a nice, little Italian place. The cars outside (Caddy, Mustang, and Camero), the authentic Italian being spoken, and the fact that there was a face (nice guy), middle man (quiet on-looker), and muscle (cook) plus the fact that they are located at a junction, made me think that they may have something else going on. Nonetheless, the filled our bottles and were nice guys.
We were really cranking after that. We made great time to the border.
3rd Quarter
We finally got out of the state of Texas. We crossed the Red River and into the (hopefully) flatter state of Oklahoma.
Another rain delay. We had to wait at a gas station again for a big storm to pass. Again they were super nice, gave us good advice, and filled up our water.
After that thinks sucked. The next ten miles had a terrible shoulder to ride on and a 15 mph headwind. This wind stuck it to us. We lost about 4-5 mph off our average, throw in a few hills, and sprinkles and it made for the most challenging pull of the trip.
4th Quarter
Pretty smooth road, the wind died down, and the sun was setting. It was a nice ending to the day. We grabbed dinner at a truck stop and talked a motel owner to let Ian and I camp outside.
Five things I learned today:
1) There are 134.569132 million grasshoppers in Texas. That's an approximation. I bet we ran over, got flown into, or ate at least 107.
2) 10PM is too late to call or text your loved ones that you arrived at your destination. Apparently 9:30 is panic time.
3) 62 years of marriage is hall of fame type numbers. Cal Ripken has nothing on Mel.
4) All highways should be smooth an paved. Shoulders should be cleaned and just as smooth as the highway. If you could only see the stuff that liters the roads.
5) Apparently John isn't about getting back to nature.
Ian Fredrick Hembry Travel Tip of the Day:
Apparently Texas paved US 81 with gold in the early 1800's because we new we were going to ride it. Hence, riding on gold paved roads is the most luxurious form of bicycle travel.
Kellen and Ian Solve the World's Problem's:
We've decided that if a teacher or coach asks a student to jump they really should ask how high. Not google the answer.
Tons of cows on the ride today. They all seemed to stop and stare (you can sing that lyric in your head, you know you know it) and ask why are you doing this.
Coach Griswold asked me to be more edgier in this so here goes. I can tell you this much riding up a nearly two mile hill, riding 75 miles in six hours with 30-40 pounds of weight, and deal with hundreds of "Murrica" trucks you'd have a different perspective.
We hope to find a cool hotel
tomorrow. A local deputy said there is nice hourly hotel with a very accommodating female staff in tomorrow's end town. Maybe we'll check it out.
Overall a good day. Hopefully tomorrow is 70, flat, and overcast with a 20 mph headwind.
Mr. Massey wanted more pictures so I added some. The plane picture is the plane Mel flew and the town picture Mel took himself of Decatur from the air.
Notice me throwing down the Longhorns. I don't hate UT, but I was sick of riding TX roads.
The adventure continues...
Until tomorrow,
KRS
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