Four States Down

Pampa to Elk City OK. Elevation 1919' todays climbing 2100'. Temp at start 35f. Wind NNW at 20 gusting higher. Eric, Frank, James and I settled into a small group fighting the cross winds. We were passing the riders that had started in front of us at a fairly steady rate. Though in the end it took a long time to reel in Conrad and Tom, the front runners at that point. The terrain in this area is what we in Miami would call rolling but if there were any cyclists in this area they would call it fairly flat. We were supposed to be descending all day but it just didn't seam that way with the cross winds. There isn't much to see. There were some wind generators. Then there were oil pumps scattered around with none of them pumping. Cattle feed lots which I might have mentioned stink to high heaven. There were some range cattle that started a minor stampede as we passed. Or they were running in boredom. You decide. The usual assortment of road kill and dead bungee cords. At the first SAG the only place out of the wind is in the lee of the van. Conrad and Tom leave before the group of four and I think that they have a big enough lead that we won't see them till the OK state line. Soon though we are gaining on them and Chris is just behind us. Jim passes us in the other van and stops to take pictures as we pass him. At the state line James and Chris sprint for the oh so dubious new state/old state honors. I don't see who wins this great event. All I know is as we cross the line we lose the nice smooth shoulder we had. Jim drives up at just the right moment to take some group shots under the Oklahoma sign. At lunch by the time we are ready to leave there is a large group eating lunch on the slab of some store that used to be there. Chris has snuck off by himself and we won't see him until we have checked in at the motel with our chocolate milk and snickers. I go to my room and call Amy to get the run down on the rescheduled Springsteen concert. Sounds like a great time was had. The dinner choices are fast food or Western Slizzler, a slightly better fast food. I may be becoming pasta deprived. One of the things about working so hard at a repetative task is losing track of the details so quickly. I think we may cross the half way point tomorrow. Totally amazing.