Hotter'N Hell Hundred
August 24, 2019
Wichita Falls, Texas
San Angelo turn out for the 2019 ride.
I heard everything from 8,900 to 14,000 attendees. Take your pick.
It didn't seem to be as many this year, and we had plenty of room for the 100K line up.
From the start I held back and gave people plenty of room. Within a mile of the start was the first pile up.
I stopped at the 1st rest stop as "no one" stops there. Wrong. Two loooong lines for the porta potties.
Shortly after the first rest stop, the 50 milers split from the route and it started to thin out a little.
As will be seen, the SAG vehicles had a busy day.
Coming up on the first hill, although hard to see in the distance.
Then we started a series of rollers.
Soon there were just occasional inclines.
And lots of straight roads. This is The Great Plains after all.
Only saw a couple of ambulances put to real use so it was a good day.
But SAG vehicles had a busy day.
Rest stop 3.
I had skipped rest stop 2 as it is a very popular and crowded stop.
The road goes on and on.
Right turn coming up. Change of scenery??
Nope, except the sun was trying to break through.
Rest stop 4. The 50 and 65 milers merge, so this rest stop is always a little crowded.
SAG is still busy.
Whatever I was taking a picture of didn't work, but it turned out to be a pretty good shot of our clouds. It was forecast for a thunderstorm--which didn't occur--but kept the temperature reasonable.
These pump jacks have been in this location for years. Looked like a scene from Cars and the sleeping tractors.
And these looked like a scene from Starwars.
And this a familiar scene from HHH.
Out skirts of Burkburnett.
Young cheerleaders watching the crazy riders go by.
Liked the house and grounds.
Not dramatic in a picture but right after Burkburnett, there is a long incline generally with the wind in your face. But today it was only 9 mph so no problem.
Rest stop 5.
One of our favorite stops as they serve snow cones. The normal snow man is missing from the far end of the picture.
And then we head toward Sheppard AFB>
Besides the early morning fly over, Sheppard opens its gates and lets the riders see the great display of air planes.
Pilots are there to pose with riders and answer questions. Their service to our country isn't 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.
Shift rotation of the airmen cheering section.
Sheppard also hosts one of the rest stops.
Soon after Sheppard, we roll into the finishing area.
Finish line and the end of another great time at HHH. Of course, Christine is waiting for me in the "beer tent" as she finished while I was still on Sheppard AFB. She completed with a 20 mph average, and I finished.
