2015 Summer Vacation Road Trip Thursday June 11thru Sunday June 14

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Thursday morning the trailer is loaded and ready to roll. 

Sam helps put the finishing touches on the trailer.

We are headed up to the Tulsa Tough in Tulsa Oklahoma. It is a huge weekend of racing and riding.

After all these years we are going to go and see it for ourselves.

We got into camp without a hitch. A good nights sleep and the next day finds us headed to the 

Registration for the Grand Fondo and to watch the races for the evening. Our riding friend Pam has

Come up to stay with us and ride.

If you ask anyone in Tulsa where the Blue Dome is they can tell you however why it came to be 

The few I asked didn't know the answer. Below is the story of the Blue Dome it now represents the entertainment district of Tulsa. Tonight it has some of the coolest bike racing out there.

The Blue Dome was built in 1924 and served as the White Star Gulf Oil Station. Someone suggest to C.J.Chastian the owner to paint it blue and call it the Blue Domehe did and it stuck.This was the first station in Oklahoma to have hot water, pressurized air and a car wash. It was also open 24 hours, seven days a week. The station attendant lived upstairs in the dome itself. It is now the icon for a downtown Tulsa neighborhood. 

Here is Tyler at the front of the peloton. This field for the category 2/3s had 111 riders in it.

At the end of the race the Matrix guys finished with Chris Carlson finishing 4th. Above in the photo the rider third from the right is Chris.

Friday night it started raining and continued into the early morning. Pam, Jim and I paced around 

Trying to decide should we stay or should we go. Finally putting on our kits off we go. We parked in

A near empty parking lot and rode over to the start. The ride took off at 7:30 we left about 8:10. 

The great thing was it wasn't raining, it was overcast and a great temperature. We caught up with riders as we went riding along.

Route 66 passes through about 8 states. In it's heyday it was called "Main Street of America"or "the mother road" it was decommissioned as a highway in 1985. It has been called the most famous highway in the world 2,000 of it's 2,448 miles are still in use. A section of the road was taken from Oklahoma to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. I hope you enjoyed this little bit of info about Route 66.

Riding out on the 40 mile loop it goes along the Arkansas River. Tulsa has developed a long trail system along it. Along the way there are many bronze sculptures. This eagle caught our eye as well a the Bears in the fountain below.

We cross over the Arkansas River and we are headed to the country.

There was quite a bit of climbing on this ride. After a particularly long climb we got to the top and saw Tulsa in the distance.

As we crossed the finish line we were handed these medals. Let me tell you these we're some medals.

In fact they we heavy medals plus an added feature it was also a bottle opener.

After the ride we had some lunch and went back to the trailer. Doogie and I walked the park. There is a

Trail that almost goes all the way around. He enjoys it. Lots a great smells.

 At the finish line the officials have quite a set up to keep track of the races. 

The boys are staying cool while warming up. Wait a minute that doesn't make a lot of sense.

The guys are warming up on Cyclops trainers supplied by the Saris Company.

Here Jim is catching up with Ron and his brother Jim. Ron words for Saris.

This is a great location on the course to watch the race go by. The fans are quite the hecklers.

Reminds me of cyclocross races.

Here they come! The climbs are a great place to shake up the peloton.

A good friend once said "Don't waste shade!" Finding shade here in tough.

Here is Tyler with Mr.Jimmy. The team didn't podium but they raced really well. 

After the race we went down to a resturant and sat outside for dinner. Mike Pluto has joined us and will be riding tomorrow as well. But right now we have to eat and run the rains are coming.

Fortunately it does and leaves just as quickly.

Rest up, get up and ride tomorrow . Good Night.