Today: 117.6 Miles – AVG Speed: 14.2MPH – Top Speed: 32.6MPH
Total: 5,026.2 Miles
So the final century of the tour was completed today. 117 miles and temperatures that didn’t seem too far from that figure at one stage, either.
We planned to be up at 5am today. That may seem borderline madness to you, but Matthias is a very convincing chap when setting out an argument for something he believes in.
“I’m leaving at 6am tomorrow, you can come if you like” was just one of the subtle mind games he used to sell in this particular plan.
Well, we were true to our word and up before the sunrise. As most of you will be aware, the sun is quite hot, you could say notoriously so, and when it is hidden behind mountains in the early hours of the morning, that heat is sorely missed. Bearing in mind we were 6,605 feet above sea-level, those early hours were bloody nippy. Not that temperature extremes were going to get in the way of this fashion show, though. Matthias wrapped up in a very fetching vomit-green anorak to stave of the cold, and I, well I hadn’t planned too well for cold weather, so I wore two t-shirts, which proved ineffective in the battle against the cold, especially in the finger area, but as we well knew, as the morning wore on, the heat would increase, and so it did. Luckily, we managed to negotiate the main climb of the day before 12pm so things were pretty comfortable and before long we were 65 miles down and ready for a spot of lunch in the old trading post town of Middlegate. After lunch, the roads we were travelling became far more desert-like, and that can only mean white sand. We ventured onto one of the dry lakes and the heat was far mor intense than on the road just a few feet above, the sweat was pouring off of us as the sun bounced off the white surface, and as we were at 2,000 feet lower elevation than first thing, the moisture in the air was thicker, too. We were both getting sore throats due to the rapid draining of water from our bodies, and although we weren’t close to dehydration, it did create some unwelcome flashbacks to the Monument Valley debacle.
Now, it’s not been often, if at all, on this tour where the size of the task has seemed trivial, but today was one of those occasions. Just after we had passed the 100 mile mark we spotted a red mirage floating across the desert floor. As it camed closer we realised it was a man. Jogging. In a red jump suit.
‘What the fuck are you doing?” I shouted.
Excuse my language, but I’ve learned it’s a good way of grabbing someone’s attention. Luckily for us, the gentleman was from Australia, where swear words are not only accepted, but looked upon as a measure of strong character. We started talking and the man in question was Mark Gibbens who is one week into his WALK across America. That’s right, he’s walking from San Francisco to New York for charity in a bloody superheroes outfit. It was gobsmacking how someone could put themselves through such physical hardship, especially in the desert. After chatting for a bit, we left Mark to perish as we ploughed on.
We have now arrived in Fallon which is like Las Vegas but without any of the charm or sophistication, come to think of it, Las Vegas doesn’t have those things, either, but let’s just say Fallon has even less of these low-levels of desirable characeteristics. That's low. From here on the sparseness is over, I’ll be encountering towns fairly regularly which will make a welcome change from the wilderness, but the last few weeks away from constant civilisation has been incredible. To see so much of so little has been a welcome reminder that not all of our planet has been mutilated by human hands, and in many cases in the United States, it has been preserved beautifully. Take a bow you starry striped bastard. Take a bow.
Total: 5,026.2 Miles
So the final century of the tour was completed today. 117 miles and temperatures that didn’t seem too far from that figure at one stage, either.
We planned to be up at 5am today. That may seem borderline madness to you, but Matthias is a very convincing chap when setting out an argument for something he believes in.
“I’m leaving at 6am tomorrow, you can come if you like” was just one of the subtle mind games he used to sell in this particular plan.
Well, we were true to our word and up before the sunrise. As most of you will be aware, the sun is quite hot, you could say notoriously so, and when it is hidden behind mountains in the early hours of the morning, that heat is sorely missed. Bearing in mind we were 6,605 feet above sea-level, those early hours were bloody nippy. Not that temperature extremes were going to get in the way of this fashion show, though. Matthias wrapped up in a very fetching vomit-green anorak to stave of the cold, and I, well I hadn’t planned too well for cold weather, so I wore two t-shirts, which proved ineffective in the battle against the cold, especially in the finger area, but as we well knew, as the morning wore on, the heat would increase, and so it did. Luckily, we managed to negotiate the main climb of the day before 12pm so things were pretty comfortable and before long we were 65 miles down and ready for a spot of lunch in the old trading post town of Middlegate. After lunch, the roads we were travelling became far more desert-like, and that can only mean white sand. We ventured onto one of the dry lakes and the heat was far mor intense than on the road just a few feet above, the sweat was pouring off of us as the sun bounced off the white surface, and as we were at 2,000 feet lower elevation than first thing, the moisture in the air was thicker, too. We were both getting sore throats due to the rapid draining of water from our bodies, and although we weren’t close to dehydration, it did create some unwelcome flashbacks to the Monument Valley debacle.
Now, it’s not been often, if at all, on this tour where the size of the task has seemed trivial, but today was one of those occasions. Just after we had passed the 100 mile mark we spotted a red mirage floating across the desert floor. As it camed closer we realised it was a man. Jogging. In a red jump suit.
‘What the fuck are you doing?” I shouted.
Excuse my language, but I’ve learned it’s a good way of grabbing someone’s attention. Luckily for us, the gentleman was from Australia, where swear words are not only accepted, but looked upon as a measure of strong character. We started talking and the man in question was Mark Gibbens who is one week into his WALK across America. That’s right, he’s walking from San Francisco to New York for charity in a bloody superheroes outfit. It was gobsmacking how someone could put themselves through such physical hardship, especially in the desert. After chatting for a bit, we left Mark to perish as we ploughed on.
We have now arrived in Fallon which is like Las Vegas but without any of the charm or sophistication, come to think of it, Las Vegas doesn’t have those things, either, but let’s just say Fallon has even less of these low-levels of desirable characeteristics. That's low. From here on the sparseness is over, I’ll be encountering towns fairly regularly which will make a welcome change from the wilderness, but the last few weeks away from constant civilisation has been incredible. To see so much of so little has been a welcome reminder that not all of our planet has been mutilated by human hands, and in many cases in the United States, it has been preserved beautifully. Take a bow you starry striped bastard. Take a bow.
Dawn rider.
Sunrise. Obviously.
Bit nippy, Matty?
Shadow dancers.
I needed that water.
Now you see him.
Now you....you get it.
Flash, a-ha. he walked for everyone of us.
go on.
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