Day 9 - Battle Mountain, NV to Elko, NV

First of all, if you missed the photos from yesterday's blog, I've added them to my blog. If you're reading this from Facebook, go to the actual blog at www.bobhorn.blogspot.com to view them.


So, today began somewhat leisurely. I could joke that I rode with the slow people. That's somewhat true. But, I wouldn't you to think that they are intellectually slow. In fact we had great conversation. Our route for the first 22 miles was on Mule Shoe Road, a two lane country road that paralleled the freeway. I got a chance to chat with David from Gettysburg, PA and Meiri (french spelling of Mary) from NYC. We chatted for a good hour or so about all topics, mostly our personal backgrounds, careers, and how we got into this crazy notion of cycling across the U.S. Meiri is an oncology nurse in New York, but grew up in Colorado. She's just a year younger than me, so it's refreshing to talk with someone my age. We talked a bit about my family's visit to New York at the end of the ride and I got some tips on places to see. I always enjoy the easy-paced conversations during our rides. Some of the best talks I've had have been on a bike. I imagine I'll have plenty more over the next 40 days getting to know these other riders.


The Nevada scenery was actually quite pleasing today. The sun and high clouds were a fitting backdrop to the green and brown rolling hills and mountains. I had learned in Winnemucca that much of the surrounding mountain ranges are mining areas. Gold mining is the big operation out here. After a pleasant stretch of rural road, we got onto I-80 East for less than five miles to reach our first SAG stop. As we pulled in, the usual spread was already laid out on a picnic table with our ABB roaming gnome keeping watch. I'll find out tomorrow the backstory to this fabled creature. For today, he was just a quiet observer watching all these cyclists eat his stash of Oreos, apples, bananas, and trail mix. Thanks Mr. Gnome. You feed us well.


Before leaving the SAG, Gerard pointed out a historical plaque that had a severe misprint. We read the whole plaque and couldn't find the mistake. He said, "Look when it was dedicated." I looked closer. Hmmm. "Dedicated June 7, 6008" Guess either they're planning pretty far into the future here in Nevada, or somebody in State Government said, "Well, close enough."

We left the SAG stop and soon were climbing Emigrant Pass. Top of the pass is 6089 ft. Back home, that would be a serious climb. Of course, we were starting out at 4600 ft. Now these climbs are a piece of cake. I rocketed up the little hill, then enjoyed the 10 mile descent just almost hitting 40 mph.


When we reached our second SAG stop in the town of Carlin, a bunch of us went to the Subway shop at the truckstop next door and sat down for a good lunch. These guys are becoming good friends now and it's easy to sit and visit longer and get to know everyone better. Most of them will be with me to the end. But five will be leaving when we reach Salt Lake City. And, we'll add 13 more riders for the next section. Boy, will they have some catching up to do!


After lunch, we rolled through Carlin and got on SR221. This quiet route paralleled the railroad tracks and I-80. Both the RR and I-80 go through a set of tunnels. We turned north, went under I-80 and traveled through Carlin Canyon along the Humboldt River. This was the prettiest stretch of the day. I could have stayed in that canyon for 20 more miles. We meandered along the river, gazing upward at the golden-hued rock outcroppings. These were the kind of peaks I'd love to scramble up, just to get the view from the top. We were now well away from the freeway noise and you could hear the quiet river and the songbirds chirping. I expected to see a rattler resting in the sun, but didn't spot any from the road. After some easy rolling through the canyon, we had to walk our bikes across both lanes of I-80 to get back on the eastbound side. From there, we had a good tailwind for a time that took us down into Elko.

About five miles from Elko city limits, I noticed my rear tire was very low. It wasn't flat, so I pumped more air in hoping I could get to town. After a mile further, it was low again, so the guys I was with stopped, and we changed the tube. Our support van showed up and had a floor pump handy to speed up the work. Well, that was my first official flat. A tiny piece of tire wire from the steel-belted radials had worked it's way into my tire. Not bad going nearly 600 miles without a flat. Of course, I had done 1200 miles at home with no flats at all. Maybe I can get across the Rockies and the Plains on this tube. Be praying!


We rolled into Elko and immediately I noticed it was a larger town than the last three. Elko is a metropolis compared to Lovelock, Winnamucca, and Battle Mountain! We stopped at a bike store along our route and I purchased another tube. We were just a mile away from our hotel. Chuck and I stopped for photos at the Welcome to Elko sign and then I saw our hotel down the street. The reader board outside the hotel had a most unusual greeting:

"WELCOME A ERICA BY BICYCLE!"

So... who's this "Erica" and where is she riding on her bicycle? Were they all out of "M"s? Did they not know that an upside-down "W" works really well as a substitute "M"? Even a "3" or an "E" can play double-duty as an "M" if you lay it on its side. Oh well. Too bad we don't have someone named Erica on our ride. She'd love the personal greeting.

Tomorrow, we have our first of two century rides. We'll ride 108 miles to Wendover, NV which straddles the Nevada / Utah border. We'll also enter Mountain Time since Wendover is on Utah time in the Mountain time zone. We have a couple of decent climbs, but nothing scary. For many riders, this will be there very first 100+ mile ride. I plan to ride fast and hard and pace behind someone big. Pray for TAILWINDS!

For more photos from today, visit http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2#100130

For more about the Ride for Impact, visit http://www.rideforimpact.org. Let me add, if you've been enjoying this blog and my tales of adventure and have yet to visit my Ride for Impact site or make a donation, would you please consider doing so? Even a small gift of $5 or $10 will make a difference. I'd love to see us reach our goal of $20,000 for global relief and missions. Thanks for checking it out.

Dist: 74.86
Time: 5:05:40
Avg: 14.6
Max: 39.0
Cumulative Miles: 649
Elev Gain: 2302 ft
Max Elev: 6007 ft
Avg Climb: 2%
Max Climb: 7%

Day 8 - Winnemucca, NV to Battle Mountain, NV

Today was another easy day. Just 55 miles on the schedule. Our load wasn't until 7:45 and breakfast was at 8, so this was pretty much a great day to sleep in and take it easy. When was the last time getting up at 7 was "sleeping in?" After a small breakfast at the hotel, most of the riders took off for their route. A handful stayed back to attend a real western rodeo. My roommate, Sean from London, and Hans from Switzerland, had never seen a rodeo, so this was a treat for them. But, I had a third option.

Since I attend and am employed at a Foursquare Church in Bothell, WA (Eastside Foursquare Church), I learned from my pastor's administrative assistant that the Winnemucca Foursquare Church was pastored by an old friend of hers and was from Eastside Foursquare Church years ago. I decided to look them up and found that their church was just a few blocks off our route. It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning as I rode through downtown Winnamucca and found the street that would take me to their church. It was 8:30 and quiet on these neighborhood streets. I parked my bike outside the front door of the church and didn't see much going on. The service wouldn't begin until 10 a.m. I checked the door. It was open.


As I walked in, I heard worship music playing and saw a handful of people in the small sanctuary worshiping and preparing for the service, an hour away. I talked briefly with Zack, an intern there. Asked him about their congregation and explained what I was doing. Then after chatting, I asked if I could receive some prayer before I pedaled on. He introduced me to the rest of the group, I shared more about my ride and that I was part of Eastside Foursquare in the Seattle area. Then they prayed for me--praying for safety, health, my family back home, and for opportunity to be a blessing to the other riders and people I meet along the way. I gave them a couple of my fliers about my ride, then wished them God's blessing and pedaled off. What a great way to start my day! I was blessed. It's great to be a part of a family where you can find others that will welcome you and give you a blessing for your journey. I smiled as I rolled toward the I-80 under the warm summer sun.

Nevada was showing a different side of herself today. The puffy white clouds against a brilliant blue sky hovered over green and brown rolling mountains. The road unfurled ahead of me. What a difference from yesterday riding in rain and dark clouds. Perhaps there's more to this dessert than I initially thought. Since I had delayed my departure from Winnemucca, I was riding alone. Michelle, our staffer driving "White", the white van, spotted me and pulled me over. She shared with me about a construction zone ahead and reminded me I'd be riding on the left lane inside the construction barrels. I got some Gatorade powder from her, thanked her, and pressed on.


The route was on I-80 for most of the day. The roads were fairly quiet today, being a Sunday morning, so I enjoyed the scenery and the easy ride. After riding through the construction zone, I began the approach to our one and only climb today. We had a 3.8 mile ascent up to Golconda Summit. It was only about 800 ft. of climbing, but after a few days of flat riding, it gave me a chance to sweat and breathe a little deeper. As I neared the summit, I spotted a couple of cyclists stopped at the roadside. It was "Young Bob" and Carole. Both in their late 60s (maybe 70s, but I always guess young). Bob greeted me, "Hey Bobby!" in his Bronx accent. I call him "Young Bob" and refer to myself as "Younger Bob." Because he really is a young guy, just living life in a somewhat more senior body. I'm continually amazed at these people that are a handful of years older than me riding each day. They're strong, tenacious, and full of personality. We chatted briefly, then I climbed to the top of Golconda Summit where I found a few more riders talking with Michelle about the next construction area. We'd have a long stretch of very bumpy roadway that had recently been graded. Oh fun.


At the top of the summit, I could see the Interstate below extending to the east like two straight runways. My mom had said there were sections of Nevada highway that were pencil straight. Here it was. We enjoyed the long descent and then found the bumpy section. It was "Magic Fingers" massage for my legs and arms as I bumpity-bumped over more than 5 miles of graded road. Jack and Jay both had flats. It was a two-for-one special. Buy one get one free. Brad mentioned he had stepped out into the sagebrush to tend to some necessities and heard a rattler. Glad he went to the bathroom *before* he heard the rattlesnake.

The rough section eventually ended and I broke out in song. Oh the joy of smooth pavement once again! The rest area and our SAG stop was a few miles ahead. I pulled in and fueled up. Apparently, I'm becoming quite the SAG stop eater. Brad later mentioned to me that he and Sean "Wrench", our staff mechanic, were talking about SAG stops and how much people eat. "Some people just eat a little," Sean said. "And some eat A LOT, like Bob Horn!" he said. Great. Just call me the Locust.

After eating, I decided to add some air to my rear tire. The valve stem had busted a day or two ago and I suspected that as soon as I added air, it would break completely. As I released the pump, all the air blew out immediately. I guess, technically, that's my first flat of the trip. But, it was a technical flat, since I hadn't actually punctured the tube. I changed out the tube, had our mechanic Sean, help me wrestle the tire back on the wheel, and was glad for the available floor pump here at the SAG. If you're gonna get a flat, get it at the SAG stop.


Brad and I left together and as we rode, we could see in the distance huge black storm clouds forming and moving northeast right over I-80. We rode slowly, determined to avoid the rain and a repeat of yesterday. The winds were picking up and the temps were dropping, but so far, we were still dry. With about five miles to go, the clouds were still moving, and appeared to be moving in the same direction as we were. If we could keep the same pace as the storm, or move slower, we could stay behind the storm and stay dry.


We pulled off of I-80 and began riding into Battle Mountain. The storm had obviously passed through her minutes earlier as the road was wet. But we were behind it. We had beaten the storm. Now we enjoyed riding through Battle Mountain, checking out it's old restaurants and storefronts which had changed very little in the last fifty years. The hotel was just ahead, dark clouds now in the distance. Other riders at the hotel that came in ahead of us had gotten wet. But not us. The simple joy of beating the storm. And even better, the joy of not having to wash the bike.

Tomorrow we ride to Elko. This 76 mile ride will give us another climbing opportunity. But the bigger challenge lies in the two days after Elko: 108 and 117 miles each. In the next three days, we will cover just under 300 miles of Nevada and western Utah. Long days indeed.

For more photos of today's ride, visit http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2/100123

For more about the Ride for Impact, visit http://www.rideforimpact.org. After a full week and a day of riding, would you consider supporting me on the Ride for Impact? You can donate online and help me reach my goal.

Dist: 56.05
Time: 3:33:11
Avg:15.7
Max: 34.5
Cumulative Miles: 574
Elev Gain: 1465 ft.
Max Elev: 5140 ft.
Avg Climb: 2%
Max Climb: 6%

Day 7 - Lovelock, NV to Winnemucca, NV

"He sends rain on the just and on the unjust..." (Matthew 5:45) Here we are in the Great Basin of the Nevada desert, where the annual rainfall is about 8 inches. This stretch of Interstate 80 usually sees temperatures in the 90s this time of year. But not today. When we came back to the hotel after dinner in Lovelock, thunderstorms were moving in. Flashes of lightning appeared in the sky and thunder rolled across the basin. The rain came. When we awoke at 6:00 a.m. this morning, it was still raining. All the cyclists were putting on their best rain gear and preparing for a wet day.


Being from Seattle, riding in the rain is no big deal. I don't enjoy it. But, I've done it enough that I know what to expect. No matter how much clothing you put on, if you spend enough time in the rain, everything eventually gets wet. And once you're fully wet, you really can't get any wetter. My roommate from London looked outside and echoed my sentiment... it felt like home.



We biked to breakfast at the Cowpoke Cafe a half mile down the road and enjoyed a big farmhouse breakfast replete with hotcakes, bacon, sausage patties, muffins, fresh fruit, juice, and black coffee. After fueling up, we hit the road. Today's route was more pleasant than the 5 straight hours on Interstate 80 yesterday. Our first 25 miles took us along rural, tree-lined roads (isn't everything rural out here?) We passed cattle ranges, small homes surrounded by rusted tractors and farm implements, and wide open spaces of shrubs and sagebrush. We saw our first rattlesnake roadkill. I stopped and took a picture. Might not document all the roadkill I see, but this was worth a photo.

An Amtrak train went under us while on an overpass. The passengers dry and resting comfortably, I'm sure. We met our first tunnel, albeit, a very short one, when we rode under I-80. A flurry of birds scattered out of the graffiti-covered tunnel as soon as we rolled through. The roads were empty today. I was riding with Chris, a 50+ gentleman from Columbus, OH, and with Sean from London, and Brad from Ohio, for a little while as well. Sean took the liberty to ride on the left hand side of the road since traffic was non-existent. "It's raining and I'm on the left-hand side of the road. Just like London," he smiled.

We reached our first SAG stop at 24.5 miles. The rain had stopped, but as we pulled in, it began again. Great. Right as we're getting on I-80. We'll get soaked by all those big rigs flying past, kicking up water in our faces. Oh well, as I said, once you're wet, you really can't get any wetter!

I got on I-80 and pretty much was riding alone. I was pleased too find out that most of the semi trucks were courteous and moving to the fast lane before speeding past us. Guess those truckers have a heart. The water was really just a light spray when they passed. And you got a nice push from their blast of wind. Fortunately, I-80 was once again flat and we had a wonderful tailwind, so the miles went by quickly. After 16 miles, we exited the Interstate and rode 5 more miles on a frontage road. I was feeling tired. Not physically exhausted, just sleepy, actually. So I pulled out my iPhone and turned on something to keep me awake. The Dave Ramsey Show. All alone in the Nevada dessert and I'm listening to financially-focused talk radio. Seems about right.

I reached the second SAG stop and the rain was barely falling, but I was soaked and ready to warm up. I quickly stopped by the America by Bicycle van and trailer, checked in, then went inside the truck stop to join three other cyclists dining inside. A grilled cheese sandwich, cup of soup, and black coffee re-warmed me and gave me the needed energy to tackle the remaining 30 miles.


Leaving the SAG, the sun was shining, but as I looked east on the horizon, I saw angry black clouds. Well, I guess tornadoes would be next. Fortunately, we saw no tornadoes, but the rain sporadically fell once again while I biked in I-80 for another short 17 mile section. I saw a cyclist coming up behind me. It was Chris. He flew past after saying hello and kept it in high gear to evade the rain. I plugged along and soon found our exit of the Interstate.

Just 9 more miles and I'll be in Winnemucca. I picked up my pace and saw signs that the town was nearby. Big billboards announced the hotels available at the next exit as well as all the usual fast food stops. I passed a gas station that was overgrown with weeds and brush. It probably hadn't fueled a vehicle in at least 20 years. Where I come from, developable land is valuable. This site would have been demolished and condos would have been built in its place. No sense in tearing it down out here. Just let it sit.


Now I was in Winnemucca. The rain was still coming down when I stopped for a photo at the big lighted sign announcing the town. The hotel was just up the street. Ahh, how good will a shower feel! When we pulled into the hotel and I walked inside, I saw half of our riders sitting by the fireplace, still in their cycling clothes. The rooms weren't ready. I guess the shower will have to wait.

Tomorrow is "sleep in day." Our ride is a short one, just 55 miles to Battle Mountain, NV. Hopefully the weather will be better. But if it does rain, at least we won't be out in it very long. Of course, this mid-50s weather is probably far better than the 90-100 degrees they typically have!

For more photos of me in the rain and large trucks blasting by, visit http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2#100115

For more information about the Ride for Impact, visit http://www.rideforimpact.org

Dist: 75.25
Time: 4:24:50
Avg: 17.0
Max: 37.0
Cumulative Miles: 515
Elev Gain: 1441 ft.
Max Elev: 4485 ft.
Avg Climb: 1%
Max Climb: 7%

Day 6 - Sparks, NV to Lovelock, NV

Tailwinds Rule! We departed Sparks under a sunny sky with winds coming from the southwest. The temp was around mid-60s and I decided this was the day to wear the sleeveless jersey. A few other riders commented on my attire. One of our ride leaders said, "You're going sleeveless already?" My decision would prove to be a good call when the desert temps reached 85, which is still pretty cool for this region.


We rode through Sparks for a few miles toward I-80. After 3.5 miles, we entered the Interstate. Many of us were worried about 80+ miles on the highway, but we immediately noticed that the Interstate wasn't as bad as we imagined. The shoulder was wide and clean, free of most of the junk a cyclist finds there--shredded tires, metal junk, and assorted garbage. Best of all, the route was flat and for the better part of the morning, we were enjoying a tailwind!


I began riding with Brad, Chris, and Alex. Soon, Brad and Chris had put quite a distance between themselves and me. Alex drifted back and soon I was on my own. No problem. I enjoyed the morning's tailwind and was seeing an uncustomary average speed of 19.0 mph. Mile 32.5 was our first SAG stop of the day and I was pulling in there after just an hour and half of riding. After getting some food, purchasing a Nevada magnet for home, and checking in with my wife, Brad and I hit the road together. We took turns pulling and in good paceline fashion, covered the next 35 miles quickly.


A paceline is the only way to travel across this Nevada desert. But you have to know the rules and customs to do it right. Those of us used to pacelining have figured out quickly who knows what they're doing and who is still learning. Riders take turns riding at the front of a line while the others tuck behind and enjoy the slipstream created by the forward riders. After a few miles, the first rider pulls to the side, drops to the back, and the second in line takes a turn pulling. Other tasks the riders need to do is point out obstacles and hazards on the pavement. Brad and I cooperated in this and soon Judy, one of our ABB staffers, joined our line. She commented at our second SAG that she appreciated how we rode. Predictable, consistent, and communicating with each other.


At the second SAG, we had covered 67.7 miles and the day was wearing on me. I still had energy, but I was feeling road weary. The Nevada scenery had offered all it had to show and unlike California where there was something new around every corner, we had seen the same brown mountains, scrub brushes, and occasional salt flat. It was beautiful in its own special way. But, I realized why I slept through this part of the country during those family road trips as a kid!


At the second SAG, I devoured several oranges, cookies, and pretzels. Refilled the water bottles, and rested up for the last leg. Brad and I left with Leigh also joining us. The three of us made quick work of the ten last highway miles and then we left I-80 and got on a frontage road that would take us into Lovelock. Brad was having tire problems so he pulled off to add more air and Leigh and I pressed on. The last ten miles into town were tough. Not so much due to anything other than the monotony of the road and the increasing desire to get to the hotel. The most interesting moment was when Leigh spotted a coyote about 200 yards away along the railroad tracks running parallel to our frontage road. I may have seen a lizard running into the shrubs. Perhaps we'll see more wildlife tomorrow.


We finally rolled into Lovelock. The town was simple, but quaint. It brought back memories of National Lampoon's Family Vacation. Little motels and small shops with aging signage and weeds growing up around the buildings. We found our hotel at the end of the street running through town and I was grateful for the finish. We had covered 92 miles in under five hours. That's a good day's work, I say.

Tomorrow should prove to be more of the same. We'll get on I-80, ride 76 miles, and pull into our hotel in Winnemucca, NV. I'll keep an eye out for coyotes and lizards and help capture the Nevada desert experience for you!

For more photos from today including pictures of all that Nevada has to offer, visit http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2/100105

For more about the Ride for Impact, visit http://www.rideforimpact.org

Dist: 92.21
Time: 4:58:35
Avg: 18.5
Max: 37.0
Cumulative Miles: 440
Elev Gain: 1420 ft.
Max Elev: 4471 ft.
Avg Climb: 1%
Max Climb: 4%

Day 5 - Truckee, CA to Sparks, NV

Today we crossed our first state line! We're in Nevada! I slept great last night. Probably because of such a significant effort climbing so much. So morning wasn't such a penalty today. After a good hotel breakfast, we stepped outside to load the trailer and noted it was our coldest morning yet. The guys from Florida were shivering. I said it was balmy and Sean from London agreed. But, in truth, it was about 49 degrees. I dressed in knickers and two jerseys--one long-sleeved--and my jacket. Sean, Brad from Columbus, and I rolled out of Truckee and headed south towards Lake Tahoe.


We hadn't gone very far when Brad pulled over with a flat. The sunshine felt good standing on the side of the road while he struggled with his front tire. Soon Gerard, our fearless ride leader, pulled up. He was in "Silver" (each van has a name, either "Silver" the silver van, or "White" the white van) pulling the trailer. Gerard is a master bike mechanic and had Brad's wheel shipshape in no time. We rode about 11 miles south to Squaw Valley Ski Resort where we accessed the bike trail that would follow the Truckee River. The views along this easy bike trail were outstanding. It was another day basking in God's creation.

Sean, Brad and I took our time rolling along the bike trail stopping here are there for photos. We posed on a bridge and took turns with each other's camera. I stopped and sat on some rocks for a quick portrait. Overall, we just soaked in the scenes unfolding all around us. Several resorts were positioned right on the river. I could envision a long weekend here with my wife. So much to see and do.


We rolled out of the river and were now in Tahoe City riding on the shoulder or bike lane along Rt. 28. There were plenty of tourism businesses like kayak guides, bicycle rentals, and restaurants, followed by medium-sized but attractive homes positioned right on the lake or overlooking it. We stopped at Carnelian Bay for a great shot looking southwest along the north shore with the Sierra Nevada Range in the background. Sailboats were anchored a few yards offshore. It was a quiet Thursday morning with nothing to do but ride and enjoy the view.


Kings Beach was the next small town followed by Brockway where we found the Brockway Bakery and pulled in. America by Bicycle does a great job of not just picking the route, but suggesting good stops along the way. The sun was shining on the outdoor patio tables so we plopped down our stuff and went inside to select from the wide array of baked awesomeness. The aroma when you opened the door was overwhelming. Everyone knows that bicycling and bakeries go hand in hand. Today we were just proving the point. I settled on a raspberry danish and espresso. As we sat outside enjoying our mid-morning snack, we discussed the upcoming climb. We were going to tackle 8 miles of climbing Mount Rose. Our destination was the summit's pass at 8900 ft. But before we would climb, we would enter Nevada.


My friend, Chris, had commented on a Facebook post that we should check out a hotel/casino that straddles the state line. The bakery owner said it was the CalNeva hotel. So, it was settled. That was our next stop. We parked our bikes outside and locked them up and went in. The lobby is split right down the middle with one-arm bandit slot machines and card tables on the left, and well... California on the right! We played a few slots and took photos and then decided to move on.

Outside the hotel was the "Welcome to Nevada" sign and, of course, another opportunity for photos. We had just crossed over our first state line. California was crossed off the list. We were in Nevada. When we finish this ride, we'll have entered a total of 14 states and cycled across most of them. The road on the state line is crammed with hotels and casinos. But after a few hundred yards, they let up. And that's where we start going up.

Rt. 431, Mount Rose Highway, is about 8.2 miles to the summit but only 5 percent grade. That's manageable. It's still an effort, but with the view of Lake Tahoe below us and good conversation, the time goes by quickly. I pulled out my iPhone and turned on the tunes (using the iPhone's speaker of course because it's never safe to bike with headphones. This safety message brought to you by...) Boston was the music of choice to get me and Brad up the hill. Sean had already taken off and was well ahead. We caught Chuck at one point and enjoyed the view from an overlook.

Brad eventually picked up the pace and I enjoyed the scenery and music alone. I crossed 7000 ft. then 8000 ft. At 8500 ft., we were above the snowline and the temp was dipping downward. The views were of craggy trees and scrub brush with snow covered peaks in the distance. Just a little further and I'd be at the top.


The summit was now in view. I spotted the elevation sign first. "Mt. Rose Summit Elev 8900 - Highest Year-Round Sierra Pass." Then to the left in the parking lot, I saw our van and trailer. After the requisite photos under the elevation sign, I rolled over to the SAG stop. It was windy, cold, and I was hungry. So, I made a PBJ, ate some oranges, rice krispies treats and whatever else wasn't nailed down. There was a 3ft. pile of snow next to the restrooms and I could tell this pass had recently seen snowfall. In fact, it was slightly sleeting while I was there. Now bundled up with every article of cycling gear I had with me, I descended the 16 miles down into the valley. The crosswinds were enough to keep me on the brakes, so my top speed never went above 36. The air temp was 46 when I left and steadily increased as I descended. When I reached the valley floor, it was near 70. That felt better. My numb fingers were un-numbing. Now, we enjoyed the tailwind into Sparks with a brief stop at a cycling store, a couple of minor wrong turns, and soon the hotel was in sight. First stop after checking in... the hot tub. The routine is forming. And I think I like it.

Tomorrow we are on Interstate 80 for the majority of the day. Our distance to Lovelock, NV is 91 miles. That sounds like a lot, however we have a 10-15 mph wind out of the southwest. That will be at our backs all day, prayerfully, and we can probably knock this distance out in 4 or 5 hours. So pray for the tailwind to continue!

To see all the photos from today, visit http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2/100098

To learn more about the Ride for Impact, visit http://www.rideforimpact.org

Dist: 69.29
Time: 5:00:52
Avg: 13.8
Max: 36.0
Cumulative Miles: 347
Elev Gain: 3958 ft
Max Elev: 8900 ft
Avg Climb: 4%
Max Climb: 9%

Day 4 - Auburn, CA to Truckee, CA

Today started far too early. As Sean the british roommate would say, "It was bloody early." We awoke at 4:45 AM to load the vans at 5 and ride across the street to Denny's for breakfast at 5:15. I really didn't get enough sleep. I went to bed at a decent hour, but tossed and turned for about two more hours. Getting back to the previous evening, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with four old friends now living in the Orangevale / Folsom area. They drove up to Auburn to join me for dinner. My former pastor, Don Roberts, and his wife, Nannette, as well as long-time family friends, Paul & Michelle Darilek, now pastor at East Valley Church in Orangevale. We had a great time reconnecting and hearing all about life and ministry in the Central Valley as well as what I've been up to for the past ten years. Obviously, I shared all about the bike trip so far, but we talked about plenty more and concluded with a good prayer for the rest of the trip and for my family back home. So, I was probably still geared up after meeting friends and didn't get much sleep. So, today started far too early.

After breakfast, I pedaled with Steve from Florida. As a flat-lander from Altamonte Springs, FL, he had no experience climbing the 8000 ft in front of us today. I really enjoyed riding with him, taking it easy and pulling up the initial climbs. A bit later, Jack from PA got on board and the three of us rode for the first 32 miles. Our route took us on quiet county roads paralleling I-80 for most of the way. We spotted a deer around 2000 ft. elevation. The day was getting warmer, having started in the mid-50s, it was in the 70s by mid-morning. Steve sweats a lot. He reminds me of one of my cycling friends back in Bothell. You'd think there was a faucet under his helmet! Conversation was good and we continued to climb into some beautiful scenery overlooking valleys and along roads lined with bright purple flowers.


Our first SAG stop was at mile 25.9 and we arrived there at about 9:30 AM. After filling up on peanut butter sandwiches and fig newtons, we refilled our water bottles and continued our quest. We linked up with Leigh from Seattle and Hans from Switzerland and the five of us had to stop around nearly every corner for another breathtaking view or photo op. Leigh had spotted a rusted out Model A sitting in the woods. I jumped off the bike, handed her my camera and climbed inside for another unique photo.

We crossed a series of railroad tracks and even had a train roll past us, blaring its horn. What a view that engineer has rolling through these mountains and forests. Hey, we have that same view! We continued winding up and around these wooded roads and reached our intersection with Interstate 80. We would now get onto the shoulder of I-80 and ride about 9 miles to exit 156 where we had to regroup with other riders and be escorted through a construction zone. The ride along I-80 wasn't too unbearable. The traffic is swift with semi-trucks and passenger cars, but the shoulder was wide and the grade wasn't ever worse than 5%. We had been climbing sections that were between 9 and 13%, so this was in some ways a break.

I decided to put on some music on my iPhone (no earbuds allowed) and tried to listen to my cycling playlist (a mix of worship, CCM, and 80s tunes) while I climbed. Between semi-trucks, I could catch a few seconds of music. I passed signs for 4000 ft. and 5000 ft. elevation and then the highway flattened a bit until we reached our exit. We pulled out, met about 10 other riders, rested for a half-hour, I got some ice cream, and then we walked our bikes up the on-ramp with our construction escort until we could safely ride down I-80.


Our next exit brought us into the absolutely most beautiful section of cycling I've ever experienced. We were on Hampshire Ruck Road which becomes Donner Pass Road. We were following the S. Yuba River for several miles and at every turn was another visual feast of God's creation saying stop here! Look at this! I spent most of this section just praising God for His beauty and relishing in His creation all around me. Take a minute and look at the photos linked at the bottom. I took a lot!

At Donner Pass Road, I reached 6000 ft. of elevation and began to feel hungry. Hmmmm. If you know the history of the Donner Party who traveled through here 150 years ago, you'll know why. But rather than eat a fellow cyclist, I decided to pull out the Kendall Mint Cake my british roommate had given to me delivered straight from London. It's the original Clif Bar and was carried to the top of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary himself (well, not THIS one.) It's like a sugary block of minty sugar. It pepped me up and gave me minty fresh breath, too!

There was more climbing to do as I neared 6500 ft. and then crossed I-80 and pulled into our final SAG stop of the day. I was feeling the high altitude a bit. Made another PB&J, ate a whole orange, and loaded up on all I could. We had 3 or 4 more miles of climbing to reach the summit at 7200 ft. and then a crazy descent down to Donner Lake and into Truckee.

At the top of the pass, I spotted a sign for the Pacific Crest Trail. Grabbed a photo and emailed it to my hiker friend, Matt. He's been on a lot of the PCT, but probably not here. Met two other riders at the pass, put on more clothes for the descent, and then took off. I was fairly conservative on this descent. Some of the riders go "full-tilt-boogie" but I decided to brake, watch the corners, and live to tell about it. My mom will be glad to read this.

At the bottom, we rode along Donner Lake after stopping for some more construction, and then rode into Truckee. The Old Town section of Truckee is another unusual downtown area replete with historical buildings, old storefronts, and hotels. We turned the corner, climbed one more short hill and found our hotel. I found the hot tub. And then I found dinner. Wow. I don't think I've experienced a more beautiful day of cycling. For most, this was an unusually hard day. It was a challenge for me, but I felt great through all of it. It was an effort, but an enjoyable one and not the suffer-fest that others are complaining about tonight.

Tomorrow, we ride south out of town and flank the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe. It promises to be incredibly scenic. We'll cross our first stateline and enter Nevada. We'll spend the night in Sparks, just east of Reno. I'm sure there will be cyclists gambling, but I'll probably read a book. Or, write one. Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying. And thanks for all the posts I got through the day. I'm truly entertained by each and every comment, text, or email. And I read them all. God bless and see you in Nevada!

For 130 more photos from today, visit: http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2/100090

For more about the Ride for Impact, visit: www.rideforimpact.org

Dist: 76.26
Time: 7:09:23
Avg: 10.6
Cumulative Miles: 278
Elev Gain: 8225 ft.
Max Elev: 7053 ft.
Avg Climb: 3%
Max Climb: 14%

Day 3 - Sacramento, CA to Auburn, CA

Today was the easy day. But even on easy days you get to put forth some effort. Our day started with partly cloudy skies that became increasingly overcast, but not even a suggestion of precip. Our route took us a mile up the road to a restaurant for breakfast. I chatted with Mary from New York and Ed from Maple Valley, WA and learned more about their backgrounds and favorite rides. Ed, who is in his 50s, has ridden many of the same rides as me so we compared notes about last year's RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day) and likened that experience to some of the climbs ahead of us.


Following breakfast, we accessed the Jedediah Smith Bicycle Trail at Discovery Park. I was riding with Leigh, Zero, Sean, and Steve. The morning was a bit breezy and in the 60s, rare for this part of California, but it made the biking great. We soon discovered that this trail is outstanding. It runs along the American River through Sacramento but you would never know you were in the middle of the city. The trail is completely wooded with views of the river, bridges, and parks. And it's flat. We sailed along enjoying the easy pedaling and casual conversation. After 15 or so miles, I decided it was time for a necessary break. The others pedaled on but I recaught Leigh and began discussing how pacelining behind people who really don't have all the skills for pacelining can be precarious. In short, being from Seattle, we totally know what we're doing. :-)


At one point in the trail, we came upon two recumbent riders stopped at the side. One was inside a fully enclosed shell that looked like part F-16 fighter jet and part bike. It would be just the rig to take us across the Utah Salt Flats in the coming week or two. We chatted a bit, took some photos, and pressed on. Our route brought us to the Folsom Dam where we saw fisherman bait fishing in the middle of the river. We passed Folsom Prison, which I learned was made famous by Johnny Cash when he performed there in 1968.


Soon we were pulling into our SAG stop at Folsom Lake just above the Folsom Dam. The picturesque location of our stop made all of us linger in the sun, which was now coming out, and relax in the grass or sitting at water's edge at a picnic table. I made a couple of calls to home and friends and then picked up Brad from Columbus, OH and Has from Switzerland for the next leg.

We were on Auburn Folsom Road which was rolling terrain for about 20 miles. It reminded me of many of the routes I ride in Snohomish County in Woodinville or Maltby. The shoulder was wide and the pace was fast. We began climbing up right after the Auburn City limits sign. With sweat now pouring down our faces, we paused to enjoy the view overlooking the valley below. The hillside was dotted with mega mansions. Yeah, I could live here.


As we crested the top of the hill, we regrouped and decided to stop at a nearby pharmacy. I was in a quest for contact solution and this place ought to have what I need. While they didn't have the solution, they did provide a unique photo op. We could trade our bikes in for these powered mobility scooters. That'll get us over the Rockies!

Next we dropped into Old Town Auburn and took our time riding through the streets. We spotted a Bike Shop and pulled in to have a look around. Plenty of new models of bikes, all the accessories we could desire, and a chance to chat with the staff about Auburn. This is as much of a cycling mecca as my hometown of Seattle. We sure saw our share of cyclists today enjoying the roads.

A block up, we stopped at a small cafe for a light meal and more conversation. We had added Brad's dad, Jay, to our group. Jay and Brad are only biking to Salt Lake City with us. Jay is actually finishing his final installment of the Cross Country Challenge which he started in 2006 by riding from Pueblo to Indy. In 2007 he rode from SLC to Pueblo and then Indy to Portsmouth. Now he was cinching the deal. His son, Brad, 35, was really thinking about calling in sick for another 30 days and finishing the ride with us.

After lunch, we finished the final miles up out of downtown Auburn, across I-80, to our hotel. It was only 2:00 p.m. Tomorrow's route will decidedly take longer!

Tomorrow we load luggage at 5:15. The bulletin board says "Luggage at 5:15 AM. Yes, 5:15 AM" Then we climb 8000 ft. of elevation over Donner Pass to Truckee, CA. Total miles will be 76, but it'll be the long slog up the pass that will really hammer on us. Stay tuned and expect plenty of cannibal jokes tomorrow.

For more photos from today, visit http://gallery.me.com/eternaldesign2/100080

For more about the Ride for Impact, visit www.rideforimpact.org

Dist: 53.88
Time: 3:45:27
Avg: 14.3
Cumulative miles: 201
Elev Gain: 2572 ft.
Max Elev: 1654 ft.
Avg Climb: 3%
Max Climb: 10%