Friends,

We have two situations you should be aware of before next Saturday:

1. During the big rains this spring a section of road failed about 12 miles from the finish. It's just before the Lindsay Mayes Bridge that crosses the river on the way to the last rest stop. It's still under construction so WE HAVE A RE-ROUTE. The new route is well marked as always so just follow the familiar yellow directions on the road and you'll be fine. But if you have to know... here's how it works:

After you leave the Chimney Rock Rest Stop and go down the hill to Highway 82, you'll go right toward Salina instead of left. Follow Hwy. 82 for 2.5 miles to the four-way stop in Salina. Go left through town and across Lake Hudson to the first left. Follow Boatman Road a couple of miles and turn right. Go about a mile and take a left, then go south awhile until you crest a little hill and have to go right. Follow that road a couple more miles and you'll come to the last rest stop in the same place it's been for several years.

2. There was some new chip and seal road surfacing this week on Cole-Strang Road from Highway 20 to Strang Road. By the time we learned of it, they were more than halfway finished. Cole-Strang Road is the road that goes north from the first rest stop in the morning and goes all the way to the old Strang Bridge. All four routes use parts of it but the most affected are the 30 and the 55 mile routes. The 72's and 100's get on it further north where it seems to have already been packed down pretty well.

We're watching it closely this week and are working with the County Commissioner from District 1 and other area officials to make the best of it. We have a reroute for the 30's if needed but everyone should expect 2-4 miles of possible loose gravel and a little extra dust from passing cars. The tire travel tracks are already packed but the edges of the road can be pretty rough. Take it slow and stay single file and you'll be fine.

We're known for well marked routes and this will be no exception. By next Thursday or Friday, we'll have everything nailed down with familiar yellow directions on the roads.

We're on it.

Jim Beach
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Great Oklahoma Bicycling
http://damjambicycletour.com
http://tulsatough.com