This morning we packed the bikes and rode to Emory, TX for breakfast with my high school classmate, Linda and her husband Ed. We enjoyed good food and good conversation at Sidekick’s Restaurant. Linda and Ed recounted their recent trip to China and the many things they saw and learned. The first six days of the trip were on a river cruise ship; the last ten days were spent traveling from place to place by plane and train. Their advice to anyone who does this trip – do the cruise part last so you can recover from all the travel and walking.

We stopped briefly at their home to see the many quilts Linda has made. She has a beautiful collection.

From Emory we rode north to Oklahoma City. We stopped at a rest area for a picnic lunch and to soak our wet vests. The temperature wasn’t so high as yesterday – it was in the mid-90s. The vests felt great, nevertheless. I just checked the map data and apparently I forgot to start the tracking app after lunch. We continued up I-35 to I-240, I-44, and I-40.

We checked into our hotel and headed for the swimming pool. The water was very refreshing.

We’ve stayed at this Howard Johnson’s several times. The Shark Week III Gypsy Tour started from here in 2013. Beth and I stayed here in 2016 on our way to Santa Fe and Rick and I stayed here last year on our western trip.

The restaurant next door, Louie’s, was a good sports bar. They sold and it is being converted to an Indian restaurant. The conversion isn’t complete, so we weren’t able to check it out.

Late afternoon members of the Gypsy Tour arrived after a long, hot ride through Missouri and Oklahoma.

We went to dinner with a few friends, then brought the evening to a close. KSU is scheduled for 7:15 a.m., so we better turn in and get some sleep.