Day 9: Battle Mountain to Elko.

Time Zone : Pacific (GMT -8)
Todays Distance: 74 miles
Cycling time: 6 hrs 06 mins
Average Speed: 12.1 mp
Today’s cumulative ascent: 2517 feet

Average Heart rate: 100 bpm

Distance so far: 620 mile
Ascent so far: 27,270 feet.

Today's Profile:

Today's Route:

Dedication: Today is for those students of mine both JC and LC who face into a tough day of Maths and Gaeilge. Keep the head down and stick at it to the end. Go n-eiri go geal libh.

A relatively calm morning with a bright sun but still a need for a windbreaker as we set off at 7.15 on the next leg of this oddyssey across the States. I had got a good night's sleep in spite of the railroad directly outside my window. A couple of trains passed during the night but the disruption was minimal. The various groups departed at their own pace and today our group is riding for Trinity... just the three internationals. The sun was still pretty low in the sky and casting shadows. To put ourselves in the mood Steve led us in song for a mile or so 'Rockin', rollin, ridin' all along the way; All bound for Elko town 74 miles away' with apologies to Peter, Paul and Mary.Winnemucca was just coming to life as we made our way onto Mule Shoe Road which runs alonside the I-80. This is open range with animal access controlled with cattle-grids at possible exit points. There are'nt many cattle to be seen, only groups of 5 or 6 occasionally. We stayed on Mule Shoe Road for 22 miles with the landscape on either side much the same as yesterday - Mountain range to our right and some green patches on our left near the Humboldt River. Our route today continues to proceed up the Humboldt basin except for a part where we followed I-80 over Emigrant Pass ... that name tells a story. To our left during the first 22 miles there was evidence of mining - mining for gold, silver and copper and a power plant far off in the distance. As we moved along more or less staying at 12 mph we noticed more wildlife than on previous days especially birds. Commonly enough we spotted hawks of one type or another in pursuit of smaller birds and also large crows. All along because of the lack of wind, possibly, birdsong was to be heard among the sage-bushes. At the 22 mile mark we passed under I-80 to pick up the East lane and the small tunnell was heavily populated with swallows who evidently appreciate our interference - shades of Hitchcock and BIRDS. Still haven't seen much of four-footed wildlife. Later in the cycle as we came out of Carlin Canyon there on a hot rock was a lizard sunning himself and didn't mind us passing within a few feet.

We had a wind in our faces for a period as we rounded Shoshone Point cycling along I-80 at this stage. Shoshone Point marks the boundary between the Paiute and the Shoshone Indian Territories. We crossed the Humboldt River and had our eyes peeled for the geysers that occur along the valley of Beowawe on our right but to no immediate avail. These uncontrolled wells are continuously discharging steam to a height of 100 feet and temperatures below ground have been reccorded as high as 400 degrees fahrenheit. Wells have been drilled in an attempt to harness the energy. However later on as we climbed to Emigrant Pass we spotted the activity way out to the right.

At 26 miles we had the first SAG stop in Beowawe Rest Area and by this stage the heat was rising and the windbreaker was off for me. Others still had the 'thermals' on. From mile 24 to mile 38 we had the climb up to Emigrant Pass.....yes, 14 miles of a climb but it was only at 3% at its severest. Head down, get into the groove, pedal on and enjoy the beautiful scenery. And don't be fooled by the turn just up ahead. Too true.

Guess what lay beyond the turn at the top of the photo? Yes, another rise.

At the summit of Emigrant Pass (6089 feet) another photo op for our group to celebrate a job well done.A nice long descent was the reward and the terrain changed somewhat. We were no longer in the Humboldt River valley and the hills were much closer to us. A change from the vast expanses we had been accustomed to over the last three days. Along the fenced-in land adjacent to the Interstate the highway authorities had clumps of rough grasses planted to regenerate the ground. But you could see where the sage-bushes were reclaiming their rightful territory.

The traffic along the I-80 wasn't too heavy and it flowed along swiftly. Large campers (RV's) sped along with the family car hitched on behind; truck units not with one large trailer but with three. Earlier in the morning just after leaving Battle Mountain I spotted a long train with a double row of containers in tow.

The second SAG was at mile 49 just as we came off the I-80 and then we lcontinued on the old Route 40 that went through Carlin Canyon. (The Interstate went through a tunnel with no hard shoulder) But the detour was well worthwhile. It was beautiful with steep sides and the Humboldt running strongly against us. This was the original Emigrant Trail and the route of the first railway in 1868 till it also was put through a tunnel in 1903. Back on the I-80 and we had a fresh tailwind for the rest of as we the day coasted down that part known as Dwight D Eisenhower Highway right into Elko.

We left I-80 at Exit 298 - exits are not numbered in sequence as we are accustomed to, but according to the mileage marker. Exit 298 is at mile-marker 298 (from Reno). The next one 10 miles further on will be Exit 308. Makes sense. At one stage today I spotted the sign 'Services 1 mile. Next services 114 miles'. Wouldn't want to miss your turn off !

We approached Elko on Business Route 80 alongside the local airport and reached our motel at the far end of town at 2 pm still feeling fresh and very satisfied with ourselves but keen on having a much needed and relaxing shower.

For the last number of days there has always been snow-capped peaks visible and there will be for a number of days yet. Nevada (which means 'snow-capped' in Spanish) is the most mountainous state in the USA with 314 individual ranges.

The full party (44 cyclists at this point) is still going strong and looking forward to what is to come. Tomorrow is a long day and a good preparation for a long day is a long night's sleep here in the High Desert Inn. Dinner tonight again was in a casino.

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

Heard Today at a stop from one who was having difficulty on the climbs " My average speed keeps going up when I stop. That's weird"