Day 14: Shamrock, TX to Weatherford, OK

104 miles | 6:19 in the saddle | 3,000+ feet of climbing

We are in Oklahoma and rolled along Route 66 today—starting with a strong tailwind that made for a fast morning, then mostly crosswinds for the rest of the ride. I rode solo for much of the day, enjoying some music on the quiet roads, and then traded pulls with Fred for the last 15–20 miles. It felt good to finish early—and even better to realize we’ve crossed the halfway point of the ride, both in miles and in climbing. We had a good visit at the Route 66 Museum during our last SAG this pm which was a nice change of pace.

When I strained my left knee on the very first day, I honestly wasn’t sure how many days I’d be able to keep riding. A big part of what has kept me on the bike is recovery every evening with a portable ultrasound device, sam (sustained acoustic medicine) for soft tissue injury treatment. I’ve been using it on both knees and IT bands, and today my left knee felt better than it has since the start. Huge thanks to Bob Ashley from www.samrecover.com for introducing me to this tool—I wouldn’t be here without it!

We’re halfway done, and I’m grateful to still be rolling strong—especially knowing every mile helps support Marion Medical Mission and Kids’ Chance of Michigan.

Way to go Lions! Off to Lucille’s for dinner.