Miami, Oklahoma to Chelsea, Oklahoma

Riding east to west on the 430 miles of US 66 through Oklahoma is a long slow climb. You start out at the Kansas border at 750 above sea level. By the time you cross into Texas you’re above 2500 feet. There are some rolling hills here and there along the way but, for the most part, the topography along US 66 is Great Plains flat. And like nearly all the Great Plains states, the rural landscape is mostly ranches, farms, and grasslands.

Shortly after leaving Miami, I came across the north end of “the Ribbon Road’, the only remaining nine-foot wide section of the original Mother Road. Construction on this section of the road began in 1918. Legend has it highway engineers didn’t have enough money to built it to a full 18 foot width, so they chose to build it half as wide so they could run it twice as far.

Later, as I was riding on the wide shoulder of US 66 west of Afton, I came upon the scene of a two-car head on collision. The road was closed down to regular traffic as first responders worked to free the drivers from their cars. Just a sober moment to remind myself to do all I can to make myself seen by drivers, keep my head on a swivel and stay aware of overtaking and oncoming traffic, and just be as safe as possible. Because you never know.

About 10 AM, I stopped at Clanton’s Cafe for breakfast. “Sweet Tater” Clanton opened the Busy Bee Cafe in 1927 and later changed its name to Clantons and moved it to their present location in Vinita. Eighty-plus years later Clantons is still run by family members making it Oklahoma’s oldest family run restaurant on the US 66.

Leaving Vinita, I stopped on the uphill climb of a highway overpass to catch my breath when I was overtaken by three younger cyclists. (Unfortunately I didn’t jot down their names nor take a photo.) They were riding the Oklahoma section of US 66, hoping to cover all 400 plus miles in 4 days. They started the day at the Kansas border and were aiming to get to Tulsa before nightfall (over 130 miles!) They were being supported on their ride by a van; still, over a hundred miles a day for four days straight is mighty impressive!

Anyway, made it to my day’s destination, Chelsea, about 1:30 PM where I managed to get one of the last rooms available at the very nice and well-reviewed Chelsea Motor Inn. The Inn has only 6 rooms, so I was lucky. After cleaning up, I walked over to get some groceries at the store across the street, returning back to my room just as it started to rain.

Later, I was talking with Frank, the Motor Inn’s owner, when he mentioned that Route 66 through Tulsa is going to be closed down all day Saturday – the day I was planning on riding through the city! Apparently, in honor of Route 66’s 100^th birthday, the city is going to try and break the Guinness Wold Record for the longest classic car parade! In addition to all the cars, the city is expecting a huge crowd along the parade route and at the closing festival. So, Saturday will not a good day for me to try and ride US 66 through town! Which means I’ve got to get clear of the closed section of US 66, and where the crowds are expected to gather, before 6 AM Saturday morning. Long story short. Tomorrow will be a fifty-plus mile day. But I’ve reserved a room at the Doubletree downtown, so at least there will be some nice creature comforts waiting for me at the end of tomorrow’s ride.