The Twenty-Second

Alfalfa Bill Century Bike Ride

October 25, 2008, 9:00 A.M., Pennington Park, Tishomingo, OK See Photos of 2007 Century Riders)

The Alfalfa Bill Century Bike Ride has some great rides in beautiful country. We are not the biggest but we sure put on a good bike ride.

There are four route options this year:

Ten Mile Fun Ride: This beautiful, scenic ride is on a level, extra-smooth blacktop, tree-lined road out to the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge and back. In addition to beautiful scenery and wildlife, there are also historical markers indicating the sites of an early Chickasaw school and the cemetery of early settlers. You can also walk or ride on the Craven Nature Trail. The Refuge headquarters was originally the headquarters of the historic Washita Farms. The Refuge Headquarters Area has added an arboretum, a Visitors' Center, and has improved its Bird Observation Tower.

Thirty- Mile Ride: This ride provides a great variety of scenery for a relatively short ride. Heading east out of Tishomingo it turns south on lightly traveled Hwy. 22, crosses a short series of rolling hills on the north and then east side of the Tishomingo Wildlife Refuge. It heads on east onto the historic Twelve-Mile Prairie before reaching the tiny hamlet of Nida. There the ride turns back north on Hwy.78 into a forested region where it passes through the small community of Emet [site of the refurbished historic Chickasaw White House] and continues on north to Milburn. At Milburn the ride heads back west to Tishomingo.

Forty-Six Mile Ride: The forty-six mile riders will head south from Nida and will turn west on Hwy. 199. This will take them past the front gates of pre-Civil War Fort Washita. If you have never visited this restored fort, it is certainly worth an hour or two while you are in the area. [Remember, this is not a race and you'll not receive a gold star for being the first one back to Tish]. We'll have one of our rest stops here anyway. The ride will continue on west to Linn Road [it is newly paved since the last ride]. At Hwy. 377 the ride heads northeast back to Tishomingo. You'll get to coast one mile down Teller Mountain and almost immediately enter the bottomlands of the Washita River. This will take you along the west edge of the wildlife refuge before coming back into Tishomingo. This ride has some beautiful vistas.

The Century Ride: This bicycle ride has always been the "Alfalfa Bill Century Ride. " We always have a full 100-mile ride for those who want to accomplish that bicycling milestone, whether for the first or the 100th time. It is not a race and the only prize is your personal sense of achievement [and your picture posted on this website for the next year]. Oh, we will clap for you when you roll back into the finish. Riders come from Arkansas, Texas, and all over Oklahoma just to ride this century. We always try to lay out the century route like a butterfly or a bowtie.

After riding the 46-mile leg you head west out of Tishomingo to Ravia. Here you turn north on Hwy. 1 to Mill Creek. Turning at the Mill Creek post office you'll head west on a paved road constructed by the Chickasaw Nation. When you reach Hwy. 177 you'll head south until you reach the broad Washita River valley and the small hamlet of Baum. Heading east on a paved county road you'll climb to one of the highest parts of county. This ruggedly beautiful area is the favorite ride for many of past century riders [only the century riders ever get to experience this ride]. The road winds through the backcountry until it reaches the community of Mannsville. Here it heads east on Hwy. 199 for three miles and then turns onto Hwy. 1 again. It continues east and north through Russett and through another portion of the Washita River valley back to Ravia and on into Tishomingo.

All four rides are on paved, rural, lightly traveled roads. [See the area map at the bottom of the page.] Abundant rest stops and sag wagons will be available.

Alfalfa Bill "Power" Cookies:

As always, our famous, homemade, Alfalfa Bill "power" cookies will be served at all the rest stops along with fruit, water, and pickles. If you have never tasted these "alfalfa bill" ride cookies you don't know how good a cookie can taste, or much fun a bicycle ride can be.

Power_cookies

Power Cookie Recipe

The Tee Shirt:

Another Alfalfa Bill Ride tradition that makes this ride just a little different than most rides, is a quality, long-sleeved, tee shirt. It will be provided to all pre-registered riders and is available on a first-come, first-served basis the morning of the ride. [We'll even mail you your shirt free if you register and then can't make the ride. We told you that this is an extra-special ride].

To pre-register, mail the registration form below with a $20.00 check or money order by October 10, 2008 to : Fran Morrell, Tishomingo Development Team, 106 So. Byrd, Tishomingo, Oklahoma 73460. For more information call: (580) 371-3358 (Ask for Fran) or e-mail her: franmorrell@tishomingo.com After Oct. 10 registration is $25.00.

(Printable Registration Form Click Here)

Registration Form

Name (Print)____________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________________

City______________________________________________________________________________

State_____________________________________________________________________________

Zip_______________

T-Shirt Size: [Circle one] S M L XL XXL

Telephone E-Mail_____________________________

Route [Circle One] 10 mile ride 30 mile ride 46 mile ride Century Ride fiets140

Mail Registration to: Fran Morrell
                                        106 South Byrd
                                       Tishomingo, OK 73460
                            (580)371-3358  franmorrell@tishomingo.com

Disclaimer: Neither the Tishomingo Development Team nor any other individual or organization assumes any responsibility for any damages, injury or other problems which arise directly or indirectly from anyone's participation in this event.