Ely to Milford, UT - The Longest Day

Stats Wednesday, Aug 11 – day distance 147; Trip time 12 h 28 m (19 hrs); Ave Speed 11.76; total climb 6620; total distance 740.6

The day called for us to ride from Ely to Baker, NV. 63 miles. We ate a large breakfast at the Nevada Hotel and Casino in Ely. In between these two towns lay Connor’s Pass, the highest on Hwy 50 in Nevada at 7722’. The wind out of Ely was energy depleting. However, by the time we reached the ascent for Connor’s Pass the road direction had changed and we had the wind to our backs. We actually went up the pass with moderate ease for a climb. As Mickey says, the wind is your best friend or your greatest enemy.

Arriving in Baker about 3:30 we ate lunch at a nice little restaurant which served a number of items for vegetarians. This was surprising since one has to want to go Baker to be there. About seven miles south of Hwy 50, it’s not on the way to anything, unless you are going to Milford, UT. But then only trans trans continental bicyclists would want to go to or through Milford!

Camping in Baker was not an inviting thought. It was windy, very windy, hot, dry, and a little dusty. At 4:30 we made a decision to begin the next segment to Milford, UT. 84 miles. Why? Because the wind would die down after sunset. But we would also be in a very remote area of Utah (try desert) at night. We were sick of the wind. So weary of it that we were willing to ride another segment the same day and most of that at night.

We bought a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of jelly, along with 3 small loaves of banana bread from Silver Jack’s Motel, Restaurant, Bakery and Deli (check out the souped up Eureka vacuum cleaner hanging from the ceiling). At 4:30 we committed ourselves to 84 miles!! Oh, by the way, extra water also.

The wind remained constant until 8:30 (about sunset). We stopped and ate half a loaf of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and the three loaves of banana bread. As it got dark we noticed a couple of decaying cow carcasses. Had the cows died during the winter, or were there mountain lions or extra aggressive coyotes in the area? We convinced ourselves the cows had died during winter.

Then it got dark. Mickey had an attached bicycle headlight. I had none. We rode with his light. The wind did abate. But it is a little eery riding in the desert at night alone. The stars came out. Brilliant they were!! We counted 22 shooting stars throughout our night ride, one of them exploding reminding one of a 4th of July firework.

Nineteen cars met us on this segment. Five passed us. One which passed us about 12:00 midnight was a pickup which then stopped about a half mile beyond us. “Why did he stop?” we ask ourselves. “If he turns around let’s split up.” We had a plan. But then he started to roll again in the same direction. Soon his tail lights disappeared.

We had to summit three passes. In the darkness we could see a light a long ways away. “That’s our next climb,” we said. “It’s above us.” The light was distant, distant, distant. Is it a car, a truck or a another bicyclist? We couldn’t hear anything. Then about 45 seconds before the light met we heard it. It was a truck, a tractor-trailer! We had a long, long, ascent. We had watched the light descend for a long time.

When you climb a pass, you work hard. Hearts are pumping. Sweat is flowing. On the descent, however, you stop working. Especially when you can’t override the distance of your bicycle light. So it’s continually riding your breaks. Can’t go too fast. Don’t know what lays beyond the beam of light. Your hands get fatigued with depressing the break levers.

“What was that? I think it was a coyote.”

At one time Mick exclaimed, “We just passed a skunk! He was running in the same direction we are riding.” Good think he wasn’t standing still with tail up!!

On the climb of our last ascent we are working hard. For me 50 pedal strokes standing – 50 pedal strokes sitting – repeat. Finally we reached the summit of our last ascent. Turned off the lights for a final view of the Milky Way. Now down 14 miles to Milford. It’s now about 3:15 am. We are exhausted. But we must stay alert for cattle guards on the descent. Three miles down we are soooo cold. We stop and put on extra clothing. Arriving at Milford at 4:00 am we got a motel and went to bed.

A 147 mile plus day. A new personal distance for each of us. But we paid a price!!