Day 19 - Dalhart,TX to Guymon, OK - 73 miles - No climbing - 4:16 hours in the saddle

Happy 37th Anniversary to my beautiful wife Erika.  You are amazing!   My love and admiration for you continues to grows with every passing year. Thanks for all your encouragement and support that made this dream of riding across America possible.  All those long weekends training rides when I couldn’t go to breakfast or lunch and then fell asleep early at night are paying off now!  Looking forward to seeing you on the rest day in Champaign and then to the retirement chapter of our lives!

As for the ride today, I was weary when I woke up.  It was the first day that I hit the snooze button and then took a 10 minute nap after breakfast.  The last two days of essentially back to back century rides (with wind) took it out of me.  But as we rode out into the misty foggy morning, we got into a pace line and I found my legs.  The first segment of 30 miles flew past.

I rode solo out of the only SAG of the day and reached the 50 mile marker and the Oklahoma state line by 10:30.  Fortunately there were no Gusty Winds.  Although we have heard stories about the winds on previous rides where riders are still on the route as it is getting dark!  No thanks!

Arrived in Guymon, OK before 12:30, having completed the 72 miles.  I have made a practice in these small towns of riding through downtown in hopes of finding a local establishment (coffee shop, diner, bar) that I can support.  I found a great one in Zak’s Cheese Shop where Neddie served me a sandwich on fresh baked bread and told me her interesting life story.  Glad it is hers and not mine and that she has found her way to happiness for the last 18 years!  Then met up with Spencer and Chad (father/son from Oregon),  Peter (UK) and Barbara (NJ) at Pub on the Bricks for a pint (actually I think we all had quarts)!

Tomorrow is another straight ride on Highway 54 of 40 miles to Liberal, Kansas.

Savor the Journey // Achieve the Goal