Riding Day 11 - On the road again

After a layover day yesterday, we left Baker, NV, this morning at 6:55 a.m. MDT, en route to Delta, UT. Seven miles later we entered our third state and our second time zone, two major milestones. The road from Baker to Delta is pretty desolate, though not without beauty. After crossing the state line, we passed a sign saying "Next Services 83 miles." After going over yet another desert range, with a great descent through a rocky canyon, the landscape became increasingly arid, to the point where we were passing a dry alkaline lake bed that stretched for tens of miles to the south. We finally arrived in Delta, after 96 miles or riding on a day that got pretty hot by the time we arrived at 3:00 in the afternoon. As is their wonderful practice, our loyal support team met us on the road for lunch and a chance to refill water bottles, and then had camp all set up when we arrived in Delta at 3:00. What a succession of blessings they are!

761 miles in 11 days of riding - right on schedule!

First layover day

After 10 days of biking, today was our first, and much appreciated, layover day. We're in Baker, NV, just a few miles from Utah. After some worship, a cleaning of the motor home, and tuning up the bikes, we went up the hill to Great Basin National Park, where we just hung out in a beautiful picnic area for a few hours. Our very vigorous activities included reading, napping, crossword puzzles, painting, more napping, and strolling by the swollen streams. A perfect rest day! Then we came back to metropolitan Baker for a very informal barbecue at the bar that doubles as the campground office. Kelly, who runs the place, is a wonderful, down-to-earth guy. Now we're setting our watches an hour ahead, since we enter mountain time in the a.m., and we want to get an early start on a 97 mile day through the desert in the heat tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes!

Reason #5 - Beauty

I know I’ve spoken quite a bit in this blog about the beauty we’ve been experiencing. Just today I realized that that’s reason #5 (in answer to the title question). We were riding on Hwy 50 from Ely toward Baker, and we had a long straight stretch with snow-covered 13,000-foot Mt. Wheeler looming dramatically over us. Then we went over a moderate rise and emerged at the head of a long valley. We traveled along the upslope on the right side of valley, which spread out to our left, lush and green, to the base of a range of mountains that rose to some snow-covered peaks. To our right, much closer, was a line of rocky, craggy vertical cliffs.

Now, I’ve seen similar scenes before. In fact, Kathy and I drove this highway just two months ago. The difference is that, traveling at bicycle pace and with the ability to look all around, I was able to be immersed in this scene for the better part of half hour, rather than driving through it in a few minutes, with the limited vantage of a windshield and car windows. I began to reflect on all of the different ways in which beauty was presenting itself, most of which I wouldn’t notice from a car, or only notice fleetingly: the aroma of the sage desert, the ever-present bird songs, the seed heads of the low purplish grasses swaying in the wind, and so much more.

Robinson Jeffers said that beauty is God’s signature in the world. If that’s true, then traveling by bicycle is being enveloped in the bosom of the divine.

Day 9 - A little off the top, please

Today was tough, but the riders were strong! 80 miles from Eureka to Ely, with 3 passes of over 7,000 feet, plus one upwards of 6,000. (The base elevation around here is around 4,200 feet.) So none of us would have objected if each of the passes had had a little taken off the top. Still, the scenery continues magnificent, the weather fine, and the wind mostly at our backs. We passed the 600-mile mark today. The days are beginning to blend together, and I've been having to look at my watch to remember what day of the week it is.

We routinely take pictures of the summit signs on the passes, because each one is a major milestone. Here's the first one of the day -- but not the highest.

One more day in Nevada, a layover day (much needed), and then we're into Utah.

Day 8 - Vistas

Day 8 took us from Austin to Eureka, 71 miles with some major climbs, some very fun descents, and more great tailwinds. The vistas of Nevada are so magnificent that it is just breathtaking, and seeing them from a bicycle, outside of the confines of a car, is the way to do it. Trouble is, they are so vast, it is almost impossible to photograph them. The accompanying photo is one of my more successful attempts, but still only gives a taste.

Day 7 - The first week

The evening of Day 7 finds us in Austin, pretty much in the middle of Nevada. The 64 mile ride today consisted of some very long climbs and some very long descents, as we traverse successive "basin ranges" and the intervening valleys. The scenery continues to be glorious, the weather good, the company fine, and the trip altogether as hoped for -- with the exception of a sore butt! Tomorrow I try a new saddle. We'll see.

Yesterday I mentioned how great it was when Janet delivered some ice to the riders. I'm remiss in not giving more credit to all of our wonderful support crew, Kathy and Cindy and Janet. It is truly remarkable to be so well cared for.

Some thoughts on freedom (reason # 4, below). It is amazing and a true blessing to have the freedom to do this trip. Passing a prison outside of Carson City a couple of days ago was a stark reminder of the contrast between the different levels of freedom that people possess. However, in one way I am less than free on this trip, in that my days are prescribed. We rise at 5:30, start biking at 7:00, and spend the bulk of the day in the saddle, making our way to the next stop. It is a very specific discipline, which allows me to utilize my freedom in the way I want. I'm reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who said that discipline is essential to freedom. He said that freedom without discipline is license. If I have the freedom to do what I want, I still don't get those things done unless I have the discipline to do them. This trip is an excellent example of that.

Day 6 - The Beauty of the Nevada Desert

82 miles today, from Lahontan Reservoir outside of Silver Spring to Middlegate Station (don't look for it on a map -- it's a former Pony Express Station between Fallon and Austin, and probably hasn't changed much from its heyday.) Since leaving Fallon this morning we are traversing "The Loneliest Road," although the passing vehicles are not too infrequent. The worst part is the almost continuous rumble strip which takes up most of the shoulder, forcing us to ride in the traffic lane. Fortunately, most drivers are very courteous and give us a wide berth.

Highway 50 across Nevada is a seemingly endless series of mountain ridges, separated by wide valleys. When you clear the ridge and start down, you can typically see for many miles, well up the next ridge. It's a very dramatic landscape. The ride went well again today. One of the major highlights was in the last 10 miles or so, when Janet (Chuck's wife) delivered some ice to help fill our water bottles. Much appreciated!

I forgot to mention an encounter that happened yesterday. As we passed through Dayton, just northeast of Carson City, we passed a man walking on the side of the road, with signs on his back saying (approximately) "End Corporate Influence" and "Restore Democracy." We stopped and spoke with him, and he told us that he and a partner are doing a relay walk across the country to call attention to the influence of corporations in governmental decision making, especially since the recent Supreme Court decision, and calling for an end to corporation personhood. They had left San Francisco 15 days previously. We wished each other well on our respective journeys.

A very short distance later, two young women were walking together, wearing t-shirts proclaiming that they were part of a pro-life walk across the country. We didn't stop to talk to them.

Tomorrow has us going from Middlegate Station to Austin. Only about 60 miles, but several major climbs.