Day 2: Borger to Guymon, Oklahoma

September 24, 2015

My motel didn't offer any breakfast, so I ate at McDonalds and got on the road at 8:45. The sky was overcast, spitting tiny drops, 65F (18C). The weather forecast called for a gentle tailwind but the wind was dead calm. Very unusual in the Great Plains.

I pedaled north from Borger to Stinnett on busy TX 207. 4 lanes, and most of the traffic is big trucks. The road has a shoulder but the noise was annoying.

Nice roadside rest area between Borger and Stinnett. It has a historic marker about the battle of Adobe Wells.

A "walking stick" came to visit. It got around fine even though it's missing a leg.

It was gradual downhill from Borger to the Canadian River. The Canadian river was the only place during this tour that I dropped (slightly) below 3000 feet (910m) elevation.

Looking back at the dry Canadian river canyon.

The Canadian river has a large watershed and a wide, deep canyon but I didn't see any water. Maybe some water flows under the gravel. Or maybe no water is discharged from the reservoir upstream.

Looking ahead while climbing out of the Canadian river canyon.

The climb out of the Canadian River canyon is the only steep climb of the day. Maybe a 200 foot climb, 6% grade. It was my last time to see rock escarpments for many days to come. The road continues to climb gently through the town of Stinnett.

Incredibly large county courthouse in Stinnett.

I pedaled through Stinnett (population 1864) without looking around much. Most of the town is off the highway some distance.

North of Stinnett the highway shrinks to 2 lanes and traffic decreases. Traffic decreased significantly after I turned onto TX 136. Finally a low traffic country road. The Borger to Stinnett segment was one of the busiest roads of the entire tour.

North of Stinnett the oil development decreases and agriculture increases. Feed lots, irrigated sorghum fields.

Lunch was at Dairy Queen in Gruver (population 1200). The only option there.

Sleepy downtown Gruver. The last town in Texas.

The terrain isn't as flat as I thought it would be. Gently rolling hills with the occasional 4% grade. Combined with the absence of tailwind it was a strenuous day.

The clouds broke up at about 1 PM and the temperature rose to 82F (28C). Wind still totally calm. The wind turbines were motionless. Flies became a nuisance after the temperature warmed up.

Most of the cornfields were already harvested. This field hadn't been harvested yet.

Irrigated corn. Rich Haubert informed me that field corn is allowed to dry before harvesting.

The terrain became flatter north of Gruver. The last 35 miles to Guymon was relatively easy but I was already very tired.

The paved shoulder disappeared after I crossed into Oklahoma. Pavement was in very bad condition between the state line and Guymon.

I arrived in Guymon at 6:15 PM, totally exhausted. Sunset is about 8 PM so there was no worry about daylight.

I got a $72 room at Super 8 motel, with fridge, microwave, flat screen TV.

In the excitement of a new tour I apparently worked too hard yesterday and today. I'm exhausted and my butt hurts. Tomorrow I will take a rest day.

Distance: 79.7 mi. (127.5 km)
Climbing: 1555 ft. (471 m)
Average Speed: 11.0 mph (17.6 km/h)

Today's ride: 80 miles (129 km)
Total: 165 miles (266 km)

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