101 miles in 6hrs 50mins (incl. one non-Subway footlong sub - a poor imitation)
Total Distance - 3,355 miles
It was a restless night last night as the thunderstorms that started at 9pm continued to roll around til at least 4am depositing copious quantities of rain which wasn't falling quietly. The rain was still coming down heavily at 6am so I checked the radar loop on Weather Channel which suggested it would likely move on in an hour-or-so, but was being followed by another band of rain about 50 miles behind. I went back to sleep with the idea being to set off into the wedge of dryness when it passed overhead - if this plan worked I figured I'd have the right to feel suitably pleased with myself all day.
Setting off just before nine I could see the rain falling way up the road ahead and the clouds behind me looked like they weren't keen on staying airborne. But I was dry and I stayed that way through the first 25 miles through lush, damp green tree-lined fields. I pedalled on happily smug then realised that the cows in the field I'd just passed were all lying down, as were those in the next field, and the one after that. The dark clouds had almost caught me and the cows knew what was coming. But the road was turning to take me across and away from the rain if I was lucky (and fast enough). I was both and reached McAlester around noon where the inferior sub was consumed. The road then rolled on through more of the same green and pleasant land under heavy skies the morning had taken me through.
All day I had to continually avoid the innumerable armadillo remains yet again today but thankfully I actually saw some live wildlife crossing the road today including a deer, a tortoise (which I suspect may not have stayed live for much longer) and then, very much to my surprise and shock, a tarantula - or at least an enormous hairy spider, and another, and another. Four of the 10-12cm arachnids over the 60-80mile period.
The town of Talihina arrived after 96 miles just before 4pm as the light drizzle started falling so I sought out somewhere to stay. This proved more difficult than I expected. The first motel had the 'No Vacancies' sign up despite having only a couple of cars outside the ~15 rooms. So I decided to follow the 'downtown B&B' sign which took me down a road and out the town. Next option was the worrying looking place advertising rooms and showers on a mildew-coated sign. 'Ring the bell' it said on the door pointing to the two bits of painted wire. I knocked on the door then opened it expecting to find a front desk of some sort, but found a front room of some sort. I retreated quickly conscious of the fact that around these parts of the world they shoot first and ask questions later. With the gps suggesting the nearest place was some 19 miles away I decided to chance to luck and head further out of town and thankfully stumbled upon the Lazy R Inn almost an hour after I'd first rolled into town.
Forecast looking ideal for tomorrow's short-but-tough jaunt up and along the Talimena Scenic Drive - a stage I've been really looking forward to since I first drew up the plans for the trip.
And as for today's picture. It's just the humour of a biking scientist - apologies.
