Outliers

One meets all kinds of people on a trip like this. It is one of the most stimulating and interesting developments. Phil suggested I write a little about some of these characters.

Some of these folks are "outliers"; people might make that comment about the members of our group, too.

There are two athletic studs from Tennessee, teachers and former college athletes, equipped to the "9's", who are going across the country on the same route. They leave us in their mirrors each day, but then the next day we encounter them again, no further along that we. Makes us wonder what they do after they pass us.

We spent two days riding with accomplished biker Robert, a 66 year old man from New Hampshire, his 19 year old daughter Kim who "rows" for Loyola of Maryland, and her friend Sarah who will begin her Junior year at Sarah Lawrence. What was especially remarkable is that the two young women had wiped out at high speed on a tight corner, but insisted on biking on despite Kim having the worst case of road rash I have ever seen and Sarah a broken finger. Sarah had never really ridden a road bike before, but had no problem keeping up with the group. Today they headed north toward Yellowstone.

Just before dark last night we met Rudy Van Prooyen, a native Netherlander who was seeking a place to camp or crash. We invited Rudy to join us at campsite and for breakfast this morning...a breakfast prepared by Phil, who has been such a "provider" for us along the whole route, through the whole experience. Rudy is an inveterate biker who travels the world raising funds for the cause of Blue Planet. Rudy left Bloomfield Hills, MI, first of May and is soloing across the country, pulling a trailer containing "his support".

Today we came upon a guy named Richard who is hiking across the country, deciding on this venture "after months of prayer", he said. He told me people call him "Rainbow", and he was dressed in the colors of a rainbow.

So there you have a verbal picture of some of the interesting people on the road.
--gary

6/13/11 What's so amazing about grace.

6/13/11
My family is encouraging me to report about what I am reading on this trip.  So periodically I will be talking about some insights that fit the book and this riding experience.  I have down loaded WHAT'S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE by Phillip Yancy to my Kindle.  I am about half way through it, and I am floored by his insights.  I decided to read it because I thought he might have complementary thoughts to LOVE WINS by Rob Bell.  He does.  I have enjoyed especially his insights about those folks who deliberately sin believing they will be forgiven anyway. More about that later.
OK so how does that fit this trip?  What sins are we deliberately committing?  HA. We're not telling. (None actually, we're too tired.)

Today - 77 miles from Eureka to Ely (EELEE). There were absolutely no services (no stores, gas stations, parks, porta potties, water sources - nothing.). The riders climbed four passes of 7,200 feet or more.  There was at lease one 10 mile down hill!  What a joy.  Another joy is the wind at our backs. Tomorrow from Ely to Baker there will be no services for 64 miles.  This is really rural country folks.  Our sag car is staying close.  The riders take off and an hour later Phil catches up to them with water and food.
This is a Motel 6 night.  Phil's not cooking tonight.  OK Jan I concede.  Cooking takes a lot of time, and planning takes some energy too. So maybe I can learn to share the load wen I get home. I cannot believe I just said that.

We have met a few interesting other riders.  Gary agreed to tell you about them.
Phil

Nevada is a trip!

This is the 10 million I missed

I have found Nevada to be a great state.  Between snow-capped mountains and dry desert floors, the views are open to all, including bicyclers who can take their time to look around and see the sights.  I am looking for a really intelligent person who can develop a use for sage brush.  The supply is unlimited, as are the opportunities once a use is discovered.  Think about it! 

I had a chance to win $10 million in a Nevada casino, but for some reason, didn't win the full amount-just enough to cover my investment plus $3.  I left a richer and wiser man.

Gary has turned out to be the strongest mountain rider--the mountain man!

Phil has turned out to be an excellent chauffer, cook, trip organizer and finds the best deals in town for lodging.  Today, with 15 miles left to go to Eureka, he also became a cheerleader, encouraging us on for a few more miles.  He is also keeping up the blog for the rest of us, and we appreciate that as he keeps our families and friends informed of the progress we are making.   Water is an important commodity, and as we crossed a section of Nevada with no services for 73 miles, I learned to drink more than ever before.  Pete has been encouraging me to do this ever since our trip together to Atlanta in1996,   Usiing a "camelback" water carrier on my back allowed me to drink just by biting on a mouthpiece on a tube connected to 70 ounces of water.  The water just pours down my throat without the trouble of getting a bottle out of the cage, opening the top, lifing the bottle above my head, squeezing or sucking the water out, closing the top and putting it away, all the while controlling the bike with one hand.

Ten years ago when I did the cross county bike trip with Judy, I said I would do it again any time.  This is the time!  Judy and I celebrated our 45th anniversary yesterday via phone.  Not exactly the same, but will have to do for now.  Stay tuned.

Dave G.

6/12/11Austin to Eureka 69 Miles

Campsite at Eureka

Austin Pass 7212 ft is very steep.  The riders had an immediate uphill from 5500 feet to 7200 in two miles.  It was granny gears all the way.  But the down hill .... it kept going, and going and going for about five miles. The riders reached Eureka about 2:00. And we are gathered in a coffee shop doing this.  Our camp site tonight is grassy and compact.  No picnic table but we'll make do.Gotta go to see if I can find some food to fix.
Phil

Camp Site in Austin NV

Oops.  Rich caught me with an error.  CPAs have a way with numbers. Austin is located at 6600 feet not 5,500 ft.  I guessed.  The grade up was between 8 and 10.

6/11/11 Middlegate to Austin 63 miles.

Left Middlegate camp at 7:00 AM. Rode 14 miles to Cold Springs for breakfast. This route is very hilly with grind away uphills and very fast down.  The valleys between the passes are gently slopping either up or down. The riders hit Austin about 2:00 - 63 miles.  The camp ground was owned by a Baptist Church and we showered in the church itself.  Austin is built on the side of a mountain.  It seems kinda dead.  The local bar was something to behold. The camp was on a high escarpment above the main road.  The temps fell, and the wind was gusty and we were shivering as we ate our supper. We hit the tents at 8:30 PM!!

A rest Day then a LOOONG Ride

Campsite at Middlegate

Dave's idea of edible road kill.

6/9/11  A rest day in Minden.

We sat around in the AM doing laundry, writing blogs, and waited for the car to be fixed.  We we were warned that the car might take all day, but we had it back by 11:30 am.  So we took a side trip by car to Lake Tahoe.  In the late afternoon, Gary and Pete rode out to the CA/NV state line where Phil pick them up the day before. They did not want to miss any miles riding across county

6/10/11  Minden UT to Middlegate, UT

Phil’s first biking day.  Enroute Phil hit a hard bump and had a blowout.  It took about 20 minutes to replace the tube and to patch the hole in the tire.  Temps were in the 80s with clear skies. The route was basically down hill to Fallon and we cruised long at 25 miles per hour for a few miles.  At Fallon craziness set in and Gary, Dave and Pete decided to go another 50 miles to Middlegate after having ridden 76 miles.  They did it, but were they ever dragging.   Middlegate is not even on most maps. It was formerly a Pony Express station.  It is now a unique, old, junky, rustic bar/grill, camp ground.  Camping was free and we even had a shower available. We cooked dinner and hit the tents by 9:30.

Fair Play CA to Minden NV 70 miles

6/7/11     Writing from the side of the road 6/8/11 9:00AM

From Folsom to Fair Play CA, 50 Miles many hills.  Up at 5:00 Am.  Riders left camp at 8:00 AM.  At 12:00PM arrived in Placerville for lunch, then headed for Fair Play.  There are no camp grounds in Fair Play, so we found two cabins on the side of a hill.  They were great.  The riders were beat.  To bed by 9:30.

6/8/11

Up at 5:45. Breakfast of Jan’s granola, boiled egg, and banana. Riders left cabins at 7:45. This is beautiful country.  The roads today are a lot like the tunnel of trees in Northern Michigan.  Traffic is light to non-existent.  Today is all uphill with a goal of getting over Carson Pass at 8,500 feet. 

6:00 PM in Minden NV.  We made it.  The downhill was exhilaration Dave said he hit 42 miles per hour.  We decide to motel it.  We also decided to take tomorrow off to rest, re-organize and get the air conditioner fixed.