Stage 10 Report: Sooner or Later

Monday, June 5, 2017
Start: Booneville, AR
Finish: Muskogee, OK
Bike Mileage: 85.0
Cumulative Bike Mileage: 935.3 miles

Awoke to an overcast comfortable morning in Booneville, AR. Headed over for breakfast at the gas station/breakfast-lunch spot adjacent to the clean and comfortable Countryside Inn, and enjoyed a biscuit and gravy breakfast while chatting with a handful of older gentlemen enjoying their jocular Breakfast Club meeting; turns out, we learned later, that one was the mayor of the town, another a pastor, and the others farmers or jack of all trades. Soaked in their words of wisdom and AR accents. They praised the people of AR for being trustworthy and independent and we certainly let them know that their state is really beautiful. I, for one, would like to return someday to explore even more. Our route through AR was truly quite beautiful and memorable. Before departing the pastor came over and asked if we were G-d fearing, and then we all bowed our heads in a very nice prayer for safe travels for us on our journey.

But today we cycled onward with Oklahoma now on our minds. Mike and I continued west on Rt10, took Old Highway 10, a loop road around Booneville Lake (sleepy pleasant lake with granite walls and jumping fish), dodging early morning rabbits darting morning curious rabbits, passed a farm with buffalo enjoying their breakfast; returned to Rt10 and continued under gray-sky cooler weather through the town of Greenwood, then took Rt71N for a short stretch, turned left onto Bonanza Rd and arrived at the small town of Bonanza, AR just on the border with OK. The temperature had risen dramatically and I was shvitzing in my American Flag bike jersey (with its heavier fabric not as favorable under sweltering conditions); changed bike clothes, went for my cooler top, and then we raced to the OK border along a small country road; no welcoming sign for entry to OK in these parts. Had to ask a local if we were indeed in OK; and so we were! 4 States completed, 10 to go!

We rode onward as the road saplit, took the right fork, Karl Ave which became Old Pocola Highway; turned left on US271S, then right on North Ash Ave at the town of Spiro, OK. A few side streets took us to the road E1220; a long stretch of back-country where our first of many wild west cowboy vs dog draws would greet us in OK along this stretch.

Note to reader: if ever passing through this area on bicycle, might not want to take this little E1220 7mi shortcut road from Spiro to pick up OK9W unless you have a really good sense of humor!

Out of nowhere, two young men, Waylon and Samuel, driving a beat-up pick-up, happened upon us from behind as Mike and I looked downhill at a big dog pacing the street 100yds away; we stopped, greeted Waylon and Sam, handed them our calling card (which describes the Blaze charity ride and blog/facebook info), and they agrred to serve as road blockers for us past this dog ahead. Worked great as their pick-up was able to keep the road clear and the mixed breed vulturous dog longing for another chase, “Not today my friend!” Waylon and Sam, continued to follow or lead us through this strait of dogdom, for the next 7mi, as the road winded and ascended steeply and descended rapidly, more dogs ahead; suddenly yet another chase from the left flank as four mean big dogs were on our tails; the pick-up sped-up and blocked their headlong jowels from making an afternoon sweaty chomp on our sore racing calves; we made it through to OK9, thanked these two guardian angels profusely, Waylon handed me his head cover piece to use onward (he said I earned it, I was a country “bad-ass” now!). Mike and I wondered if that pastor’s blessing back at breakfast in Booneville was answered after all!

OK9W brought to us to the town of Keota, then Stigler, then on towards Whitefield; the road uneventful and relaxing after the earlier spat. As we approached Whitefield, at mi 85, legs and energy levels high, Mike’s bike acted up again; rear wheel knocking noise, his rear hub failing; we stopped, called Roswell Bicycles back-home (shout out here to this store-they really have been very helpful to us for diagnostic advice on a few occasions, very courteous and take our call with earnest to assist us!, Thank you Roswell Bicycles shop). Bottom line-Mike’s bike was not safely rideable without a fix or new rear wheel. Bummer. We were looking forward to putting in about 115-120mi into Muskogee, OK. Flat roads, early evening, cooler weather… Anyway, Happy Api retrieved us in the van, and we drove to Muskogee, checked into the Hampton Inn, and went to dinner in Muskogee at Max’s Garage, a pub/bar hangout in the center of this deteriorating town; the attractive young waitress, when asked what there is to do in Muskogee, replied, “Nuttin’, there’s Max’s here but I work here so not that much fun; there’s dirt bike races just outside of town but that’s invitation only, so you got to be asked.” Oy vey. Scratch this place off my retirement list… max’s food was hearty. Return to really nice hotel room (just been renovated) and rested. As the stage name said, “‘Sooner or Later” we’d get to Muskogee, OK. Too bad we had to “white blaze” a bit – will explain in next post.

Bikeoo

Country wisdom here

Wholesome, hard working, generous

Cows sing goodnight moon

Indexes

Weather: (8)
Hot/humid in afternoon

Terrain: (9)
No mountains, just rollers or flats

Scenic: (7.5)
Nice Booneville Lake ride in am, this early part of OK isn’t too interesting

Wildlife and Roadkill:
W-rabbits, snakes, turtles, songbirds, wading birds, hawks
R-rabbits, snakes, turtles, songbirds, armadillo, skunk, raccoon

Endurance: (8.5)
Heat got to me in afternoon but then recovered well after a lunch break and change in cycle jersey

Bike Report:
M-inoperable rear wheel issue; needs fixin’ tomorrow
D-all good

Medical:
M-all good
D-all good

Still Having Fun: (9)
Mechanical issues with bikes are a bummer

Photos

Breakfast Club at Booneville, AR; great folks!

Buffalo eating their breakfast too!

Thirsty calves

Always curious cows

Bonanza, OK; thought this was fun

Old Police Car

Entered Oklahoma; flagpole on private property; no welcome sign on this country road

Rd1220 dog row

  Singing cows

Anybody agree out there?

Nice horns!

OK has great cloud formations

Riding into the sunset in OK