MidSouth-Little Rock-Nashville Trip
The morning was spectacular. Living in the desert of Nevada we get some amazing sunrises and sunsets. This morning was an extra special one. We have been getting some rain and the remaining clouds made the sky bright pink. The color reflecting off the spring mountains to the west was beautiful.
Car packed, Ali, Penny, Bike, we had everything except for my hat.
This was Ali’s first week running payroll for her job and doing it from the road turned out to be harder then expected. We were on the 40 for almost this entire trip. Old rout 66. We are both very familiar with this road because in 2020 we opened up a new office in Albuquerque. Not wanting to fly during the pandemic we were driving back and fourth from Las Vegas at least two times a month.
We have our favorite stops at this point. Loves in Kingman, Starbucks and Del Taco in Flagstaff, unfortunately our favorite pizza place in Albuquerque is closed now.
That first day we made it all the way to Tucumcari NM. Stayed at a La Quinta because the dog is free. In the morning we met a motorcycle gang out of LA heading to Florida. The waffle machine was broken which made me very sad.
The change of scenery from NM to the panhandle of Texas was noticeable but not as stark as entering Oklahoma. Open Texas farmland with rows and rows of wind turbines, to something on the greener side of brush land at first, becoming oak forest.
The home we stayed at in Oklahoma City was built from the local red rocks that would also color my gravel that coming Saturday.
On Friday morning I set off to Stillwater to participate in the Coffee funride. Met some great people a few I would meet again on the MidSouth 100 next day. The scones and coffee provided by Balanced Coffee Co. were delicious. SRAM was also a sponsor and I now have a sweet bar bag from them. While on the topic of swag, Kuat Racks had the best! Sweet belt that I had a hard time to believe was swag, and a corn cob pipe… because why the hell not.
Got registered and walked around some more, then headed back to Oklahoma City to work for a bit. Made a pasta dinner and got a great nights sleep.
Oklahoma City is about an hour away from Stillwater but there were many more options in AirBnb so that is where we stayed. The drive as calming the morning before the race. I use that word lightly because I am sure it was a race for some but I don’t like getting anywhere unnecessarily fast.
Most of the ride I just have generalities about, beautiful rolling hills, fantastic gravel as smooth as a road, fun humans riding up an making small talk. The aid stations were great, although I was confused about here the Skratch people were making quesadillas, so that was a series of disappointments. It was a blast. The river crossing and single track definitely stick out. While I was at the river crossing there was a guy who tried to get across three times with out falling. Ys that is right came running back across to try again and again. The time he made it the crowd waiting for the muddy narrow log absolutely erupted. I think this was the first year with single track and it was a great addition. So much fun and just the right about of challenge. I am glad that I have made the mistake of grabbing too much front break and going other the handle bars before or there would have been one or two places I would have done it. 90 miles in it would have been brutal but I just said F-it and flew down at a unbounded semi controlled clip. The Bobby hug at the end lived up to the hype. My family comments on my hugs and this is the first time I have understood why. I don’t think most people hug with their whole soul, I don’t normally to be sure but with family it is different. Bobby hugs like you’re family.
Hung out again for a bit and then drove back to Ali. We went and ate an insane amount of Ramen and Karage Chicken at a place that was fantastic. I had low expectations since it was Oklahoma, I apologies, I should not have, not California Ramen but beats a bunch of the places in Vegas.
Next morning we packed up and were on our way to Little Rock. Little Rock was also surprising. Don’t think I went in with any expectations but the art, food, and people were amazing. I am a sucker for a river walk/path and one with great art, you just win in a competition against any city that does not have this. When we moved to Pittsburg I took Ali to look a Boise ID pretty much for this reason. I have a buddy that lives there so getting to see him again and meet his family was pretty special. Biking and Hiking continued the feel of this trip.
The drive to Nashville was uneventful except for the realization that there was a palpable change in driving styles entering Tennessee. Any one form Tennessee doesn’t get to complain about California drivers, they are the LA of the south. Nashville was a lot of fun. The Hot Chicken is not a joke, my stomach was physically warm for hours. One X Hot at Prices if you are wondering. Biked around a bit too, some great bike lanes, somethings labeled “Bike Route” that were death traps! I found myself on Vanderbilt University’s campus, Some great statues in their chemistry department.
It was St Patrick’s day while we were there. A local friend took us out to meet up with a bunch of his friends at Jonny’s. A bar that serves you two of whatever beer you order, and doesn’t warn you, just brings you two like it’s normal. A ton of fun and a bit of shenanigans!
The next two days, Saturday and Sunday were a strait run back to Las Vegas. 26hr driving.
As much as I love our road trips, there is something special about coming back to your own bed. Like after backpacking for a week and that first warm shower. Less extreme for sure but there is a throughline there. Appreciation, I am so grateful for everyone we met along the road, new friends and old and the reminder of how amazing the normal day to day is too.
