Day 7: Lovelock to Winnemucca.

Time Zone : Pacific (GMT -8)
Todays Distance: 72 miles
Cycling time: 6hrs 45 mins

Average speed: 10.9 mp
Today’s cumulative ascent: 1631 ft
Average Heart rate: 97 bpm

Distance so far: 491 miles

Ascent so far: 23,184 ft.

Today's profile:

Today's Route:





Dedication: Today is for these children in Providence, Shillong who benefit so much from the teaching and training that is provided. For Daniel, Brikit, Banisha, Daphanie and Bisroy. I'm cycling for you.

Today we set out from Sturgeons Inn and Casino in Lovelock (marked Western on the route map above) shortly after 7 am for a 72 mile route roughly following the Humboldt River. I had a good breakfast of porridge again (before the eggs, bacon, scrambled egg etc) in the casino at 6.30 and even at that time there were punters there at the slot machines.

This was atough day as we fought a headwind from start to almost the end.

The presence of some water made today's route one of the less daunting parts of the trek west. In fact Lovelock is an oasis in the Nevada desert. Last evening when we rode into Lovelock (sounds like a western!) our motel was on the western side of the town and we only saw the extent of the greenery as we left this morning. Trees, cultivation and irrigation was eviden around us. The emigrants camped here at the lush meadows at the head of the Humboldt River to recoup and to feed their stock before embarking on the gruelling trek across the Forty Mile Desert. We cycled along tree lined roads and Lovelock has an 80 acre industrial park serving the industries of the area - mining, ranching and farming. This is the heart of cowboy country where the western spirit still thrives with rodeo clubs for the rough/tough stuff and also horse control through intricate courses at breakneck speed. Just before we left the oasis I spotted Irish-American Road. I whipped out the camera quick as a flash but was beaten to it by the sun directly into the lens and my speed. But believe me, it is there. Some of these early pioneers must have been Irish fresh from arrival on the coffin ships. Seven of us set out together today and maintained rank for the duration - Steve (Aus), Garry (ILL), Amy and John (Buffalo), Lance Armstrong the Second, Jeff (NZ) and Suresh (Trinidad),.......... the magnificent seven. Today demanded teamwork as we faced into a headwind all day except for a short period on I-80 near the end of the cycle. We all took turns at the front taking the wind and protecting those especially that were finding it tough... not a racing paceline. The notherly wind was strong and at times we were down to 8mph along the flat. temperatures started at 15 degrees but the wind made it feel colder and the wind-breakers were on virtually all day.My eyes started running early on and I thought that I was in for a day of discomfort but they eased after a while to my delight. Perhaps it was just the cold wind early on. In the early afternoon temperatures climbed up to the low 20's, dry with sunshine but a certain wind-chill.

The scenery was much like yesterday... vast, bleak, arid wasteland. Again we had the twisters, some go a thousand feet into the air. There was a smaller version just about 50 yards to our left as we left the second SAG stop with loose burned-up grass and bushes being sucked up. No hot-springs but I found out that the Nightengale Hot Springs that we passed yesterday were being piped into geo-thermal plants producing energy.

Also the bushes that survive all over the desert is the sage bush that we all like with our lamb. This must be the largest herb garden in the world. For the early hours of the ride we had the Humboldt Range of mountains on our right with rough rugged peaks of over 9000 feet. Those mountains are rich in minerals an sometimes there were open-cast mines visible. Occasionaly there were remote homesteads (very remote) and we all wondered why on earth they had selected to settle where they did. The only trees visible were those planted around these houses. Nothing but bleak solitude as far as the eye could see.
All roads(the I-80 and the others) ran ahead to infinity.

At any stage when we were not on I-80 there was virtually no traffic in either direction. We peddaled along in a northerly direction with the early morning sun casting the shadows of our line across the road.

Long trains again passed along well to our left and I believe some can have over 100 carriages. I counted one today with 81 and another cempty coal train passed just before we entered Winnemucca and all agreed it was almost a mile long. Winnemucca is celebrating a Basque Festival today. Large numbers of Basques from north Spain and south France settled here in the early pioneering days and have kept their customs. On the approach into town there were many business dealing with well-drilling, pumps and irrigation. And there was evidence that the high cost of fuel is not a new phenomenon here. They have been down that road already.

No climbing of note today but the wind was as much of a nuisance as any climb. We were moving in a north-east direction today but tomorrow we swing to the south-east. The same winds would be a help.

There was no great effort as evidenced in the low average heartbeat - the first time I have ever been under 100 bpm for any cycle of significance.

The Nevada desert is so vast - we have been cycling 2 days into it and we have 2 more before we come out and even then it will not be into lush green meadows.

This state of Nevada is some experience in itself - it beats imagination. Even the Americans with us are amazed at the size of their own country.

We got into the Holiday Inn Express at 3.15 and headed for a well-earned hot shower. And dinner again tonight in the casino in the centre of town. All of us are commenting on the quick recovery that the body makes overnight with an early night.

Another great day.

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