Cooky's Solo

The cold, snowy weather finally broke and with the month winding down, it was time to ride a 200k. No one I knew could ride this past weekend, so I took off on the Route 66 & Cooky's Pie Permanent on Sunday morning at 6:30 in a heavy fog. Rail traffic has been down, but I had to wait for a train at Nichols Junction. Fortunately, it was a short train. I had already gotten damp from the fog and would chill quickly whenever I stopped for any length of time. The ride outbound was uneventful, and the fog held up all the way to Golden City. Riding in the fog is almost like riding at night. Many of the landmarks disappear, so that the sense of time and distance is lost. Judy, my wife, met me at Cooky's for a leisurely lunch, and the fog had broken when I left a little after Noon.

The Cooky's route has a number of dogs that usually aren't much of a problem, but this time there were some new ones. I was chased by two large dogs at one time on the way out, but easily pulled away. Fortunately, they were not around on the way back. Inbound, there was a large German Shepard, with a cowbell tied to its neck, that charged about a hundred yards across his yard. Now why would anyone tie a cowbell to a dog unless it is to warn of your imminent demise. The Shepard stopped about 10 feet away after four or five sharp NOs, although he may have also recognized the can of Halt! I had in my hand.

As I was passing the Springfield airport, I heard the train whistle behind me and I was glad I beat it to the crossing on FR 124. I then heard the whistle ahead of me at Nichols Junction, so I expected it to be clear when I got there, but it was a coal train that was still adding cars in Wyoming. I made it back a minute after 17:00. That makes at least one 200k each of the last seven months.

Waiting for the train in the damp dark














Still foggy in Halltown














About 1/2-mile visibility














Ready to head back



















New signs on Historic Route 66














End of the coal train