Texola, OK to east of Elk City, OK - Is Oklahoma OK? - CycleBlaze

April 14, 2025

Texola, OK to east of Elk City, OK

King of the Road

Today was a hard day. The only non-headwind section was the first mile or so from the Texas state line through Texola. The rest of the day I was riding east and northeast into a heavy northeast wind. I left Texola about 10am and got to the KOA east of Elk City about 5 pm. Exhausted.

On your mark, get set…
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First stop, right at the border.
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It’s difficult to read the sign on the side of the building, but it says No Place Like Texola. I agree.
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Like everything else in Texola, it’s closed
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Image not found :(
The Texola welcoming committee. Luckily, they were friendly.
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I was surprised to find signage for USBR 66 way out here. I thought they were just now starting to put signs up in the larger towns.
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For those folks driving their cars.
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An interesting spot in Erick.
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George (Buddy) HallDang - I'm mad at myself because I just now discovered your journal - although I haven't read past this point yet, I can see from the Table of Contents that you have already passed through Tulsa - I would have ridden out to greet you at least. Actually, assuming you kept to the plan and cycled through Jenks, you probably passed within a block of my home! Oh well - now that I've discovered it I will try to rapidly catch up with your trip. FWIW, with regard to this picture in Erick - I spent the summer of 1977 in Erick as a geologist assigned to a drill crew doing exploration of the salt deposits on the Red River. Goof memories mostly.
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1 month ago
John ChimahuskyTo George (Buddy) HallI rode through Jenks and Tulsa yesterday. Or maybe I floated through.

I’m also a geologist. 25 years at Phillips Petroleum, then 10 more years at a couple smaller companies.
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1 month ago
I noticed a sign all the way in the back welcoming the likes of me.
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Not just Route 66 any more.
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Who knew Roger Miller was from Erick, OK? I wonder when he sang King of the Road if he was thinking of this one.
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Interested spectators.
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West of Erick I found about 4 miles of abandoned Route 66 roadbed.
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Ed ChimahuskyRough road ahead.
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2 months ago
It had its challenges. There was so much debris on the surface in places I was afraid a stick would flip up into my spokes.
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Now and again there was dirt mounded up to keep motor vehicles off.
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But it was the real deal.
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I worked for Phillips Petroleum for 25 years. From what I’ve heard the 66 did not derive from Route 66. It had something to do with how fast a car driving an early executive was going. They just hijacked the highway shield to make the connection.
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Karen PoretThank you for the tidbit! Very interesting!
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2 months ago
Today’s only colorful flora.
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Bill ShaneyfeltThere are over 50 many petal yellow flower species in that area! Who Knew? With the help of your fine photograph, and a few websites, I think it might be stemmy four-nerved daisy.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/132723/browse_photos
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2 months ago
And there was plenty of red dirt for it to grow in. In Choctaw Oklahoma translates to Red People.
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One of the old iron truss bridges.
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It’s for sale if you want it.
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Welcome to Canute, OK.
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I saw neither cattle nor their hoof prints.
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If you don’t believe that Route 66 is fading away, here’s evidence.
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Camp, at last,
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I won’t make arrangements in advance for the KOA tomorrow night. It’s a longer day tomorrow, and the wind will be in my face again, albeit not so strong (I hope), but I want to leave open the possibility of bailing out earlier if I want.  I don’t think I could do today again tomorrow.

Today's ride: 55 miles (89 km)
Total: 55 miles (89 km)

Rate this entry's writing Heart 7
Comment on this entry Comment 2
Ed ChimahuskyIt had to be a tough windy day with only 55 miles in 7 hours. Some great pictures. Hang in there.
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2 months ago
Bill ShaneyfeltHopefully overall, the "prevailing" winds will prevail and propel you east...
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2 months ago