Nice to enjoy a Rest Day. Breakfast at eight with most of the party in the hotel was a leisurely meal. An opportunity to make a few relaxing phone calls and catch up with some e-mails. Nothing seemed to be rushed. A bit of necessary washing and ironing . Some postcards to be sent. A stroll up to the local gas station. Spent a while washing the bike and dinner in Perkin's Cafe next door with the lads. All very relaxing.
I didn't bother going into the city -- would have involved two bus journeys. Some of those who went in walked more than they intended to.
Tomorrow we start on the second stage which lasts for 8 days- the Rockies- and will bring us over the highest point and over the continental divide. Looking forward to it.
20080612
Day 11: Wendover (NV) to Salt Lake City (UT)
Time Zone : Mountain (GMT -7)
Today's Distance: 121 miles
Cycling time: 7hrs 51 mins
Average Speed: 15 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 1657 ft
Route: 
Dedication: Today as I cycle the second century of the trip, my thoughts are for Aungeeta, Sapna, Rishisha, Cliff, and Billstar of Providence and wishing them the best. See you in October with 10 more good Abbey Sirs.
Today's Distance: 121 miles
Cycling time: 7hrs 51 mins
Average Speed: 15 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 1657 ft
Average Heart rate: 93 bpm
Distance so far: 847 mile
Ascent so far: 32,755 ft.
Profile:
Route: 
Dedication: Today as I cycle the second century of the trip, my thoughts are for Aungeeta, Sapna, Rishisha, Cliff, and Billstar of Providence and wishing them the best. See you in October with 10 more good Abbey Sirs.
Today was to be another long day, another century … no rest for the wicked. Centuries for any cyclist are rare but like the 46A bus, you’re waiting for one for hours and then two come along together. No one was complaining; attitudes are positive in the party. Breakfast was available in the casino or nearby McDonalds. I opted for the casino and had a most nourishing meal – fruit juice, porridge with raisins, omelette, strong coffee and brown toast. I think I made the better choice.
Weather talk the previous evening was of a headwind for crossing the salt flats (and not much shelter there). Outside as we loaded and signed the wind was all over the place because of the buildings but high up the clouds appeared to be going our way.
Everyone was glad to see Hetty (who fell yesterday and had 13 stitches) was up again for the challenge and rarin’ to go. All were concerned for her and wished her well. Some lady! (She already has the 10 week Paris to Dakar cycle tour under her belt)
Temperatures were low and all (self) included were tending to wrap up. The tailwind was a cold one as we set out along West Wendover Boulevard with the salt flats ahead of us. We all knew that a new experience lay ahead and that it would be so different to the Nevada Desert. How different ?….no-one knew.
Wendover is just on the border but there was no sign for ‘Welcome to Utah’. Rather disappointing as it would have made good photo. Our only hope is that as we leave Utah we can go across the road for the shot and, sure, no-one will know the difference. Also we couldn’t see any indication that we were into a new time-zone. Also disappointing.
Our usual little cycling group of 3, Johnston, Mooney and O’Brien started off and remained intact for the duration.
Within 2 miles we were on the I-80 heading East and the mile markers started from zero afresh. The mountains were much more jagged than in Nevada and had little or no cover; just bare rock.
Normally I start with a quiet prayer for a safe journey and then a line or two of a song (from my vast repertoire) with a slight variation somehow connected to the day ahead. Today it was ‘I’d ride a hundred miles for one of your smiles, my Saoirse’ (our grand-daughter).
The road ahead stretched forever and ever. I thought I had seen long vistas ahead in Nevada, but this was something else – almost 45 miles straight ahead and as flat as a pancake. Unbelievable.
Cycling at first was a pleasure and we were keen to make the best of it, as there was word around that it would swing about by mid-day. ( One was heard to say that it would happen at 11.17 am.!) When the muscles had warmed up the three of us were sailing along effortlessly at 18+ mph. However about 30 miles out, in the space of a minute it did turn about and was beating down on our noses. Oh no, was this to be our lot for the next 90 miles? We formed in a line but had to work to maintain 10 mph. Fortunately, the headwind only lasted for a few miles and we returned to our previous pace.
On either side we had the salt flats; glass flat expanses of white sand with a heavy concentration of salt left behind after evaporation. No a good idea to put shoes or tyres on it for any period. 
The two carriageways of the I-80 were separated by a wide median of salt flat and outside these there were two parallel railways….. hence the four lines that appeared in yesterdays photo. On our right were the Bonneville Salt Flats where land speed records have been set and challenged. Further south of that lay the US Defence testing grounds … not open to the public.
Our first SAG was at the 40 mile mark on a small side road and a chance to top up water, collect snacks and sign through. Back onto the straight and at the 50 mile the road rose before us to the highest point of the day; not really a climb. Drop We did enjoy the descent down to the level of the flats especially with the tailwind behind us.. 
A short bun-break was called for at the 71 mile mark at Delle City Station. The coffee and sandwich were excellent but city was an overstatement. As far as I could see, the station was the city. Had a chat there with one of the Highway Patrol who was in for a mid-morning coffee. He was about 6 foot 6, very strongly built and wearing a gun….very easy to be nice to him.photo expanse
We had been away from the mountains for a while but they appeared again capped with snow...the Wasatch Mountains, the begining of the Rockies.
With the mid-day sun warming up there were some nice views and there was shallow water beside the highway. Still the white salt/sand stretched out and out.
One sign I spotted on the side of the road made me think I was almost at home …..an idea for a twinning with Grantstown.
When we came within 20 miles of Salt Lake City traffic became very heavy in both directions and also we caught our first glimpse of the Great Salt Lake out to our left with two large islands and backed with snow-capped peaks. We may not see another such expanse of water till we hit the Atlantic.
At Exit 102 circumstances saw us going up to the smelter for Kennecott Copper Mine, the largest opencast mine in the world. The Great Wall of China and Kennecott, the largest and richest open mine on earth and owned by Anaconda, are the only man-made creations visible from the space-shuttle while in orbit. 
Our little detour didn’t have a corresponding return route in the vicinity so we had to retrace our steps gingerly and carefully back down the exit ramp to get back on I-80.
Another 10 miles along the Frontage Road brought us to the Airport Comfort Inn arriving at 4 pm.
Another century for the collection and another great days cycling bringing us to the end of the Western States section of the trip. At Route Rap certificates were presented to the four who had completed their first centuries and also to those who only signed on for this section. We sadly say goodbye to them tomorrow, but a few more will join us.
So tomorrow is a rest day and I’ll put my feet up and recharge the batteries. There’s plenty more cycling to come.
Weather talk the previous evening was of a headwind for crossing the salt flats (and not much shelter there). Outside as we loaded and signed the wind was all over the place because of the buildings but high up the clouds appeared to be going our way.
Everyone was glad to see Hetty (who fell yesterday and had 13 stitches) was up again for the challenge and rarin’ to go. All were concerned for her and wished her well. Some lady! (She already has the 10 week Paris to Dakar cycle tour under her belt)
Temperatures were low and all (self) included were tending to wrap up. The tailwind was a cold one as we set out along West Wendover Boulevard with the salt flats ahead of us. We all knew that a new experience lay ahead and that it would be so different to the Nevada Desert. How different ?….no-one knew.Wendover is just on the border but there was no sign for ‘Welcome to Utah’. Rather disappointing as it would have made good photo. Our only hope is that as we leave Utah we can go across the road for the shot and, sure, no-one will know the difference. Also we couldn’t see any indication that we were into a new time-zone. Also disappointing.
Our usual little cycling group of 3, Johnston, Mooney and O’Brien started off and remained intact for the duration.
Within 2 miles we were on the I-80 heading East and the mile markers started from zero afresh. The mountains were much more jagged than in Nevada and had little or no cover; just bare rock.
Normally I start with a quiet prayer for a safe journey and then a line or two of a song (from my vast repertoire) with a slight variation somehow connected to the day ahead. Today it was ‘I’d ride a hundred miles for one of your smiles, my Saoirse’ (our grand-daughter). The road ahead stretched forever and ever. I thought I had seen long vistas ahead in Nevada, but this was something else – almost 45 miles straight ahead and as flat as a pancake. Unbelievable.Cycling at first was a pleasure and we were keen to make the best of it, as there was word around that it would swing about by mid-day. ( One was heard to say that it would happen at 11.17 am.!) When the muscles had warmed up the three of us were sailing along effortlessly at 18+ mph. However about 30 miles out, in the space of a minute it did turn about and was beating down on our noses. Oh no, was this to be our lot for the next 90 miles? We formed in a line but had to work to maintain 10 mph. Fortunately, the headwind only lasted for a few miles and we returned to our previous pace.
On either side we had the salt flats; glass flat expanses of white sand with a heavy concentration of salt left behind after evaporation. No a good idea to put shoes or tyres on it for any period. The two carriageways of the I-80 were separated by a wide median of salt flat and outside these there were two parallel railways….. hence the four lines that appeared in yesterdays photo. On our right were the Bonneville Salt Flats where land speed records have been set and challenged. Further south of that lay the US Defence testing grounds … not open to the public.Our first SAG was at the 40 mile mark on a small side road and a chance to top up water, collect snacks and sign through. Back onto the straight and at the 50 mile the road rose before us to the highest point of the day; not really a climb. Drop We did enjoy the descent down to the level of the flats especially with the tailwind behind us.. A short bun-break was called for at the 71 mile mark at Delle City Station. The coffee and sandwich were excellent but city was an overstatement. As far as I could see, the station was the city. Had a chat there with one of the Highway Patrol who was in for a mid-morning coffee. He was about 6 foot 6, very strongly built and wearing a gun….very easy to be nice to him.photo expanseWe had been away from the mountains for a while but they appeared again capped with snow...the Wasatch Mountains, the begining of the Rockies.
With the mid-day sun warming up there were some nice views and there was shallow water beside the highway. Still the white salt/sand stretched out and out.One sign I spotted on the side of the road made me think I was almost at home …..an idea for a twinning with Grantstown. When we came within 20 miles of Salt Lake City traffic became very heavy in both directions and also we caught our first glimpse of the Great Salt Lake out to our left with two large islands and backed with snow-capped peaks. We may not see another such expanse of water till we hit the Atlantic. At Exit 102 circumstances saw us going up to the smelter for Kennecott Copper Mine, the largest opencast mine in the world. The Great Wall of China and Kennecott, the largest and richest open mine on earth and owned by Anaconda, are the only man-made creations visible from the space-shuttle while in orbit. Our little detour didn’t have a corresponding return route in the vicinity so we had to retrace our steps gingerly and carefully back down the exit ramp to get back on I-80. Another 10 miles along the Frontage Road brought us to the Airport Comfort Inn arriving at 4 pm.Another century for the collection and another great days cycling bringing us to the end of the Western States section of the trip. At Route Rap certificates were presented to the four who had completed their first centuries and also to those who only signed on for this section. We sadly say goodbye to them tomorrow, but a few more will join us.
So tomorrow is a rest day and I’ll put my feet up and recharge the batteries. There’s plenty more cycling to come.The last 11 days have been incredible in so many different ways. It seems so long since we left San Francisco; there have been so many new experiences and so many exhilarating sights and so much done for Providence. They deserve it....because they're worth it. What a wonderful world. It's only just begun.
Matters arising.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
Heard today: 'A bad day on the bike is better than a good day in the office.'
NB. No blog tomorrow. That's the plan.
But still, keep the comments coming. One liners do have a great encouraging effect. After each read , put pen to paper and show other how it’s done.
But still, keep the comments coming. One liners do have a great encouraging effect. After each read , put pen to paper and show other how it’s done.
1. Click on 'Comments' at the end of the day's entry.
2 Write the comment in the box on the right .... even one-liners.
3. Complete the Word verification.
4. Click the third button 'Name'. (or 'Anonymous')
5 Insert your name or initials.
6. Click on 'Publish your comment'
Matters arising.
Re Competition for the name of my bike: Andrew (England) who did this cycle last year and was of immense assistance to me in my preparations, raised the issue of whether the bike was male or female. A very important consideration in your choice of name. By this stage the bike has got to be male based on the scientific observations of Prof de Selby as out lined by the scribe, Myles na gCopaleen (The Third Policeman). De Selby notes that in a situation where a person spends a lot of time on a bike ( a la policeman or postman in 50's) there occurs a reciprocal transfer of molecules from man to bike and from bike to man, Thus the man becomes part-bike and the bike becomes part-man.
Evidence of this is when you see a cyclist leaning against a wall or fence for support as in photo. (Courtesy of 32-Ireland-32, 2006. Day 7. Lake Melvin). In such a situation the bicycle-molecules have become predominant. Based on this scientific theory, I should think that my bike is definitely male. Keep the suggestions coming in.
Evidence of this is when you see a cyclist leaning against a wall or fence for support as in photo. (Courtesy of 32-Ireland-32, 2006. Day 7. Lake Melvin). In such a situation the bicycle-molecules have become predominant. Based on this scientific theory, I should think that my bike is definitely male. Keep the suggestions coming in.
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