Day 1 Hugo to Clayton 56 miles

Today was a nice easy ride. We waded out in the creek/river.  This is my sister Donna below wading out.   We had the most awesome downhill. I did 40+ mph!!! It was so freaking cool!!! Loved the biking.

We saw a dead bobcat on side of the road. Some biker propped him up in a funny pose.

Made it to new campsite by 12:30. Then there was the shower truck experience. Shower truck...outdoor rigged up showers. Everyone thought it was so nice. I've obviously led a very pampered life. Not much modesty. Had to shower in my bike clothes in order to wash them. The clothes are almost dry now and I feel his huge sense of accomplishment! Lol

Donna and I went to the Choctaw nation museum and watched them dance. The museum was air conditioned!!!! Ahhhhh I miss air conditioning. It looks like it could rain. I'm going to be brave. At least the rain might make it cooler.


Tomorrow is 65 miles and going to Heavener. Oh they have bands playing music out here and one is playing Christian music. I really hope I cool off enough to sleep. I plan to drug myself with Benedryl tonight.

Day 0 Texas Border to Hugo 10 miles

Hugo Oklahoma. Only rode 10 miles on what they call day 0.  My sister Donna and I rode from Texas border to Hugo. 1,000 other crazy people here. 

It was so hot. Still is and it is 4:00am right now. I didn't know birds chirpped all night long. I think I slept a little. Did I mention it was hot? How many more days?

Will this get easier? I'm ready to bike. That I love. Camping I'm not so sure about. My sister says our tents are big and nice. I have no reference point. It's hot.

I skipped the shower last night. It was hot in there and looked so nasty. I cleaned up in the sink a little. Ewww. Today they should have the shower truck for us and I hope and pray that is better.

Less than 24 hours

I'm packed.  I finally got everything into 2 duffel bags.  I had to go buy a bigger duffel bag though! The sense of dread I was feeling the past coupel of days is starting to lift and I'm feeling some excitement about the adventure.  Its still so far outside my comfort zone.  Everyone thinks these things come easy for me - they don't.  It would be so much easier to just make an excuse and not do it.  Deep inside I'm still that 350 lb girl that would rather eat and watch TV.  But...I know the reward will be so worth it.  The greater the challenge the greater the victory!!

I had a great day at work yesterday.  I work with the most amazing people.  I was able to get all the pressing work wrapped up so I won't be worried about my desk while I am gone.  I had lots of well wishes from my work buddies.  Maybe next year I can talk some of them into doing this with me!

Today I went in for my 2 year check up with Dr. Broussard at WeightWise.  He hasn't seen me in a year and he was impressed with my weight loss.  He said I have lost 83% of my excess weight and that is above average for a weight loss surgery patient.  I told him next time he sees me I will have lost 100% because I am just an above average kind of person! ha ha!!

Tonight Randy is taking me out on a date! We haven't done that in forever.  He is taking me to Micky Mantles - ooooh la la!!  Tomorrow I have a date with my bike at the Texas border.  Ready or not...here I come!

The Route

Getting nervous!

That little dot on that big big hill is me.  I hope all the hill training has prepared me because ready or not I am headed to Hugo OK on Saturday to begin this crazy adventure!

7 days until FreeWheel

I can't believe the time is almost here.  My  heart starts pounding each time I think about it. I have started a packing staging area on my kitchen table.  Did I mention that I have never camped out before?  This should be an all around interesting experience for me!! Just please Lord let there be a store when I need one so I don't have to pee in the bushes!

Friday I rode HWY 9 from Norman to Chickasha with 2 guys that I barely know.  Talk about outside my comfort zone.  They had been on the group training ride so I knew they were not creeps.  I was able to keep up but there were so many long hills.  It was tough.  One hill lasted for a mile...an entire mile!!  It was during this point when I looked over to the side and saw a herd of weird looking cows.  It took me a few minutes to realize they were buffalo!!  Then when I was flying down this one hill a huge butterfly hit my chest and went down my shirt.  I was trying to ride with one hand at 24 mph and fish the butterfly out of my shirt with the other.  I'm sure that looked interested to the traffic on the highway!

Saturday (yesterday) I did 65 miles!  I left from my front door and rode to the start of the training ride!  We went from Yukon to Calumet.  I keep saying this but this time really was the roughest ride yet.  We went about 5 miles at one stretch straight into 25 mph wind.  The temps got up to 100 and my sister and I had major heat exhaustion right at the end.  I thought she was going to lay down on the side of the road in a patch of poison ivy.  I was coaching her to keep going and then suddenly I started seeing spots and had to sit down.  It was bad!  We learned a big lesson....start EARLY!  This ride started at 9:00 and that was way too late for this kind of heat.  We will try and leave about 6:00/6:30 on FW so we avoid this.  I had salt crystals all over me when I was done from sweating out salt.  ewwwwww.

Well, ready or not in 7 days I will be starting my big adventure.  Well....I suppose the adventure already started!  I lost a couple more pounds and saw a new number on the scales - 166!  I can't believe I have lost 184 lbs!

FW Training Ride 48.8 miles in the WIND by randel@cox.net at Garmin Connect - Details

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34175797