McBRAAM Stage 13: Pampa, TX to Elk City, OK..."Making sweaters in Texas."

1,375.5 miles ridden.
54,473 feet climbed.

In our first 15 miles today, I was collecting cotton by the spool. I was pulling it off constantly, and finally gave up a few miles from our first stop. Zoom in on the picture below and note all of the white cotton "thread" streaming from left to right. The wind was blowing about 10 mph from our right, which was mostly cotton fields during this part of the ride.

We are both experiencing a new cycling sensation for us, related to the familiar lactic acid surge cyclists are all too familiar with. What is new to us, is that now, after every stop, regardless of length, as soon as we hop on and start pedaling again, regardless of how easy or hard we pedal, we are getting a huge and painful surge of lactic acid in our quads that starts 10 seconds in and subsides after about 30 seconds. I think our legs are starting to mount their own form of rebellion.

We will eventually ride through 9 states, but it's time for a mid ride ranking of states according to their quality of roads for cyclists.

1. New Mexico - red clay pavement mix made for the smoothest surface I've ever ridden on.
2. Arizona - wide shoulders and fairly debris free.
3. California - unpredictable from very good to very terrible.
4. Texas - every county had their own version of pavement ingredients.
5. Oklahoma, - starting low, but with potential to rise in the days ahead.

Another SAGMan moment I'll share. The other day we were riding from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and then to Las Vegas, all in New Mexico. On our way up to Santa Fe on Sunday, there was more traffic than expected, and Pops commented, "I can't believe all of this traffic on a Sunday going to Las Vegas." I asked him, "Why would they go through Santa Fe to get to Las Vegas?" "To gamble, I guess," he said. Hmm, better check that map again, SAGMan.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1227434796
https://www.relive.cc/view/1227434796

Hotel: Flamingo Inn, 4 of 5 stars (largest single room of the trip and recently remodeled).
Restaurant: Roma's, 4 of 5 stars (more Italian, but very good).

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