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Category: touring (Page 7 of 12)

KATY Trail 2011 – Day 1

May 16, 2011 /
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Riding on crushed limestone with 22 pounds of gear on the bike isn’t easy. It is enjoyable and fun, but somewhat difficult and definitely more tiring than road riding.  My piriformis muscle and IT band have complained all day. 

The trail is softer than last year, probably because of recent rains, and more difficult to handle with a loaded bike.  I expected it to be harder going carrying our own stuff but it was actually tougher than expected.

All the pain and difficulty aside, it was a perfect Spring day and a great ride. The wildflowers are out as are the indigo buntings and bluebirds. The KATY is an amazing park and just a great place to ride.

We are staying in the Hotel Frederick, a beautiful old hotel with unique rooms. Dinner at the Blind Ref and now back in relaxing and wondering why I brought so much stuff!

By the way, I am typing and uploading each day’s KT post from my Samsung phone.

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Posted from WordPress for Android–

Do I Really Need It?

May 14, 2011 /
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Packing and re-packing…trying to get it down to the bare minimum. Well, my bare minimum anyway.

If I pack it – I have to carry it – I may have found a cure for over-packing.

Stay tuned, I’ll be posting here daily (if my system for uploading via my phone works), including pics of our Katy Trail ride.

Can’t wait to get started!

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Test Using Android

April 30, 2011 /
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I hope to post daily updates on our Katy Trail trip using my phone and this WP Android app. Hope it works, otherwise I may need to bring my netbook, which would take needed pannier space and add unneeded weight.

And maybe add a few pictures…

Historic Route 66 Bike Trail

April 20, 2011 /
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WEB-route66-240pixThe plan to create a 90 mile bicycle trail on Route 66 came a step closer to becoming reality yesterday when the Oklahoma Senate passed the bill unanimously.

The bill, HB 2049,  was introduced by Rep. Lewis Moore and co-sponsored by Sen. Andrew Rice.  It will now have to go back to the House for reconciliation.  It is expected to pass the House and will then need to be signed by Governor Fallin.

If signed by the Governor, funds for the new bicycle trail (shoulder)  on Route 66 will need to be set aside by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for work to begin.  ODOT noted that there are already funds marked for shoulder improvements so that could be a start.  Donations are also expected to pay for part of the trail – hopefully some of the local corporations will make large donations.

This is legislation that has national interest, particularly from the Adventure Cycling Association and U.S. Bicycle Route System.

This is great news not only for cyclists, but for anyone who has an interest in seeing tourism expand in Oklahoma.  The Route 66 Bike Trail would bring hundreds if not thousands, of people pedaling their way from Sapulpa to Edmond, OK.  Those cyclists will spend their dollars in all the little and not so little communities along the way – communities that need and are hopefully eager to reap the benefits the Trail would bring.

KATY Trail Calling

March 29, 2011 /
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IMG_3724It has been almost a year since we last rode the Katy Trail and she’s calling us back!

Our last ride on the Missouri Katy trail, we used a service to haul our stuff to each day’s lodging. The service also provided emergency help if needed, fortunately, it wasn’t.  It was our first time to bike tour on our own for a week and since we were less than sure about doing it completely self-supported we chose to use them.   

With that trip and another weeklong tour under our belt, we feel ready and able to do the Katy Trail on our own this time. Hauling our own stuff (should take care of any urge to over-pack) and dealing with any emergencies on our own or with help that we manage to scrounge up on the fly.

It isn’t just about the money we will save doing the trip on our own. it is more about traveling completely by our own means. We pedaled our bikes the entire way on our own last year, so we will take the next step and carry our own stuff too.

I am excited at the prospect of doing a self-supported or self-contained as they are sometimes called, bike tour. Also excited about riding the Katy again!

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Stay tuned, more details to come.

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