Today over 11,000 riders crowded Scott Street in Wichita Falls for the 26th riding of the Hotter’n Hell Hundred. I was one of those.

Unlike last year I did manage to find my wife at the finish line even though her cell phone again refused to make calls. She borrowed a fellow shopper’s cell phone and called my cell phone which was working. My theory is that an over load of 832 area code cell phone arrive in Wichita Falls and the local roaming carrier is overwhelmed. I guess not many riders with 936 area code phones were since mine worked.

This year there have been some nice improvements with pre-registered riders not having to wait in line for half an hour like last year. At the start “street” (Scott St.) the different riding distances were separated by large pylons on trailers with the distance marked on each one. As that group was ready to start the pylon was moved out of the way.

Weather was great. When I finished at 1:17 PM it was 88 degrees with a light breeze.

I arrived at Hell’s Gate before the cutoff time but decided to go the short cut anyway. The short cut rides through Sheppard Air Force Base. As I was riding down the base’s main street airmen and air women were lining the street shouting and cheering as the riders went by. I should have been the one shouting and cheering them but that is difficult while riding. I was very touched as I was also by the four T38 trainers that flew up Scott Street from the south shortly after 7:00 AM before the start. After they passed the starting line the T38’s pealed off one by one. Proud to be an American overwhelmed me.

My wife took pictures at the start line. Behind a few feet was a father and his young son getting his bike adjusted. I did not get their names but here is the picture.

Future Rider in Training. Link to fullsize picture (2MB)

I will post other pictures shortly.