Day 5: Truckee CA to Sparks NV

Time Zone : Pacific (GMT -8)
Todays Distance 65 miles
Cycling time: 5hrs 26 mins

Today’s cumulative ascent: 3972 ft

Average Heart rate: 110 bpm

Distance so far: 327 miles

Ascent so far: 19,852 ft.

Todays Profile

Today's Route:

Dedication: Today is for those who teach the vocational skills every morning in Providence, Shillong.

Looking out the window this morning at 6am on the way down to breakfast I noticed a light covering of ice on the windows of cars and trucks in the parking lot. Nothing unusual apparently here at this time of year being at 5820 feet above sea level. Everyone was wearing a few jackets and the Americans were complete with long leggings and caps under the helmets. Some kept them on all day.

When we left at 7.15 my cyclocomputer gave a reading of 3 degrees. It was cold but it was dry... not like a cold damp January morning at home. We dropped down into Truckee and swung laft to pick up Highway 89 after 3 miles. At this stage there was a big difference between in the sunshine and in the shadows of the pine trees. Traffic was light and we were generally going downhill through Olympic Valley. The first photo stop was at the turn-off for Squaw Valley the location of the Winter Olympics 1960 and a great resort for promising and experienced skiers. All along the road on today's route there were signs for ski resorts with snow still on the ground in among the trees. It was 15 degrees now in the sunshine and signs that it improving.

After a few snaps it was onto another bike path all the way to Tahoe City. The 5 mile path ran along the banks of the peaceful Truckee River. I noticed that there was a Farmers Market in Tahoe City today but I didn't stop. I'm sure it would have been interesting. We cycled for 9 miles along the northern side of Lake Tahoe a great holiday area for the neighbouring states. The lake is 22 miles long and 12 miles wide with the snow capped Sierra Nevadas as a backdrop. North Lake Boulevard brought us to Kings Beach by which stage I was begining to heat up and discarded a windbreaker and long-sleeved top. With some of the others, only their eyes were visible. I suppose in Ireland we are weathered and can take more of the cold. When it gets really hot in Kansas and Missouri they will be in their element and I'll be the one suffering. So I'd better keep my mouth shut.

A group of us stopped by a beach and straight away a few came over engaging in pleasant conversation regarding our adventure. The Abbey Providence jersey is regularly used to point out our route and I hasten to add the reason for my particular cycle. One lady noted the website address to look up later in the evening.

At the 25 mile mark (still just after 9 am) we left the lakeshore and turned northwards. At this point we entered the state of Nevada (Goodbye to California after almost 5 days) and immediately the casinos appeared on the roadside. But our attention was on the climb ahead. Once we turned onto Route 431 the ground began to rise in front of us. This was an 8 mile climb at 5% that just went on and on and on. The only way for it was to get into your own groove; let others go at their pace (faster or slower) and keep your expectations low. The road twisted as it moved up along Mount Rose and all roads seem to be levelling out at that turn. Don't you believe it. Got a bit of good advice. (See Heard Today below).

For some of the climb I was with Sue from Golden (that is Golden, Colarado of course) and at the halfway point there was a viewing point with a magnificent view southwards out over the lake. Then another 4 miles of climbing with the temperature dropping and the air getting thinner. Plants were just begining to show themselves after the snows ... it's still Spring here.

Finally the SAG stop at the top was a welcome sight. We were now at 8900 feet and no place to be hanging about for too long. The good part of the day was about to begin. Everyone put on their thermals; I put the usual newspaper on my chest for protection for the downhill. It was some downhill - 16 miles without turning the pedals once. Three of us decided to take it easy down and savor the scenery. No point in rushing; no urgent appointment and we may not be back here again. If the legs were the sore ones during the climb, now it was the hands' turn from continuously holding and feathering the brakes. That descent along Mount Rose Highway( R431) reminded me of the road down from Montserrat monastery near Barcelona from school tours. Still I reckon we got a bargain - 8 miles of a climb but 16 mile of a descent. The descent brought us to the Reno City Limits and the landscape had changed dramatically from stands of pine to scrub land. From the hotel window it's all scrub outside the built-up area. The temperature went up according as we dropped and soon the windbreakers (and the newspaper) had to be removed. From the edge of Reno it was just about 10 miles to our hotel for the night..Quality Inn which is in the process of being remodeled. We're at elevation 4400 feet here and a lovely warm west wind is blowing .. hope it lasts till tomorrow.

And for dinner we resorted to the buffet in the nearby Nugget Casino. The locals on the cycle described it as a small casino...to me it was enormous. Business at the machines and the tables was slack (it was only 7 pm). I must say that I wasn't tempted.

During dinner I had a chat with Jose (CA) who is doing the cycle for a group in Long Beach who go to do medical work with the Indians in Guetamala for a period of 2 or 3 weeks each year. He is one of the group .... retired aged 69. A neighbour of his is a Sister Maria ( Presentation) from Tipperary who wants to know all the connections of this cyclist from Tipp. She reckons she knows everyone in Tipperary. We'll see what turns up.

Another satisfying day and a major climb just to keep us on our toes. Diversity... from the snow and the cold on Mount Rose to the heat of Reno and Sparks; from the slow climb to the beautiful descent.

Great to read the comments ; even a short few lines is encouraging.

Heard Today: "Tell yourself that the top of the hill is not just around theat bend up yonder and 99 times out of 100 you'll be right."

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.