The day started with Jon breaking the news that our route would need to change: OK DoT began repairs yesterday on a bridge over the Canadian River, so we’d have to detour south and then meander our way back to the intended route.
We had no choice, and ended up encountering more hills and way more gravel roadbeds than we would have had to deal with on the main road. But there were blessedly few cars, and the wind was mostly coming in from the northeast, over our right shoulders.
We arrived in Weatherford in mid-afternoon; the detouring added roughly 10 miles to the original route. We found decently priced (for a Friday night) accommodations at a “Home2 Suites by Hilton”. It’s a very nice hotel, but somebody needs to tell them that they’re in Oklahoma: the parking lot has two non-Tesla EV charging stations, and the lobby television is tuned to MSNBC.
While riding (and walking my bike on two of the steeper gravel hills) this morning, I determined that I had stupidly overpacked. (Overpacking for travel is something I do quite often, which is weird, because I absolutely do not go through a lot of clothes at home.)
So, the solution: after we got into Weatherford and checked in, I walked across the street to Walmart and bought three large mailing envelopes. I came back to my room, packed up the clothes that I was 95% certain I could do without for the next five days, and rode a couple miles to the US Post Office, where I mailed them back home.
As stupid as I felt for packing too much, I felt just as good about figuring out a way to get that burden off my bike.
Tomorrow is another shortish day, 45 or so miles to Elk City. Were there really elk in Oklahoma? Inquiring minds want to know.
It’s all Jake.
Rideworthy 