Day 12 Aug 11

Clinton OK to Shamrock Tx

Mileage 85 miles

The was short but the riding was long and hard.  I am sure I could not of peddled into this wind mostly a head wind again.  Dianne found it hard to control her bike much over 25 mph and often we were slower than that.  In fact today was a perfect match for yesterday’s conditions over 95 and strong winds with gusts to 20.  Too understand the gusts Dianne and both felt very light misting hitting our hands and face. It could not be rain as there were no clouds in the sky.  About a mile later we saw right next to the road a water sprinkler system.  

Towns passed through:

• Clinton
• Elk City
• Sayre
• Erick
• Texola (hard even to notice)
• Shamrock Texas.  (Yes made Texas today)

We are trying to beat the heat so we try so Dianne is up and out of bed before the sun about the time of the false dawn.  Then a quick wash a coffee or two and whatever the restaurant puts out today just a Banana.  I think she is trying make sure I lose wait on this trip.  

Out the door and on the road by 7:30.  So finished in Shamrock around 1 pm.

The roads were fair today a lot of it was the old concrete Hwy 66 with the mini speed bumps every 100 feet.  Then a lot of the paved parts were tar and pitch so it was bumpy not sure which I prefer.  I have become more accustomed to the bumps and they bother me less now.  The original road would have terrible in heavy rains as it is like wide flat river bed.  I am sure when it rained the water would pool as running down hill.  I noticed a couple of places today that local people chipped the curb out in a two sections at the bottom of hills. There were two or sections today that were still the original 4 lanes especially in the towns.  However in two different locations each over 5 miles long we could the second two lanes beside us with road closed signs on them.  

Traffic was great hardly any cars passed us in either direction today.

Still in the red dirt country flat so a tree miles away is easily visible. Passed a lot of the tall grass country which is fun to see.  I suspect it is exotic plant but three stands of Bamboo, when I checked it is illegal to grow in Texas.

A lot of the road side was uncut so I easily see a lot of edible plants:

• Pig weed (an escaped Indian crop)
• Jerusalem Artichoke (an Indian Root crop)
• Osage Orange (I know most think it is not but the seeds are good roasted)
• Wild Corn
• Safflower
• Even occasional  sunflower

I noticed the first few fields of cotton.  This was huge crop and supported many towns.  Now the cotton gins are mostly centralized and many small towns have boarded up gins.  Efficiency is big but it is still sad to see the small guys all disappear.  

In Shamrock a guy by the name Richard pulled over and asked where we were headed. He wanted our picture and then came by the hotel to interview us about the trip ride to here.  He was nice guy.  

As we did a short day we arrived early enough to do laundry so I am back into clean clothes for the next week.

Picture of me entering Texas

Bug as a Big Wheel

More old Trucks

History of Canute

Have to have Jet when every time you see One

Route 66 Museum in Elk City

Two completely different Motel signs

U Drop INN in Shamrock TX

Sights Seen today:

• I know there is picture but Volkswagen on big wheels has to count for some thing
• 1 cow, 1 buffalo, and one horse statue.  
• 4 RV parks
• 1 water park 
• 2 church very few today not sure why the change
• 1 slow deer and one very flat snake
• Too many Buzzards to count yesterday when the was more gusty saw hardly any.
• 17 old abandoned gas stations
• 10 old abandoned motels (note about 6 originals still working
• 7 oil wells 
• 24 bug hits
• 10 orange butterfly, they look like a monarch but seem small too me
• 18 fields of cows, 3 fields of horses one feeding lot for cattle