July 23 Crossing America

Ely, NV – Eureka, NV Distance 82 miles, I rode them all.
Total distance traveled through today 3,386 miles, on my bike 2,843.

At 3:30 yesterday, forgot to include in July 22 journal, morning I woke up and had an urgent need to relieve myself, it’s an old guy thing, instead walking to the toilet I stepped into the woods behind my tent which opened up into a small meadow, looking upward across the meadow a mountain and just above the mountain was the Big Dipper star cluster.  It looked so close to the top of the mountain it didn’t take much of an imagination to think it had just taken a dip of smaller stars out of the mountain.  I can’t ever remember seeing stars within the dipper before, it was an awesome sight.  I thought how insignificant I am or for that matter mother earth is compared to the galaxies of stars.  Wondered to myself how many others might be on a far away planet looking into the sky wondering the same thing, mind boggling for sure.

US Highway 50 “The Loneliest Road in America”, yep I agree totally.  We have to do big miles each day as there are NO Services between each of the towns, absolutely nothing but sage brush and road kill jackrabbits and rattlesnakes.

Nevada Landscape its all the same in this part of the State

I don’t want to forget the ravens as they are there forever more.  Every once in a while I’ll see a live jackrabbit scurry across in front of me or to the side of the road.  The landscape, it’s the same as it was yesterday and I’m told the same as it will be for the next few days.  Guess you won’t get to be seeing many pictures from me for a while.

I must say “The Loneliest Road” does give me the opportunity to reflect on life, my life more specifically and what is important in the remaining years I have or for that matter will there be more years?   I’m definitely not interested in being tied down to a business
anymore.   I’m thinking I’d like to share my life experiences and the experience of this adventure with folks.  Maybe just maybe inspire them to make time for themselves, to live life now not tomorrow for tomorrow may never come andto love what God has given you a life to live.  If you feel stuck in a life you don’t like and you feel miserable then change it.  Yes, it is within you to change your life.  The problem we FEAR change.  Someone once said all “FEAR” is False Evidence Appearing Real, I like that definition.  So get off your duff, myself included, and live life.  It is time to be “Happy for the rest of your life”.

OK, enough philosophizing back to today’s adventures on the road.
We climbed 4 mountain passes each one steeper while I got weaker.

This is for you Mrs. Robinson

But by golly I climbed all four of them no hitchin a ride today.  I even managed to get passed by only one other rider today, Mark.  He’s a tough old bird and I admire his ability to grind out every mile and even take side trips that I wish I had done.  Upon arriving in Eureka, I first checked out tonight’s campsite a city park, Ike was there as he had left camp this morning at 4:00 AM.  He and I then went back onto main street and joined Mark at a diner for some lunch.  After eating I visited with the owner of the café, told her what we were doing and asked if she knew where we could take showers.  She said sure bicyclists are welcome at the city swimming pool for a minor fee but they might even wave that as we are doing a charity ride.  I thanked her and spread the word with 8 other members of our crew in the café then Mark, Ike and I left for camp as we saw the vans go by and knew could get our street clothes and toilet kits and head to the pool.

Upon arriving at camp, we shared with the other riders there about the showers available at the pool.  Also, I noticed a small group of folks grilling in the park and went over and casually asked if they were cooking our dinner, semi joking but you never know what the answer may be.  Yep, the gal in charge said sure we are doing a community service project and many of the folks went home and there would be plenty of food to share with us.  I
thanked her and passed the word around to our crew members who were present.  After taking our showers I came back and formally introduced myself to the lady’s husband Jeb and asked if they would be interested in considering Bike the US for MS as a service project for 2012?  He said his wife Dorothy handled the details of community projects and we went to visit her.  I again explained the mission and our need to save money wherever possible in order to have more funds go to MS research.  About as quick as I asked she agreed to take the group on as a service project for 2012.   I immediately got a pen and paper wrote down all her contact information, gave her ours.  Later, when I saw Amanda and called her over as she is one of the Bike the US for MS crew leaders and a board member of the organization.  I then took her to Dorothy and introduced them to each other.  I gave Amanda my notes and trust she will incorporate this blessing into next year’s logistics.  While on the subject of logistics, I have to commend Bridget for doing a great job today of seeing to it that us old guys, who are almost always through water breaks before the big van arrives at the designated stops, had water.  When there are no other services for us to obtain water it may mean life or death in this desert environment.  Thank you Bridget for a job well done!

Man made Monsoon time again.  Hard to believe isn’t it.  Bridget had even asked our contact for the city park that the sprinklers were turned off and he assured her they
were.  About half of us had our tents and some contents drenched once again, a repeat of Cedar City.  This time George and Pepper were able to find the control for the sprinklers and got them shut off.  Well at least we can laugh once again for our luck bad luck that is with sprinkler systems in parks.

There you have it.  It was a good day for reflecting on my life.  I managed to ride the entire distance, we made a great contact for next year’s ride, even where to take showers which will make next year’s group’s life a bit easier.

May life bring you much happiness!  The Old Guy on a Bicycle.

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