We spent the night in the Dayton State Park campground and got chowed by the mosquitoes. We woke up around 7:30 am, packed up, grabbed breakfast and water from the grocery store (it was the last store we would see for 80 miles) and took off into the desert a little after 9 am.
Empty in the desert. Peaceful.
After yesterdays recovery day of covering 40 some miles we were ready to put in work. Luckily the route for today was in our favor, downhill for the first 50 miles.
We pedaled hard and ended up in Fallon, NV by about 12:30 pm. Morning talk revolved around sports (shout out to the Hawkeyes and Buckeyes) and I had the privilege of learning about Jack's senior thesis for his journalism major. Jack went in and broke down the two categories that all sport fans fall into.
We stopped in Fallon, NV and loaded up on that young dollar menu at Macky D's.
Lesson #16: Prioritize water above everything else.
Leaving Fallon we were entering a 300 mile stretch of road on "America's Loneliest Highway" that was broken up in 70 and 80 mile stretches with no water.
No water. No problem. Rock on.
AAA official statement on Highway 50: "It's totally empty. There are no points of interest. We don't recommend it. We warn all motorists not to drive there unless they're confident of their survival skills."
Thankfully Jack had a 3 liter sack that we have been carrying since Fallon. Better safe than sorry.
We biked away from the setting sun and 47 miles into the desert. Around 6:30 pm we arrived at Middlegate, a bustling Nevada metropolis that is home to 17 brave souls.
RIP to #18.
The Middlegate Station was a bar and 8 room motel with free camping out back. We had found heaven. Basketball, a calm and loving dog, good food, fresh water, a shower, and a sink to wash our clothes in. Everything you could possibly want in this world.
Can't let that hoop dream die. Europe here I come.
Lesson #17: You are never to old to do epic stuff with your grand kids.
We met our first fellow cross-country bikers at the Middlegate Station. A grandpa and his 21 year old grandson were traveling the same route across the country.
At the bar we met Buck, a weathered and reserved older man who used to do century (100 mile) bike rides across New Mexico in his younger days. I had bent my back wheel hitting a pothole on a downhill stretch and Buck offered to true (center) the tire for me. While showing us how to true a wheel we realized that we had broken a spoke. Not good. There was around 30 pounds being carried on my rear rack which was supported by this wheel. Buck centered the wheel as best he could and said a prayer for us that we would make it.
The fastest man on two wheels in New Mexico in 1983. Truing up that back tire.
Lesson #18: No need to stress about things you can't control. It will all work out in the end. It always does.
With the back spoke broken, but the wheel trued as best it could be, there was nothing to do except load up the bikes and keep riding tomorrow morning.
We didn't put the rain fly on top of our tent and fell asleep being mesmerized by the stars. Complete darkness thanks to no city lights and being in the middle of nowhere made for an incredible night time sky show.
Thank you Buck for your help - here's to hoping we make it the next 240 miles with a missing spoke.
Two categories of sports fans:
ReplyDeleteBig Ten Lovers and all the other phonies.
Lesson #18: No need to stress about things you can't control. It will all work out in the end. It always does.
ReplyDeleteToo true. Excited to feel like we are a part of your adventure! <3