We woke up in our motel in Atoka, and it was a treat to eat breakfast there. So far none of the motels have had much more than toast or muffins, and perhaps cereal, and this was no different but on the better side. They had waffle batter! So that was good for me. While we were sitting and eating, another guest asked us if we were using the waffle griddle still. I realized after he had sat down at his own table that he was wearing a TransCanada cap! (TransCanada is the company building the pipeline). He looked professionally dressed as well. On the back of his hat it said Houston Lateral, referring to the section of pipeline near Houston. I should have worked up the courage to ask him about the pipeline. To be honest, I have sometimes been nervous to mention it in certain moments, fearing that I might meet hostility. I think I sacrificed a big learning opportunity by not speaking to him-- I could have just asked in General about the pipeline, and it would have been very valuable to hear his opinion and insight. Live and learn. I was so surprised to see a TransCanada higher up, I did not react as I should have.
Yesterday night I had also received a phone call from a man from a radios station in Shawnee. He had heard about what we are doing from connections I have been working to make in Oklahoma for the ride. Listening to the message was exciting. He wanted to interview us for his radio show. I called him early this morning before we left, and hopefully tomorrow we will meet with him in the morning!
We took the back road out of Atoka and got into the 44th infantry memorial highway, which I believe is highway 3? It had no shoulder, but was smooth and luckily the traffic not to heavy even if it was fast. The morning haze and clouds over the Oklahoma fields was quite calm and beautiful. We moved quickly over this road, and made good time to Tupelo, where we managed to locate what we believe to be the pipeline pump station and to follow closely along pipeline sections. If it was indeed the pump station, it was a huge operation. And rather obscured and secretive. There were many buildings and tanks, only visible briefly as the highway approached and then it was all neatly tucked behind trees from most other vantages. The sign had tiny lettering, so it was next to impossible to read without actually approaching it. I wondered if things were meant to be so hidden and if it was all intentional. Often things that are unpleasant are hidden, or made to look neat and tidy, or unidentifiable so as not to draw interest from public. We made it next to the small town of Tupelo itself and got something to drink. On the shoulder of the road I found a pair of somewhat battered sunglasses. Mine had broken the day before and were held together with tape, so now I am using these discarded ones!
The section of road from Tupelo to Ada, our next goal, headed to the west and boy was this hard. Although there was not much more than a breeze, or so we thought, while going west the wind is against us and it was a struggle to push against. We had to pedal hard the whole time-- even down hills we had to pedal to keep moving! So it felt relentless and exhausting over the slow 20 miles to Ada. The ups and downs of hills did not help. Many times I felt I could give up, and that I was so sick of the wind and fighting against it. At last, exhausted and feeling sick from the hot sun, we reached Ada. We stopped for a sit down meal at a Mexican restaurant for perhaps the first time since back in Lufkin Texas on the third day. We both had burritos. I didn't really have any appetite at all. I felt weak and my stomach had little interest in food or even liquid, although I was so dehydrated I am sure. Still, I ate the meal hoping it would provide some energy. By this point, we had gone 50 miles, and had another 30 to go before our goal of Seminole.
This stretch of road, following 377 north, started off okay. The road itself has a very decent shoulder. Even though the wind was now with us, it was really only a breeze and had only felt strong when pedaling against it. So it did not offer us assistance even flog north. There were many moments when he road was high up, along the broad hill tops, looking out across the wide sprawl of land. There were many rolling hills undulating in all directions. The road continuously climbed up long, gradual hills which seemed to last so long, but did not compensate for them with downhill stretches to compensate. They always seemed to just flatten out momentarily and then start climbing again. They seemed so endless. Absolutely endless. And always climbing. Like one step on a staircase after another. The temperatures had climbed, and the air was hot like the air from an oven. I could feel my hands and arms burning in the harsh sun, especially my fingers and knuckles.
It was often at least 10 miles between gas stations, and because my water bottles are in my pack nor bag, I cannot access them unless I can ask to stop. Now, frankly, the way I bike on my own means stopping briefly as I feel, but with two people it is not always the case. What I desperately needed were a few breaks along the way that were more than a couple minutes-- maybe a chance to sit in the shade for about 20 minutes, for example. We passed through Chickasaw nation, and into Seminole nation lands. The hills and road just continued on and on, and I began to feel hopeless and so exhausted. The worst I've felt perhaps so far. And I was so thirsty. This is the first day when I felt myself beginning to actually cry while riding. I was so tired I was shakey and frustrated, and felt pushed more than I should, and knew I really just needed a decent chance to recover. But the hills kept coming, and we never seemed to be getting closer to our goal. Especially after the added distance yesterday, I was feeling absolutely drained. We made it to another gas station just outside of Seminole, then the final stretch into town.
We were searching for the Seales Motel, and did not have a clue where to look. And I was not about to waste energy searching. While looking lost, a car pulled up to ask if we needed help finding someplace. It was a very nice gentleman in athletic gear. We told him what we were looking for, but he was not sure of it. He also asked us about our ride, and we told him where we had come from and what we were up to. I had written down the motel number, and told him I would just give them a call. We said goodbye, and then I called the motel. The receptionist gave confusing directions, but it turned out we were literally about a block away. Wen we pulled up to it, my suspicions were confirmed. We had encountered our first hole in the wall motel of the trip. Mostly we have stayed at campsites in Texas, but the cheap motels we stayed at surprised me by how nice they were. This one is astonishingly cheap at $40, but for a reason. Oh well! We were so tired, I did not care.
Just then, the same car from before pulled into the parking lot. He had gone to ask about the motel to help find it. It turns out he owns a nutrition club, and he asked us of we had eaten yet and said he would open it back up for us and make some shakes!! I always feel bashful about accepting such kind offers, but Laurel and I looked at each other and both could not deny how good that sounded! He told us where it was. After squeezing our bikes into the motel room, we went to find it. After some searching, we located it and went inside.
From the outside, the building is not easy to identify, but from the inside it is awesome! Half is filled with members bikes-- many of them very cool and very expensive-- and the other has a bar with bright green stools and counter, and some space for games, etc. SUCH a neat place! He made us some shakes and some extra hydrating drinks. His club uses HerbalLife products, which are hydration ad nutrition packed products to add to water, or to act almost as liquid food with all of their vitamins and protein. It was just so perfect. There were an unbelievable number of delicious sounding shakes to chose. I chose Blueberry Muffin. Ah, it was so good! The man, Chris, talked to us as he made them. He is such a kind guy!! I could not believe it! How amazing to meet such a person. The shakes and hydration were just what we needed after such a truly rough day. He absolutely salvaged the day, turning all the struggles around and cheering us up. He gave us some free products to take with us! And said to come by in the morning for free breakfast!! He was super interested and impressed by our ride and what we've done so far, and said that he was actually very excited to run into us as his wife had told him twice today that she had seen two girls out on the road riding. He rides mountain bike trails, and does other long rides himself and had recently done a 100 mile ride. Goodness, such a cool place and such a coo person. There is apparently quite the biking community in Seminole! He showed us some of their bikes, and we talked some more about riding. So a very serendipitous and happy end to a very LONG and trying day. If you come through Seminole, you must stop at the nutrition club.