KAMO?  I had never heard the term "KAMO" until last fall when I heard it mentioned by members of the Tulsa Bicycle Club. KAMO is an acronym for the Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma Bicycle Touring Group.  The group has a Facebook page which can be found here --> KAMO Facebook Page.

The group was started by cycle tourist John Nettles as a means of bringing local cyclists together to experience touring.  This tour will be my first time riding with the group.  It seems that they have a spring and fall tour each year, although it's not really an "organized" event.  Instead, they publish a route and overnight stops and those that wish to do it with the group are welcome to do so.   There is an informal tour leader for each tour, but each rider is expected to be totally self-supported and capable of handling all their own bicycle repairs, camping needs, and cooking.  

2022 Spring Tour.  The KAMO 2022 Spring Tour consists of a 147 mile loop ride in the hills of southeastern Oklahoma.   With off-route travel for food and such, the total riding will be a bit over 150 miles during the 4 day tour.  While this doesn't sound like much, the "hills" on this route include a bit of the Quachita Mountains, and Day 2 has us ascending to the famous Talimena Drive before descending to our campground, so this will be at least a moderately challenging route.  I know the area well enough to know that it is a beautiful forested landscape as well.  Each night we are camping at a lake; Sardis Lake, Cedar Lake, and Wister Lake.  The plan is this; Day 1 ride from Wilburton to our campground at Sardis Lake, Day 2 ride from Sardis Lake through Talihina and over the Talimena Drive to our campground at Cedar Lake, Day 3 ride from Cedar Lake through Heavener and on to our campground at Wister Lake, and Day 4 ride from Wister Lake to complete the loop in Wilburton.   The Tour Leader has scouted the route and designed it to traverse on low traffic county roads as much as possible.  

Logistical Considerations.  The tour consists of about 150 miles with 6,700 feet of climbing along the way.   Really, just looking at the numbers it doesn't seem that difficult; but the numbers can be deceiving because the grade isn't considered.  Day 2 will be the toughest due to the ascent over Talimena Drive.  And since this will be the first tour of the year for us, it's a good bet that most participants won't be in prime riding condition just yet.   The advantage of riding with the KAMO group is this; the Tour Leader has scouted the route and published a detailed report that includes the stores and restaurants and such considerations along the way.  So in that sense, it's kind of like a miniature Adventure Cycling Association route in that you know all the eating and lodging options along the route. It certainly makes meal planning much easier; for example, I know that I must carry food (and beer, of course) with me from Talihina for dinner on the 2nd night at our Cedar Lake campground because there is no other option.   This is a self-supported tour and it will occur regardless of the weather, so riders need to be prepared with rain gear.  

Challenges Expected.  I use the term "expected" because my experience to date is that every tour offers up some unexpected challenges along the way; hey, that's what makes it an adventure!  Climbing the hills on a fully loaded touring bike will be challenging for us, but it's simply a matter of pacing oneself - this isn't a race.  This is a loop route, so we will sometimes be riding into the wind; Oklahoma winds can be quite unpredictable but most commonly blow from the southwest. Late May in Oklahoma usually means that it will already be hot and humid, so that's the "norm" that I expect.   However, it is still Spring and there could be some cool nights, so I may need to take the sleeping bag liner.  Spring in Oklahoma also brings along the possibility of severe storms, so thunderstorms and even tornadic weather is possible.  Mosquitoes will be active in late May as well, although I don't expect the bugs to be much of a problem at this time.  Still, some bug spray might be a good addition to the panniers.  Unfortunately, Oklahoma isn't immune from the forest fires that have plagued the western states in recent years.  Forest fore smoke was as thick as fog on a family vacation I had in March in southeastern Oklahoma, so it's a very real possibility.  And any time you travel in southeast Oklahoma there is a risk you could encounter Bigfoot.

Personal Challenges.  Dang, I'm really beginning to dislike this "getting old" thing.  Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a good alternative.  Last Fall I managed to hurt my back; long story short (you're welcome), I experienced a classic herniated disc wherein fluid seeped from my spine and is putting pressure on a nerve that controls my right leg.  At first I couldn't even walk, then I slowly got better and after about a month I started riding again. I have a wee bit of pain mostly from my right hip down to the knee - no big deal.  But it keeps me from having full power in that leg.  I can ride, but I have avoided the steep hills near me that are usually part of my rides - without full power in that leg I have been afraid to attempt them.  But I have now started to ride them again, as I must train to be able  to handle the hills on this tour.  I can do it, it's just harder than it "should" be under normal circumstances; I estimate that I have about 90% power in my right leg.  Surgery is an option to clean out the plastic-like fluid that's pressuring the nerve, but sometimes the problem will eventually fix itself; but it can take many months or longer and it may not get better.  I'm opting for the no-surgery fix, so we will see.   So that's enough of my whining; 90% of me should be enough to get the job done.  

Bud & Doc Ride Again.  Doc, my touring partner from last year's coast-to-coast adventure on the Northern Tier route (2021 Northern Tier), is going along on this one as well.  Doc is from Arkansas, and since I'm from Oklahoma we represent half of the KAMO geography.   Doc's presence ensures that we will have beers every night, and that's a good thing for what should be an enjoyable Oklahoma ramble.  

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Ever wonder why people would want to ride a bicycle on tours like this? Or maybe you are a history buff and would like to know the history of cycle touring; either way, you may find the following film of interest;