3 States; 2 windy; 1 tired woman

334 miles. Day 10

The route: Carson City>50E>Ely NV

Apparently the wind is not done with me. Nevada likes wind almost as much as Joshua Tree. There I was minding my own business trucking down the road and that wind just twirled around me like tie dye. I couldn’t shake it all day. So for 334 miles me and the wind danced.

Left fairly early and the temperature was perfect. However by the time I reached Ely at 5 pm it was 93 degrees. Damn. It was hot but I kept hydrated so things went very smoothly.

Got to Fernley to stamp my book and snapped this picture:

Rode through to Fallon and I swear that place looks like Santa Maria CA. Nothing much to speak of except the woman that stamped my booklet felt compelled to tell me how her “Weiner Dog” insists on defecating on her pillow. Needless to say I high tailed it out of there.

On my way to Austin I stopped at Sand Mountain which is exactly what the name implies and while setting up the tripod 2 screws had shaken loose while riding. After fumbling with that for 15 minutes in the heat I was good to go. That is one bumpy ride!

I then rode on to Middlegate Junction and had lunch. But before getting there I saw a band of UHauls flying by as well as a spattering of bicyclists. What in the world were they doing out there?

While eating I noticed the ceiling covered in $1 bills. So I added my own…

I finally reached Austin and the wind really kicked in hard. But so did some twisties so that was fun. Prior to that this is all I saw:

Stare at that for 4 hours.

After leaving Austin I decided to look at where I had been:

After Austin the twisties were great. A group of Harley riders passed me and I stayed with them through each of those turns. Some of those guys had horrid lines. However once on the straight way they became tiny black leather specks. But I had a great time keeping up with them while I could.

I stopped to hydrate and took some pictures. The landscape never really changed much

Finally made my way to Eureka which is a very quaint town. Here is a picture of one of only 3 Lincoln Highway signs I saw the entire 300+ miles.

This is the Opera House

It wasn’t getting any cooler so with 70 more miles to go I rode with the wind to Ely, NV. Here is the outside of my biker friendly hotel

I took a walk around Ely and what did I find but a street performance of my favorite fairy tale…Pinnochio

My stamped and ready to mail book

So there you have it:

US 50 at the age of 50. The loneliest rode…alone. Scratch that off my bucket list.

Tomorrow to Utah and 2 National Parks.

3 States; 2,000 miles; 1 too many wind gusts

225 miles. Day 9

The route: Carson City, NV>50W>341>431>28>89>I80>395>Carson City NV

Today was my last day in Carson City so I went on a ride around Lake Tahoe. The day started later than anticipated because I needed to add some oil (Dash has been running hard) and add some distilled water to the battery. I only needed to add a touch of oil but I’m glad I checked. Now I’m stuck with 1 quart of oil and a gallon of distilled water. I will take some of the oil with me but have to leave that big old jug of water behind.

Once we got going everything was great. The day was beautiful and the traffic not too thick. We stopped at South Shore and took a tram to the top of the ski mountain and had lunch. Amazing views.

After leaving we headed back to California. Honestly it took my 4 days to leave and there I was right back again. My SPOT map is going to look like I’ve lost my mind. We stopped at Lake Tahoe for some more photos.

On the way back we rode around the lake and then decided to take the 80 and then the 395 instead. It would have been perfect if the wind had not decided to pop up and say hello. The gusts were so bad I was leaning for about 9 miles. There was some relief by the 7th mile which is good because I was running out of swear words. I ended up singing “Zip a Dee Do dah” to take my mind off of the fear. It worked.

Tomorrow I begin the actual reason for all of this top-foolery AND at the end I get a pin and certificate (I hope I get a pin that would be cool). Well I have to mail in this “survivor guide” and then I get the goodies (clearly I really want the goodies!)

More tomorrow after I reach Ely, Nevada…

3 States; 2,000 kickstand plates; 1 itchy burn

12 miles. Day 8

This was the last day of conferences. Tomorrow I am taking a ride to Virginia City and then around Lake Tahoe with Rocky. I rode in his group when I took Streetmasters this year and he was on the ride that began in Lancaster. He has graciously decided to put up with me for one more day and show me around some twisties.

I seem to have developed a penchant for kickstand plates (as I am overly concerned that my bike is going to sink in the hot asphalt). Well there is no shortage of kickstand plates up here so now I have quite the collection. I began the trip with my smooshed Pepsi can and then added a lemonade can. Apparently that was a bit lowbrow and Rick and Laura gave me a pretty green one. Once at the conference I somehow gathered the other 3. If I collect anymore of these things I’m going to have to ship clothing ahead. I only have so much room.

My burn has now almost healed and is itching like mad. Ugh. I’m going to have one heck of a scar.

Monday begins my solo adventure and the reason for this entire trip…US50

3 States; 2,000 miles; 1,000 to go

37 miles. Day 7

Very little riding today as I went to seminars and cleaned and lubed my chain. While at the seminars I scoured the parking lot to find other bikes that I liked and lo and behold I was attracted to the cafe style bikes and the older Hondas. What a surprise.

Then I ran into the event emcee, Jessica Prokup, who owns “Yellow Devil Gear” in Long Beach. I have been to her store on two occasions. I introduced her to Dash and of course she loved him.

The evening ended up in Virginia City with a cook out. We had a police escort to the event. Look very closely in the mirror.

Once there the bikes lined the streets

3 States; 2000+ women; 1 new state

150 miles. Day 6

The route: Benton Hot Springs>Lee Vining/395>Carson City NV

Hello Nevada. The day began leisurely enough with a nice late breakfast. Walt left early to go to Bishop to replace a flat on Nancy’s tire. She had been wrestling with that all yesterday. The rest of the group split up into tiny dyads and triads. I rode with 2 others and we were one of the last to leave Benton. The faster riders left at staggered times so all the groups were somewhat small. Other riders weren’t planning to go to the conference at all and they went their own way. So all told it was an odd morning as I have a tendency to acclimate to routine and now it was being disrupted by change. I met so many wonderful people on the first 4 days of this ride I was going to miss them.  We all seemed to fit together even though the group as a whole were strangers to one another.  It is amazing how quickly you bond with people on the road.  I ultimately powered through my anxiety and the three of us pulled out around 10am.

Everything was going well – the curves were nice and our speed was comfortable. I was following another Streetmasters instructor and one other rider. As we neared the first gas stop in Lee Vining (roughly 60 miles into the ride and about 10 miles away) we rounded a left curve and saw ambulances and emergency personnel. My heart sank. We stopped and it was one of our riders who joined us yesterday night. He had run the turn too hot and missed his apex. He landed in the ash and scrub. He was conscious though confused. We did what we could to help as other riders came up behind us but ultimately one went to the hospital with the ambulance and a second waited for the tow truck for his bike. We picked up another rider and rode the rest of the way into Carson City. I did what I could to shake that from my mind and sent him a prayer as we left. Throughout the ride the landscape was generally unchanged. As we entered the host hotel there were thousands of bikes there and they seemed to all sparkle. Apparently women riders really like to ride bikes that sparkle.

Time to go it alone so I registered for the conference and put on my Tom Tom GPS and found my hotel easily. I think I will really like that GPS by the end of this trip as I am directionally challenged.

3 States; 2,000 miles, 1 mad Dash

180 miles. Day 5

The route:  Yuolome, CA>Sonora Pass>Bridgeport>395>Lee Vining>Mono Lake>Hwy 120>Benton Hot Springs

No blog yesterday because Benton Hot Springs has absolutely no wifi. We left later than other days (10am) so it was a leisurely morning. Not unlike Day 4 Dash decided to spit up his oil, gas, water mixture. Clearly Dash dislikes high altitude (we were at 5000 feet). But after spitting out his yuck he performed nicely. Unfortunately as we climbed to 9,000 feet Dash began running rich and I had difficulty finding the friction zone so starts on a hill were a bit perilous. Once I got the hang of it though it was easy going.

We rode through the Sonora Pass and the terrain was amazing. It went from lush greenery to scrub desert plants to ash covered lava beds. Walt was once again in my ear talking me through the turns and curves so I had yet another lesson in proper riding technique.

It is hard to believe that I only have one more day with this group and then we split up. About 10 more people met us at Benton so our 2 groups of 6 will now become many groups of few.

Here are some pictures:

A real creek along the Sonora pass. Haven’t seen many of these on this ride

We stopped for gas and the guy at the register was a total jerk. But what really caught my attention were the seagulls. What? Where is the sea?

Here we are traveling the Sonora Pass

At Mono Craters we waited for the rest of the group. Very rarely were we the first group. We normally rode behind because I was in the remedial pack. Haha

Finally at Benton Hot Springs

We took a hike into the scrub brush to see the ruins:

The hillbilly family that greeted me (Rocky, Laura, Jess, Rick)

3 states; 2,000 miles; 1 blister

149 miles. Day 4

The route:  Shaver Lake, CA>Backroads to North Fork>around Bass Lake>Hwy 49  “Little Dragon”>Coulterville>Ward’s Ferry Rd>Tuolome, CA

We started the day at 8 am and I decided I needed to eat like I normally do so no more monster breakfasts. Instead I had 2 oranges which felt much more natural. I’m not used to tons of protein so beef jerky and fruits will have to do for the time being. Once I went out to start up Dash he decided to spit out oil, water, and gas from the breather tube and possibly the overflow tube of finicky carb number 3 (that carb always gives me problems) so of course everyone was concerned I tried to tell them that at 5500 feet this was normal and of course it did not happen again. But that darned Dash he sure gets temperamental at times. Other than that he has been doing so well I am impressed.

The technical ride was a blast and I see now why people love the curves. It is getting more comfortable for me and I am watching those that do it well to get tips. Walt is not in my ear anymore but I am trying to stay behind him and watch his lines. We hit what is called “The Little Dragon” around Northfolk CA and I had a blast. There were some large precipices but I tried not to look down though I knew they were there. This scared of heights thing is becoming a nuisance. Other than that it was amazing. About 30 miles from the hotel we went on a one lane road and darn was that thing bumpy I know what it feels like to be a popcorn kernel inside a hot air popper now. I would have taken more pictures if I was alone but you can’t very well make an entire group stop just because you want a photograph. So that will have to wait until I am solo.  Or until October when I come this way again with a different group of riders.  Perhaps I can talk them into a few stops?

Here are some pictures that I did take. One is of the twisty road we were on before we ate lunch. The others are shots taken at a bridge covered in graffiti on Yosemite Road at the reservoir where we actually stopped.

3 states; 2 bloodshot eyes; 1 more day done

138 miles. Day 3

The route:  Springville, CA>King’s Canyon/Sequoia National Park (around not through)>foothills to Shaver Lake,CA
Today was a great ride. The roads were absolutely perfect. Not too twisty, some hair pin turns but not too many, no wind to speak of, and pretty good weather. It is still crazy hot but if I keep moving it is not that bad. Unfortunately when it gets hot I need to open the vents on my helmet and there is one I only open in extreme cases. That is the one just above my brow line. The reason I rarely open this vent is because…

I get bloodshot eyes. I look like I’m stoned and exhausted. But I really had no choice. I don’t think the picture does it justice but needless to say my eyes are very tired right now.

Other than that everything I learned yesterday I put into practice today and had a blast. Dash is performing flawlessly and I am taking corners accurately and quickly. No wonder everyone likes the curves.

Here is a picture just before we started the twisties at CA 245 and Badger road.

After we got to Shaver Lake the group decided to take a side ride up a small country road.  Of course I tagged along.  Ugh, that was a bumpy ride.  It went on and on with no end in sight.  Every time we came around a corner I expected to reach the top.  No top materialized.  I was speaking with Walt on the helmet  intercom’s and he knew I was being bounced about so checked in to see if I wanted to turn around which he graciously offered to do with me.  I turned his offer down.  Then 100 feet more I accepted.  We promptly turned around.  Once back at the hotel the other group was returning and they informed us the road got much better just a little beyond where I gave up.  Of course it did.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a more technical day. I am looking forward to it my eyes on the other hand are a bit skeptical.

3 states; 2,000 miles; 1 lucky lady

226 miles.  Day 2

The route: Lancaster, CA>14>Caliente Bodfish Rd>Lake Isabella/Kernville>Great Divide Hwy/Hwy 190>Springville, CA
We started out the ride at 7:30am on the dot. Our destination was Springville CA. For anyone who has ridden the 14 it is very uneventful made more so because there was no wind. Thank heavens for small favors. After a quick stop down the road to pick up a 12th rider the twisters began. This image was taken just before the curves.

Here is why I was lucky today-for those of you who do not know Walt Fulton he is a well known and respected rider. He was in the film “On Any Sunday” and interviewed in the follow up movies (both made in the early 70s and amazing biking movies). He is owner of Streetmasters (with his wife Nancy) and they are leading this ride to the AMA Women’s Conference. Walt has been helping me ride the twisties and actually hooked me up to a communication device so he can talk to me in real time. After hours riding curves I have actually gotten better because of his advice. I feel far more confident and can keep up through the curves but the most important part is being able to take the turns more confidently. It is amazing how much more interesting curves are when you can enter and exit with proper form. Before he put on the intercom Walt was helping me by using hand signals on how to take the lines and pay attention to the road. One time he pointed to the trees and I looked and thought those are pretty trees. Later down the road he pointed again and I thought “Walt really likes trees” and then I realized he was pointing to the switchbacks so I could prepare for the turns. Many other hand signals went unnoticed and thus he stuck an intercom on my helmet.

Here is a picture of the group I was riding with from left to right:  Rocky, me, Walt, Pamela, Laura, Rick

Here is a picture of the pretty trees and one of Walt (who apparently refuses to take off his helmet). On the ride we saw a deer that went bounding across the road directly across our path. The deer was so graceful it was like watching a ballerina. We also ran into free range cows and one mean looking black steer that I truly believe was trying to stare me down. I looked away. Of course the requisite chipmunks and suicidal squirrels and one sweet baby bobcat ran across the road too.

After lunch and more twisties we ended up at our destination tired but safe.

3 states; 2,000 miles; 1 overheated woman

175 miles.  Day 1

The route: Carpinteria, CA>101 S>126>14N>Lancaster, CA
Well I have to admit I was a bit hesitant this morning as I prepared to leave I started thinking that maybe this was one of my dumber ideas (second only to when I made Carolina and I bicycle ride in Joshua Tree without checking the elevation map-we almost died- haha). But I put those thoughts out of my mind and pressed on.

Leaving Santa Barbara I was perfectly dressed. Once I reached the 126 the sea breeze blew away and turned into a sauna. Guess wearing leather was not the wisest decision for whatever in the world they call this weather. Just awful. The ride was uneventful except for when I forgot to put up my kickstand and a nice family in an SUV went out of their way to inform me. That kickstand always gets me. I am going to commit to memory to check that out every time.
Tomorrow the real adventure begins…

Here I am leaving all leathered up! Check out the minimalist packing