Tour de Trees 2005
It is with great
anticipation each year that we look forward to the annual OBS fall ride of Tour
de Trees at Lake Eufaula [usually held on the third weekend in Oct]. What surprises will the weather have for us this year?
Who will make the long drive and show up to ride with us? Will there be enough
food at the pot luck? Will it be all desserts?
2005 will be remembered for the BEST
weather EVER! Who would dare ask for NO WIND in October? The skies were partly
cloudy with bright sunshine that warmed our chilled bodies but welcoming clouds
arrived in time to cool us off again. Trees were starting to turn although peak
fall foliage viewing was still at least two weeks away.
Moni Neville rode her bike from Tulsa
on Thursday. Jerry brought their gear down so she wasnt hampered by her
normally heavily loaded touring bike. Friday, Moni, Jerry and Mel Norton rode to
Checotah for lunch and discovered a great place to have Sunday breakfast, Our
Place Cafe. A new route was born.
Eighty-six riders departed Saturday
morning for a loop through Porum Landing and over Eufaula Lake Dam before
descending on Jamies Drive Inn at Enterprise for enough food to fuel us back to
Dogwood Drive in the State Park. Jamie was prepared for us this year with an
organized system to get us fed in record time. She even took time to take our
picture in front of her caf. Jim and I were presented with complimentary,
stunning pink tie-dyed t-shirts to remember our visit.
Eufaulas town newspaper, the Indian
Journal, featured a story on the front page about our group coming to the area to
ride on the weekend of their first Chili Cook-Off. After eating at Jamies, I
dont think anyone had room to do any sampling of chili.
We even had people drive out to
partake in the famous OBS pot luck dinner Saturday night who werent able to
make the days ride. Alan Green, Trudy Morgan and John Wente were some of the
welcome faces at our famous feed.
As nice as Saturday was, Sunday was
the exact opposite. Nine hardy riders (David Kincannon, Johnnie Lerma, Wilton
Berry, Bill Venable, Chad Burns, Mel Norton, Robert Hamilton, Moni and Jerry
Neville) weathered the cold, north wind for the ride to Checotah. Those of us
with less gumption and more brains decided to ride in a nice warm vehicle to
breakfast before the car trip home. However, we missed the howling tailwind ride
back to camp enjoyed by our resilient friends.
For more pictures of 2005 Tour de
Trees go to
www.wyokies.com/tour_de_trees05.htm. There are also links to pictures by
Craig Whitacre and David Kincannon.
Group of Riders at Jamie's Drive In in Enterprise
Owner of Jamie's Drive In (right) presents Legs & Laurie with
complimentary t-shirts.
Oklahoma Bicycle Society:
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created by John Wente
last modified:
February 17, 2007
URL: http://www.OklahomaBicycleSociety.com