Today: 61.7MPH AVG Speed: 9.6MPH Top Speed: 21.2MPH
Total: 5,150.2 Miles
So with that uneventful roll from rough asphalt to smooth, we are in the final state of the tour. The Golden State, California. It’s amazing how quickly what once was anticipated with relish can become the very thing you despise. That’s how I feel about Nevada. From Utah, I was desperate to be in a state with looser morals, not just geographically, but psychologically, too. However, after just a few days it had become loathsome, having said that, my outlook may owe something to enjoying Nevada’s excesses a little too much last night.
It was due to be Matthias and my final evening together as he was due out at 6am. To celebrate our few days on the road we decided to have a few beers whilst Matthias schooled me in German underground techno for a bit. It may have been the music, the beer or both, but something set off a spark in my German friend. No, not that, this:
“Hey, let’s go to the casino” he said.
I was in no mood to put the brakes on the party, so I agreed on the one condition that we went in there wearing only our cycling gear and flip-flops. This shouldn’t last too long, I thought. I was wrong.
I had imagined that our run-down, slightly intoxicated appearance would’ve have precluded us from the casino floor, but then I realised we were in Nevada, not Casino Royale. The staff welcomed us with open arms. This despite Matthias exchanging a Wal-Mart bag full of quarters and me demanding that we be given free drinks as we were ‘high-rollers”, or something to that effect. To my surprise they agreed, feeding us with Jack Daniel’s and Coke whilst we very slowly deposited our designated $10 gambling spend. It was the cheapest night out I have had.
We were probably only there for 2 hours, but the strength of the drinks had sent us over the edge, I think we got back to the motel at 3. I briefly remember falling onto the bed. 6 hours later I woke up fully clothed and feeling worse for wear. Actually, scrap that, I felt fupping atrocious.
Matthias was up, though, full of the joys of spring, so he was. “I’m off” he said. But just 5 minutes later he returned to the room saying the hangover was hitting, then he was sick, and that’s all she wrote for Matthias. I, on the other hand, was feeling much better and began to pack. The poor bugger had to stay another night whilst I hit the road, we said our goodbyes and I felt very, very bad for a very, very short period of time.
After 12 miles or so the fresh mountain air from the sierras began to make my head swirl, and although I wasn’t physically sick, my noggin was thumping. This is a fine lesson in going easy before a day’s bike riding. The greatest problem was that today was the final big climb of the trip and one of the longest at 4,000 feet. I was not going well, but I was going. The one antidote, though, (and please excuse this saccharine line) was the nature. I had given the Sierras no thought at all, all my mountain related foresight had gone into the more famous Rockies and soda-pop drink, Dew, but my lack of expectation was to serve me well. The vegetation and variation of colour shocked me. Golden fields blended with rich, green, towering trees and the bright yellow flowers and purple thistles held me encapsulated, it was a welcome distraction from my still prominent head-ache, harsh winds and barely-functional limbs. Then, with 500 feet more of climbing a lake appeared to my left. At 8,000 bloody feet. It’s grace was insurmountable, until I reached the pass, punched the air, began a small descent, and saw another. This time it was Caples Lake, all of this surrounded by the jutting granite of the Sierras. It was about now that I noticed the sun-setting, I had started late, and doubted if I could descend quick enough to make a campsite at reasonable altitude, and also temperature. It was getting cold. I decided, at long last, to use my Get Out of Jail fee Card from Coy! I didn’t think I’d need it, in truth, but I’m glad the offer had been made. I found a lodge perched over Silver Lake. It was the most spectacular of settings, and as the sun set over this beautiful body of water I was relieved to be here and not in a casino.
Total: 5,150.2 Miles
So with that uneventful roll from rough asphalt to smooth, we are in the final state of the tour. The Golden State, California. It’s amazing how quickly what once was anticipated with relish can become the very thing you despise. That’s how I feel about Nevada. From Utah, I was desperate to be in a state with looser morals, not just geographically, but psychologically, too. However, after just a few days it had become loathsome, having said that, my outlook may owe something to enjoying Nevada’s excesses a little too much last night.
It was due to be Matthias and my final evening together as he was due out at 6am. To celebrate our few days on the road we decided to have a few beers whilst Matthias schooled me in German underground techno for a bit. It may have been the music, the beer or both, but something set off a spark in my German friend. No, not that, this:
“Hey, let’s go to the casino” he said.
I was in no mood to put the brakes on the party, so I agreed on the one condition that we went in there wearing only our cycling gear and flip-flops. This shouldn’t last too long, I thought. I was wrong.
I had imagined that our run-down, slightly intoxicated appearance would’ve have precluded us from the casino floor, but then I realised we were in Nevada, not Casino Royale. The staff welcomed us with open arms. This despite Matthias exchanging a Wal-Mart bag full of quarters and me demanding that we be given free drinks as we were ‘high-rollers”, or something to that effect. To my surprise they agreed, feeding us with Jack Daniel’s and Coke whilst we very slowly deposited our designated $10 gambling spend. It was the cheapest night out I have had.
We were probably only there for 2 hours, but the strength of the drinks had sent us over the edge, I think we got back to the motel at 3. I briefly remember falling onto the bed. 6 hours later I woke up fully clothed and feeling worse for wear. Actually, scrap that, I felt fupping atrocious.
Matthias was up, though, full of the joys of spring, so he was. “I’m off” he said. But just 5 minutes later he returned to the room saying the hangover was hitting, then he was sick, and that’s all she wrote for Matthias. I, on the other hand, was feeling much better and began to pack. The poor bugger had to stay another night whilst I hit the road, we said our goodbyes and I felt very, very bad for a very, very short period of time.
After 12 miles or so the fresh mountain air from the sierras began to make my head swirl, and although I wasn’t physically sick, my noggin was thumping. This is a fine lesson in going easy before a day’s bike riding. The greatest problem was that today was the final big climb of the trip and one of the longest at 4,000 feet. I was not going well, but I was going. The one antidote, though, (and please excuse this saccharine line) was the nature. I had given the Sierras no thought at all, all my mountain related foresight had gone into the more famous Rockies and soda-pop drink, Dew, but my lack of expectation was to serve me well. The vegetation and variation of colour shocked me. Golden fields blended with rich, green, towering trees and the bright yellow flowers and purple thistles held me encapsulated, it was a welcome distraction from my still prominent head-ache, harsh winds and barely-functional limbs. Then, with 500 feet more of climbing a lake appeared to my left. At 8,000 bloody feet. It’s grace was insurmountable, until I reached the pass, punched the air, began a small descent, and saw another. This time it was Caples Lake, all of this surrounded by the jutting granite of the Sierras. It was about now that I noticed the sun-setting, I had started late, and doubted if I could descend quick enough to make a campsite at reasonable altitude, and also temperature. It was getting cold. I decided, at long last, to use my Get Out of Jail fee Card from Coy! I didn’t think I’d need it, in truth, but I’m glad the offer had been made. I found a lodge perched over Silver Lake. It was the most spectacular of settings, and as the sun set over this beautiful body of water I was relieved to be here and not in a casino.
An appropriate beer...
...leads to inappropriate behaviour
Winning big ($1)
That's our stake, not winnings.
I do not know how to play this game.
Not the most extravagant sign.
about halfway up the climb. 6,000 feet or so.
This was at about 8,000 feet up.
The final pass.
Silver Lake at sunset.
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