Day 7 – Lovelock, NV to Winnemucca, NV via the California Trail, 7 Jun 2014

Map and Pics:  Click Here for Map and Pics.

Miles 426 to 498, 72 miles, 1,520 feet of climb, max speed: 22 mph, avg speed 10 mph

Lovelock NV was a great stop, and the breakfast there (and dinner last night) were the best meals of the trip. The local diner was just a block from the county seat (a real pretty building, see pics) and Love-Lock Plaza. The tradition is that if you put a lock on the fence there adjacent to the court house your love life will become permanent.

We rode from Lovelock to Winnemucca today. The cottonwoods near the canal in Lovelock was the last seen green. Water is the key to life out here. That isn't completely true. I saw a green truck once. If there was something else green between those two towns I don't remember it.

The views on today’s ride were magnificent! I would say we had views of at least 70 miles in all directions except where there were mountains in the way. Many of mountains were high enough to boast snow still tucked away on the north faces. What a difference from the routes we were riding. The temperature was very reasonable and much cooler than expected – only in the high 80’s. But the wind! We rode into a 20-25 mph wind for over 90% of the ride. It was actually easier to ride facing into it, glad to pedal up to 10 mph on the bike. When the wind blew from the side it was very difficult to stay balanced on the bike (and off the travel lanes of I-80).

With the wind blowing so hard it was hard to hear others talking while riding. I really felt bad for the guys with hearing aids until they told me they had given up and turned them off. At least they had something to keep the dust out of their ears. There was one exception for me this morning. I was riding our route that went next to the Union Pacific Railway. I don’t know how, but a freight train snuck up behind me. When he blew his horn coming to a grade crossing it was still 300 or so feet away – but I certainly not only heard its horn but felt it down to my toes! I had no idea that thing was behind me! It is really a good things that these riding shorts are so tight, otherwise there might have been other problems beside frayed nerves.

We rode through several places that had names but little else. I wanted to visit some folks who lived in the town of Puckerbrush, but they weren't home. They must have gone over to Rye Patch to see if the sun had evaporated any more water out of the resevoir.

Bottom Line: Even sore and miserable, wind in my face, sun on my back, I would not trade this experience for anything else except being home with Young. I have such good family and friends that support me at every turn in the road. Another Wow day.