Two Station Ride

August 27, 2015:

Two Station Ride:

It was a doomed ride from the start! First, it was supposed to happen at 8:30am, then it was changed to 9am, then to accommodate another rider, it was changed to 9:30am. This ride was in Oklahoma City, along the old river trail, onto the new connector trail that connects the old section of the river trail with the Lake Overholser Trail, a connector that has been needed for a long time. So, I got there at about 9:15, and it is already getting hot. No one there yet, no surprise there either. Got ready to ride, and one rider shows up. Spent my time riding over to the Chesapeake Boathouse for a few pictures. This is where the canal boat Bricktown tours originate from, it also houses racing sculls for several colleges and universities. 

The "Grey Ghost" gravel bike with the downtown Oklahoma City buildings in the background

 Chesapeake Boathouse. This place has a small bike shop, rentals, scull storage, scull and kayak sales, a few bike parts, an excersize room, and most importantly, a bathroom and showers.

 Not sure if these are rentals or for sale items, but pedal powered and kinda cute.

 Train crossing the river.

 Never realized how long these crew boats are until you stand next to them. So long and so skinny! One really wonders how they stay upright on the water. Polished with many coats of wax. 
 Finally, we were off!! Only 20 minutes later than our start time. Oh well .... we are moving. For about a mile and then our illustrious leader has a flat. It really is looking more and more like it's just not supposed to happen. Originally, we were going to ride all the way around the circumference of the city, The River Trail, The Two Lakes Trails, and surface streets from Lake Hefner across the northern part of town to connect to the Katy Trail that goes by the Zoo and Museums and then back through downtown to where we started. It's going to get late. I've been wanting to learn how to do this for a long time, just a little afraid of getting lost on a bike and getting off on roads I shouldn't be on. But never fear ..... Fearless Leader will get us through, he knows his way around here. Wait .... what? Fearless leader says he has to get the group (there are five of us) back by 1pm, so we are only going as far as Lake Overholser  and returning the same route. Aw, come ON ..... I've tried to do this one twice before with him and never completed it yet. Well, I'm going! 

  Our group starting out, flat fixed and boogiein' Finally, by this time it was almost 10:30 and now they tell me they have to be back by 1pm. Not going to ride 50 miles in three hours.

 Kent and Connie just a-gettin' it around the corner on the tandem. They also have a mountain tandem they have ridden the Katy Trail in Missouri and the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota with. 

 A dicey road interlude to connect the trails. Heavily traveled in an industrial area, nevertheless, everyone gave us plenty of room.

 Love these old railroad bridges, this one over the new section of trail.

 A view off to the west of the trail

 A convenient Egret

 The old Route 66 Bridge on the north side of Lake Overholser. It was here we all said goodbye. They are all going back, but I was determined to go on. One way or another, I will learn my way around here. All of this part I know, as I've been around both lakes before. So, with mixed feelings, and a bit of trepidation, we parted company, and I started off on my own adventure. 
The connector between Lake Overholser and Lake Hefner is some trail and some surface streets, but not difficult. Soon I was at the Lake Hefner marina, golf course, and parks. Not difficult, and a very pretty ride. It is ...... if you have all your geese in a row that is.

Another photogenic Egret

Lake Hefner Marina. 

I tried to follow my fellow rider's directions only to miss a turn and get lost and off on a very busy thoroughfare with no shoulders and impatient drivers. I went off course about 2 1/2 miles before realizing I should turn around. I did, however stop at a 7/11 for a bite to eat.... this one had fresh cut fruit, a delight. The gas price is a sign of the times, and while certainly not going to be anything permanent, a welcome relief for drivers. It has caused many, many job layoffs in this oil dependent State, however. Getting back to where I made my wrong turn, I decided to head on a couple blocks more and stop at the fire station I had passed earlier.

My water bottles were getting hot and empty by this time, so I headed over to the fire station at the base of the lake. I LOVE fire stations!! Most will let traveling cyclists camp on their grounds, all will fill your water bottles and let you cool off a bit, and they are always willing to show off their equipment, and give you a little tour. This one was no exception, a very nice congenial bunch of people, these fire fighters. So, I left there with two full, well iced bottles and feeling better with some new directions and maybe a better route than the original one I got from my riding friend who abandoned me. This new route took me through mostly upscale residential neighborhoods with small roads and little traffic, a few minor hills, and soon I found myself out in the country again and right at the turns I needed to be.  

 VERY bike friendly roads, in fact. Lightly traveled, and bike signed .....and easily understood ......  well .... mostly ....

 Finding the Katy, right where the fireman said it would be, it took me past the Oklahoma City Zoo, and the Museums, including the Firefighters Museum. I stopped for a couple of pictures and decided that due to the late hour and not wanting to traverse downtown at rush hour, which I had to do to get back to my car, I didn't go in, but saved this for another trip. I'll be back.

 His and hers doggie hydrants ..... how cute!

 I remember when I was a kid I was so impressed with the tail rider on a hook and ladder unit and how I would love to drive that end of the unit. Never did, but still think it'd be fun.

 Restored Katy switcher in new clothes. This was at the Railroad Museum, another place I'm going to come back to when I have more time.

 From restored engine, to this! Loved the vines growing up the side. It's Oklahoma ..... vines grow up anything given enough time, and from the looks of it, there has been plenty of time.

 It would be a long wait for any train on this track.

 One of the several bridges on the Katy Trail

 Another bridge over a pretty little creek.

 The old Jewel Theater, just off the main part of town and at the edge of Bricktown. I'm confident it will be restored someday.

 Both bottles empty, I found another convenient fire station. This one also was happy to fill my bottles and let me cool off a bit. It was now 94 degrees, full sun, little breeze, and high humidity. The real feel temperature was 101. I was way overheated and a bit crampy. They had this wonderfully restored 1910 fire truck, and when I asked if I could look at it, they all about fell over one another to be the first one to show it to me.

 I couldn't help but compare it to a bicycle. Two pedals ...

 Chain Drive

 And a bell to ring to let people know you are coming by.

 And two headlights if you get caught out after dark. These were carbide headlamps, nicely restored units of a type you just don't see anymore. All in all, this was one of my better stops. I left feeling happy, cooler, and iced and refilled bottles. I still managed to make it through downtown before rush hour and back to the car where I loaded the bike, changed clothes, turn the air up to 4 and headed home. A good ride, although a bit frustrating at times, but the nicest people I met along the way got me through and back to my car safely and looking to come back. I don't very often do the big city stuff, but this was a nice ride, and I will get back to the museums another time. Oh ...And .... Three Cheers for the Firefighters! Two Stations got me through a hot, hot ride and gave me good directions as well.