Day10 – Elko, NV to Wendover, NV via Piquop and Silverzone Passes, 10 Jun 2014

Map and Pics:  Click Here for Map and Pics.

Miles 629 to 737, 108 miles (1st Century), 3,350 feet of climb, max speed: 47 mph, avg speed 17 mph

Ruby Mountains near Wells, NV

Because today’s leg of the trip demands it, we loaded our bags before dawn. This was our first century (a daily leg over 100 miles) of this tour and my first official one. There were four significant climbs today starting at mile posts 34, 50, 60 (Piquop Pass @ 7000 feet), and Silverzone Pass (6000 feet) at mile 76. Although the grades were tame (4%-6%), there certainly were enough of them. I finished in 6 hours 28 minutes. The speed was abnormally high due to a tail wind at the end of the day and the final descent into Wendover. At tonight’s Route-Rap Dave (Canada) and I were given certificates. Al, the lady’s man, enjoyed his 93rd century today, and when we arrive at the Atlantic he will have bagged his 100th century. That is impressive.

The other impressive thing that happened today was our Brits. They went back to the place of yesterday’s accident and started pedaling from there. It added 12 miles to their 108 mile day, but they explained that they wanted to ride from ocean to ocean and they were not going to miss an inch. She rode hurt, but she rode proud, and still whooped half the riders to the hotel tonight.

Peter joined the group today, and what a day to start on! Two years ago he was doing this same tour and had to be excused from finishing due to a family emergency. He put in his bicycle exactly where he left off two years ago. Although older, he is a very strong rider. Not much chance of adopting him into the Final Four.



Fixing my 4th Flat



A highlight of today was stopping at McDonalds to quality test their ice cream cones (they passed, twice). I sat down with a local and we started to talk about the area. He supplies pumps for many of the gold mines in the valley. Several other riders joined the conversation and we all found it quite interesting. The other local industry is a prison out in the middle of Independence Valley. I thought that was somewhat ironic.

We were up early this morning and while waiting to load I was able to call and catch Norm, Dwayne, Raymond, and Chuck at our weekly Tuesday morning prayer breakfast. They had some good news to share about a medical test that one of our members had taken. They also mentioned that they were lifting me up in prayer and following my progress. They have been such brothers to me for over a decade.

Bottom Line: I am so jazzed. I have never done an official century before.