As we all know, only Mad Dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun, but now we can add bicyclists going across America.
Today's ride started our crossing of Nevada. Mike Bosomworth (who recently finished his ride across America) told me it was the toughest state he had to cross) and I had dire feelings about this ride in the desert. I was hoping to do 100 miles and I knew it would get pretty hilly towards the end of the ride when I'd be most tired.
It didn't help that one of the first street signed I encountered was called Breakaheart Dr.
Of the 4 century rides I have done in my life, this one was the easiest.
It was hot, in the high 80's in the mid morning, and in the high 90's by afternoon, but it never went over 100 degrees and the temperature and terrain reminded me so much of our 9 year stint in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia almost 30 years ago that I felt quite at home. The first 50 miles were mostly downhill (albeit very gradual) and the last 50 miles were undulating hills that would extend up to 5 miles or more to the crest and another 5 or more to the trough. The road conditions were very smooth and I was averaging around 20 mph throughout the trip.
About halfway into the ride I caught up with a 19 year old young man from Connecticut named Josh Montanero who is also riding across America (who isn't these days?).
I was very impressed with this young man. When I was 19 years old I was still trying to figure out which finger I should use to pick my nose and this guy is bicycling across America by himself. Josh is taking a summer off before he starts college. It was pretty hot when we were visiting and he was feeling a little blue. He hasn't met up with a lot of people and he was really glad to see anyone, including me.
We talked for a while exchanging experiences when Jaine pulled up in the SAG wagon. Jaine's maternal instincts kicked in and she immediately adopted him. "Would you like some Gatorade?" "How about some CLIF bars?" "Here have some water!"
I was going at a faster pace than Josh so after a nice visit, Jaine and I moved on, heading to Middlegate. (Jaine had a great ride that day, too, she rode 35 miles and got some great photos and videos of Top Gun flyers doing a bombing run out in the desert.)
Middlegate is a place in the desert that looks kind of like a scene from Waterworld except without the water. There are a lot of strange, wild looking characters out in the middle of nowhere.
They look rough, but it turns out they are really nice people. The saloon/restaurant at Middlegate is authentic rustic and has a lot of character. Apparently all of the Top Gun pilots from Fallon Naval Air Force base ride the 50 miles on their motorcycles just to have a burger at this place (the burgers are famously awesome) and there's lots of squadron stickers all over the place. The ceiling of the establishment is totally covered with dollar bills from people sticking a buck on it, I would be surprised if there was $2000 on the roof of the place.
Russ, who wears a cowboy hat and Fredda run the place and they are the nicest people and make great food. We left a 'care' package for Russ to give Josh with lots of good stuff to eat and $40 in a Teddygrams box to help him on his way. Jaine and I decided to stay for dinner and when Josh rolled in, we bought him a meal.
Well, it's another 100 miles of desert riding today, wish us luck!
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