The route today from Eureka to Austin, Nevada, was pretty straightforward. A 500 foot descent, then 40 miles of flat, a 1900 foot climb, and a 1000 foot descent. We had a great tailwind for most of it so we flew along at 20+ mph. After a few of the days we've had it felt like cheating. But as Tom said, "we deserve it." I'm happy to report that my Garmin came back to life so I was back in the numbers today.
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| It was nice to cut through a range rather than climb over |
The weather and the terrain were more of the same. Clear, cold in the morning, and warming steadily. Ridges and vast basins.
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| This range reminded me of the Wilsons near Telluride. Do you agree? |
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| An impressively vast expanse of nothing |
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| US-50 is called "The Loneliest Road in America" |
After the last climb there were a series of switchbacks that descend into Austin. It was vaguely reminiscent of cycling down the road from Haleakala in Maui, which Lisa and I did many years ago.
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| Switchbacking down into Austin |
At the motel in Eureka there was a group of 5 guys riding Harleys across the USA. They had left from Maryland 9 days ago and were heading for Reno today. We offered to trade bikes, but there were no takers. Last night when they arrived they all whipped out rags and started polishing their bikes. That got me all bothered because my bike was really dirty and I've been too lazy to clean it. So today when we arrived in Austin shortly after 1PM and our room was not ready, I negotiated with the motel owner/clerk/housekeeper to provide a hose, bucket, and soap. Now our bikes shine just like those Hogs.
There is a cycling tour coming through Austin tonight. It's a state-line to state-line trip across Nevada called OATBRAN (One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada), put on by Bike the West. They limit registration to 30 riders because there are only 30 hotel rooms here in Austin.
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| Looks like we'll be sharing the motel with other cyclists |
At the one and only open restaurant in Austin: only half the menu was available, the surly waitress spent most of the time laughing at something on her cell phone, and from the bar in the other room we could hear some guy, presumably the owner, spewing misinformed political invective at the TV. Austin definitely lacks the charm of some of the other stops on the lonliest road.
It does not seem possible that we are only 5 days away from finishing this thing. In a way I am looking forward to it, and in a way I am not.
Today's ride: 70 miles, 2982 feet of climbing, awesome tailwind.
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| This rolled through town as we were sitting outside our room. I have no idea what the story is. |
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| The road to Fallon tomorrow: 110 miles |
So, I'm not sure if I am offended by the "even Lisa would have enjoyed ..." comment, or just simply in agreement that it sounds like my kind of cycling conditions. Good to hear that you're breezin' into the West Coast!
ReplyDeleteJust a factual assessment, dear.
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