Camping in City Park & Saddle Soreness

Stats Monday, Aug 9 – Austin to Eureka; day distance 70.2; ride time 4 h 50 m (6 h); ave speed 14.03; total climb 2,907; total distance 516.4.

Last night we slept in the city park – for free! I had read journals of other previous transcontinental cyclists who have done this and been awakened by the automatic sprinkler system. We slept on a concrete picnic area that had a canopy. So, we thought we were pretty safe. After having gotten up about 5:15 the sprinklers came on at 6:00. They shot water partially on the area on which we slept. Rising early has its advantages!

Within the first hour of our ride today we noticed this home site from an earlier era. Mickey, being an owner of rental properties in Texas, is thinking of expanding his holdings (J). In 2005 this place would have qualified as a CA fixer-upper for $999,999. Not anymore.

In reality we imagined the history of this home – the laughter, the tears, the worries, the blessings that took place there as a family “did life.”

Today was a relatively easy day. A couple of climbs coming out of Austin. Then we enjoyed a 35 mile flat to slightly downhill section with a tailwind. This part of Nevada has numerous mountain ranges running north and south with valleys in between. The valleys may be 10, 15, or in today’s section even 30 plus miles wide. Cresting a pass you can see the next mountain ridge 20 or 30 miles away. EXPANSIVE understates the valleys! Photographs cannot portray their scope. Entire cities could be situated in them.

We’ve been on the road now for a week.

We are learning a few things. Like how to deal with one’s derriere. This was a concern of mine as in the past on some century rides I had experienced some saddle soreness. After century rides at home usually I am off the bike for the next two or three days. That’s not an option now. Being on the saddle six to seven hours a day (everyday) has its consequences.

In case you were wondering here’s how we’ve dealt with it. Products (such as Chamois Butt’r) are available to ease the friction and pressure points. However, using this after the first two days it was not a panacea for saddle soreness. I thought to myself, “Guess I’m going to have a sore rear for the next six weeks.”

This is a topic that one can discuss openly with others who are on the road touring. Ryan and Ryan from Chicago gave some excellent tips. Adjust your seat up or down or forward or backward a little every two or three days. This puts the pressure on a slightly different area. Another tip - get off the bike throughout the day. They were on the road sunup to sundown but they might be off the bike as much as five hours a day. So we’ve been stopping every 20 miles and taking a break for 10 minutes – allowing the pressure spots to get circulation again. Also, it helps to stand pedaling. Feeling sore? Just stand up for two minutes. Saddle soreness has not gone away completely. But our backsides are doing pretty well now. One can also shift position and weight on the saddle to one side or the other. Additionally, for us, getting an early start is great. We try to be pedaling no later than 7:30. The last couple of days we’re done by 1:00 or 2:00.

Tonight (as we did in Austin) we are camping in the city park of Eureka. Free. Checked in with the sheriff’s office. They have clean, nice bathrooms. I showered outside with a hose. A city employee came by and adjusted the automatic sprinkler system to come on at 8:00 instead of 7:00. Don’t know if she just “happened” to come by or if she was informed by the sheriff’s office that a couple of cyclists are in the park tonight. Probably was tipped off.

Eureka’s population? 630. The sign outside Eureka advertises itself as the friendliest town on the loneliest road in America.

They’ve done us good!

Rattlesnake on the Pony Express Trail

Stats Sunday, Aug 8 – Middlegate to Austin; day distance 64.8; ride time 4 h 58 m (6 h); ave speed 13.03; total climb 3,288; total distance 446.2. Car count today on Hwy 50 – the loneliest road in America that passed us: 88 cars/RVs and 20 motorcycles. It’s not the loneliest road!

What a day! Breakfast at Middlegate. We were told that it began at 6:00. But it wasn’t really available until 7:00. We packed up from our night in the “sleep shack” (which, by the way, I forgot to mention in yesterday’s blog had no lock or latch – we slept with the door open – any critter or person could have come in).

The restaurant / bar’s ceiling is decorated with dollar bills (mostly $1 bills). There may be $2000 stapled to the ceiling. Seems that the custom is for guests to write their name and the date they visited Middlegate on the dollar bill and then have it stapled to the ceiling. But…we didn’t have the need to leave our signature and dollar bill on the ceiling. So, I guess, we can’t prove were we there.

The breakfast cook was quite the character. He implied that we were a little “soft” as bicycle riders. From Middlegate to Austin two routes are available. One on Hwy 50. An alternate on Hwy 722. The Hwy 722 option included a 7,500’ pass that we did not want to tackle. We will have plenty of other passes to summit in Nevada. The breakfast cook told us than an overweight woman rider had made it up the 7,500’ pass just fine. So…you guys should have no problem.

An hour into the ride we stopped to take a picture of a Pony Express Trail sign. We heard a strange rattle sound. I asked Mick if that was his tire on the gravel on the side of the road. He said, “No.” The rattle continued. It was a RATTLESNAKE! About 10’ from the side of the pavement. For a while we thought about approaching the snake as the late Australian, Steve Irwin, (crocodile hunter), might approach a croc (or another dangerous creature) – pick it up by the tail (say aloud with an Aussey accent). But…we both want to finish the ride. So we declined.

The remainder of the ride treated us to expansive awesome views of Nevada mountain ridges and valleys. Nevada is BIG. One of the “gunslingers” at Middlegate last night told us that the Federal Government owns 93% of Nevada land.

Nevada and its people are great. This morning Ted Oxborrow passed us in a Jeep and then pulled over and stopped to talk to us. “You guys doing Ok? Do you need anything? Do you have plenty of water?” Ted handed us his business card. Ted is the Nevada State Coordinator for American Discovery Trail – Americas Off-Road Coast to Coast Trail. “You call me if you need anything.” Ted grinned and drove off.

Nevada and its people are great.

Oh, by the way, our accommodations tonight? Camping in the Austin City Park. Free!

Middlegate - A Step Back in History

Stats Saturday, Aug 7 – Fallon to Middlegate; day distance 48.9; ride time 3 h 10 m (3 h 20 m); ave speed 15.43; total climb 1,312; total distance 381.4.

We left Fallon a little before 5:00 pm and arrived at 8:20 pm. We took in awesome Nevada desert scenery as the sun went down. Middlegate is an old Pony Express stop. Middlegate was so named in 1850 by James Simpson who was commissioned by the government to define the route west. He identified cuts in the mountains as “gates.” The gold rush increased traffic across the great desert and in 1859 the Overland Stage built Middlegate to service the stage and freight lines.

The Pony Express was in existence a mere 18 months. The legacy it left behind challenges the imagination of the most daring. The job description read as follows: Wanted: young skinny wiry fellows no over 19 years of age. Must be expert riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. Wages - $25 per week. Apply Central Overland Express. Desired applicants were not to be over 120 pounds. They were issued a Bible to help maintain their faith and composure. Hired riders were required to take the following oath: I hereby swear before the great and living god that during my engagement and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors & Waddell, I will, under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will not drink intoxicating liquors; that I will not fight or quarrel with any other employee of the firm; and that in every respect I will conduct myself honestly, faithful to my duties, and so direct my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God.

Impressive! The Pony Express sought to be a service and enterprise of integrity.

At Middlegate, just after dark we observed a couple of guys with gun belts and pistols. Old horse drawn buggies are positioned out front. We slept in a “camp shack,” a small clapboard building with a bed. Quite the experience! We will not soon forget our evening at Middlegate.

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!!

The Winds Will Change

Stats Thurs, Aug 5 – Cooks Station to Carson City, NV; day distance 80.5; ride time 7 h 25 min (10 h 40 m); ave. speed 10.84; total Climbing 7,855; total distance 268. (elevation at Cooks Station 5000’ / elevation at Carson Pass 8,573’ / elevation at Carson City 5000’)

We had a huge breakfast – pancakes, eggs, potatoes. Very inexpensive. Are appetites are returning.

Scenic highlight of today’s section was Caples Lake just before Carson Pass. Absolutely beautiful. Climbing from Cooks Station (a stop on the Pony Express Route) took us mostly up. Occasionally we would have downgrades. I prefer just going up. Not the up and down. My legs scream after having been dormant from spinning. It takes a couple of minutes to work the acid out of them.

We met three people who are touring. Ryan and Ryan from Chicago going to Oakland. Dan from England who had started in Yorktown, VA and finishing in San Francisco. It’s fun to meet other cyclists. We compare notes on locations and conditions.

We are wanting to eat more and more. The first two days we had to make ourselves eat. But now we are hungry. Today at a little after 3:15 we stopped at Woodford. The map said that food was available. But the “deli” closed at 3:00. We had to make do with what was on the shelves. I downed three cans of V8, a bag of potato chips and a can of olives. Drank the olive juice and everything. We crave salt. We are drinking about twelve bottles of water or water and Gatorade a day.

This afternoon the last 25 miles to Carson City took us on country roads that were elevated from the valley looking down and across the valley at Hwy 395. Beautiful. However, it got windy. Side /head winds. I did not feel like pressing on to Carson City. I wanted to stop. I was tired. I thought it may be easier to pedal this section in the morning when the wind might be less. But we pressed on. Then the road turned and we had the wind to our backs with a gradual descent and a newly surfaced road. It was great. Press on through the head wind. The wind or the road (circumstances) will change. It will get better.

We are out of CA and now in NV.

People are Nice & Keep Pedaling

Stats Wed, Aug 4 – Carmichael (Sacramento) to Cooks Station, Day Distance 78.04; Ride time 8:50 total time on bike 6:20 -7:00 (12 h 40 m), Ave Speed 8:82: Total climbing 8,079 feet; Total Distance 188. The picture of the graphic shows the elevation gain from Placerville (2000’) to Carson Pass (8,573’). Cook’s Station is in the middle (5000’).

In Folsom a guy in a pickup with a bike mounted in the bed noticed that we looked a little bewildered about where to go. Our maps (created by adventurecycling.org) are not always accurate. This is not a complaint. Simply an observation. Local conditions change. Routes through towns get altered. Sometimes you kind of have to “sniff” your way around. Anyway, the guy in the pickup followed us into a parking lot and asked us if we needed any help. Clearly we looked like bicycle “tourists.” He gave us clarification. So nice.

I forgot to mention that the previous day when we were looking for Sacramento
Adventist Academy that a lady helped us with directions telling us to keeping following the current street for a number of blocks. She went on ahead. A few blocks ahead she actually pulled over and waited for us to catch up and then told us to keep going. Our nest turn was a little farther. I blew her a kiss as we pedaled by. People have been really nice.

Then just before Placerville another guy in another pickup did the same thing. He waited for a while to make sure we made an important turn to stay on route.

I don’t know what it is. It’s my paniers (touring bags) or Mickeys orange shirt. It’s pretty obvious were not regular cyclists.

Looking back to yesterday in Sacramento – all these people were on the American River Bike Trail – commuting or exercising. Riding faster than us. They all looked so clean and fresh. They reminded me of what one had referred to as the “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd” in Yosemite. The “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd” are day hikers out for maybe a couple of miles. No equipment. No water. Just flip flops and tee shirts. Not serious hikers.

Now, cyclists out for a 20 or 30 mile spin are like the “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd.” Actually, compared to long distance bicycle touring riders I have been a “tee-shirt-and-flip-flop-crowd” bicyclist my whole life! And I will return to being such. But I have such a respect now for the long haulers. It’s not so much about speed at the moment. It’s about the experience of the whole day!

And this day seemed like the most challenging one day physical event I have ever experienced.
Climb, climb, climb. Drink, drink, drink. I ate a can of black beans at 10:00 am (along with a bagel and yogurt) . At 3:00 we stopped at a convenience store. I bought a can of pinto beans. In between 10:00 and 3:00 I have downed a Cliff Bar. I’m trying to eat. But I don’t have much of an appetite. My rear hurts. My knee is sore. (Climbing Mt. Whitney five days previous was probably not a good precursor to climbing the Sierras on Route 88)

Finally we made it to Cook’s Station. Mickey arrived about 20 minutes ahead of me (Mick is a great climber). And the restaurant was closed! It was 7:00. The owner of Cooks Station gave us a loaf of bread and a jar of almond butter – free. Tried to pay for it. Nope. She would not take anything. Took a shower with a garden hose. Downed two Advil PM. Slept on the deck of the restaurant.

Sometimes you can’t stop pedaling even when it hurts.

Trans Am Ride Begins

Stats: Tues, Aug 3 – San Francisco to Carmichael, CA (Sacramento Adventist Academy)

Day distance 110 miles; 8:20 ride time; total time 8:30 – 6:45 (10 h 15 m), Ave Speed 13.19, Total Climbing 2,703 feet; Total Distance 110

Route / Day Description: Started in fog at Golden Gate. Heard a ship’s fog horn blow as we rode across the bridge. Fog persisted as we took the ferry from the SF Ferry Building to Vallejo and continued to blanket the countryside until we reached Benecia (about 10:00). Late morning the sun was out but the air was cool as rolled through Rockville, Fairfield, and skirted Vacaville. By the time we reached Davis it was hot. We stopped for lunch about 2:30 at an eatery in the UC Davis area. After that it was HOT as we plodded into Sacramento and beyond toward Carmichael (reminded me of Texas). West of Sacramento we had about an 8 mile stretch of a bike trail that immediately next to the WB lanes of I – 80 (an elevated section of the highway). It was horribly noisy and hot. By the time we reached downtown Sacramento we were 90 miles into the ride and thought we had another 12 miles or so to go. It wound up being another 20 miles!

People / Experiences: all people we talked to were very friendly. That’s an f…ing great thing you are doing remarked one. A lady clerk in a convenience story told Mickey that she would pray for him. One pickup that passed us on a rural road rudely honked his horn when he had plenty of room to accommodate us. In Sacramento we rode the American River Bike Trail from downtown out toward Carmichael. The ARBT is a 30 mile trail leading to Folsom Lake. Many people were out riding and a few were jogging. We passed a club of about 15 who were assembling for a group ride. Soon they passed us. I was worn out but feeling their draft and receiving their questions lifted me. Quickly I joined their pace line – gear and all and began chatting. Where are you going? Virginia. Wow, cool. That’s on my bucket list. What do you think will be your hardest climb? And so the questions flew.

I was amazed at how much energy I all of the sudden had. Insight: how much easier it is when you have a group of friends who are with you to lift you through the weariness of life.

Also – with Mick on the ride with me there are two. We watch each other’s stuff when one had to use the restroom of wants to go into a store. Having another is good. Having many others is even better.