Privilege

Stats Friday, Aug 6 – Carson City to Fallon; day distance 64.5; ride time 4h 11min (6 hrs) ; ave. speed 15.39; total climbing 1,162; total distance 332.5. (elevation at Carson City 5000’ / elevation at Fallon 4,000’)

We stopped at a Starbucks to upload some pics to Facebook. Met Michelle who is touring solo from Denver to the Bay Area.

Then later we stopped at a local café outside of Carson and tanked up on pancakes, oatmeal, and potatoes.

Today was almost like a day off. A thousand feet of elevation loss and a tailwind (mostly) to go along with it. We started at 8:30 and arrived in Fallon about 2:30. The previous days we’ve been at it almost all day.

I’ve mentioned this before, but people are very nice to us. Heading out of Carson City today the map was a little off. We were supposed to follow Hwy 50 east. But then 50 joins 395 and becomes a freeway with a “no bikes allowed” sign. We are standing on the side of the road trying to figure out what to do when an SUV pulls up. Out hops Bill Story, the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Manager for the State of Nevada (He hands us his business card). He says, “You look like you could use a little help with the route.” He told us that, “50 used to be here but now it’s over there – just follow this road down to the casino (it’s Nevada) and you will be fine.”

Twenty miles before Fallon we met Rena and Chris. They were touring west from Delaware to San Francisco.

In Fallon we stopped at a Walmart Supercenter. Yogurt, cereal, fruit, beans, salsa, corn chips. We are “eating in” tonight. We are grateful it is Friday. We are even more thankful tomorrow is Sabbath. We are not riding. Our bodies need a rest.

For years I thought that if I had a 120 mile week that was pretty good. There’s simply not time for much more. In four days we traveled 332 miles. I love the view from all the spinning and shifting. I love the West. Even the Nevada desert. The sky. The clouds. What a privilege to experience this adventure!!