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By Popular Demand: Route 66

15/9/2013

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Kingfisher Oklahoma. Statue of Jesse Chisholm, Ambassador of the Plains.

We had a most excellent time with Terence and Martha Ann. We were close friends back in South Africa but then they moved to the USA and I moved to Australia. This was our first meeting in more than thirty years and I in so many ways it seemed just like yesterday. Deo volente we will see each other more frequently from now on. Thank you again for your wonderful hospitality and of course the trip to the football!

I had hoped to attend church with Terence and Martha Ann but as it started only at 11am and our schedule required us to get some miles in today, that was not possible. We followed our usual practice of avoiding the interstate and thus we would be riding down the old Route 66 at least some of the way to the west of Oklahoma, notionally aiming for Clinton. I was not that taken with the idea of riding on Route 66 as I had been told that much of it has been replaced by four-lane and that which remained was unexciting. But when we saw our first marker, we stopped anyway and took the obligatory photo.

Having done that we dropped onto 33 (half of 66 ha!) to avoid Oklahoma city and its traffic. This worked very well and we made good time. To our surprise, the towns of this byway are well served with places to eat, which was pleasing. Lunch break was called in Kingfisher, where we had our Toyota hamburgers: reliable and good, but bland! There was an impressive statue on a corner and I will have to research Jesse Chisholm later. The Methodist church building looked unusual to me so that gets shared on the photo page.

We passed through an undulating landscape of harvested wheat fields and a number of nodding donkeys, some of which were working, slowly pumping oil. We also passed by a very large wind farm. Contrary to what some may think, I am not opposed to wind generated power, although I will forever consider them ugly and an affront to nature and the aesthetic sensibilities of normal people. And let's not forget inefficient and uneconomical. What I am implacably opposed to are the taxpayer funded subsidies paid to the owners, operators and other stakeholders.

Arriving in Clinton was not a highlight of the day. We stopped for a break and quickly resolved to press on to Elk City. Much better! We may even have Chinese for dinner this evening. But I fear it may be deep fried!

Tomorrow we cross Texas, destination: New Mexico.

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    Duncan learned to ride a motorcycle at the age of twelve on a 50cc Honda belonging to his older brother, Ronald. The arrangement was a short ride in return for cleaning it. He has graduated over the years owning and riding many different bikes, but he has never ridden a Harley Davidson.

    Liz is a more recent inductee to motorcycles, her preferred mode of transport being a VW Golf. Although she rides pillion quite frequently, her luxuriant hair needs careful consideration. On a bike trip her best friend is her hairdryer; and a hot shower every morning is a sine qua non.

    Having grown up in South Africa, home for Duncan and Liz is Melbourne, Australia

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