First Bicycle Touring
Adventure: Fall 2007
I said goodbye to my neighbors and headed south on route 68 on a
clear but chilly morning. An easy 30 miles at the beginning, turning west on
route 6 got slightly more physical, with some hills and a headwind. I scanned
for a first campsite after 58 miles. After setting up camp and a quick meal, it
was time to slip into the sleeping bag as the sun was going down. The sun
setting about 7pm and rising around 7:30am produced long nights without any
ambient light. When traveling by bike, daylight dictates the time moving about;
also it is too cold in the morning this time of the year to get going. This
first night of pitching a tent became a regular routine, (the distances through
the Utah and Nevada desert are often too far for riding to the next town). With
this, I worked out a camping strategy. Riding perhaps to an hour before sunset,
I then looked for a favorable spot to hide the camp. This would always be away
from the road and into the sun. This way as traffic went past, I couldn’t be
seen.
After the first night, I knew that a couple of things had to be
changed. I needed to get a softer seat and woolen socks, as cold feet kept me
up most of the night. Those items got purchased. Second, I got something to eat
in Delta UT, at the first restaurant that came in sight, which happened to be
Mexican.
Those early few days were rather tough, as I was dealing with issues
like never before, but this was all part of the challenge. The elements, especially
the headwinds across the Utah – Nevada desert, were hard to cope with. There
were days with averaging less than 10miles/hour, although over the whole
journey, it would be around 12-13mph. It wasn’t just the physical wind blowing
all day, but more so the noise in the ears, which was playing with the mind as
well.
Note: Put earplugs on the shopping list!
The wind is a player 24 hours a day and it becomes rather difficult
to setup & take down a tent in 30-40 mph + wind gusts. At night it is
almost frightening to listen, when it sounds like a freight train as the wind
howls through the canyons. After a wind storm camping out in the desert is
going to be a cleanup, as all the equipment, inside the tent as well, is
covered with sand. Sand is lodged everywhere, hair, nose, ears………
I made it to the Nevada State line just in time to get a motel room.
On the horizon was another snowstorm heading east and closing Sacramento &
Connor Pass to Ely. After 2 days of snow, the sky turned blue again and the
journey continued, although with temperatures just above freezing. Riding west
on Route 6 the headwind was a constant companion, but with very little traffic
and no precipitation. Every day on the road was a real treat and with lots of
time to think about the future, which this journey was all about. One problem I
found so far was that on long distances from town to town, the 1.5 gallons of
water I carried was not enough, having to ask road construction crews and other
road users for precious liquids.
After several nights of camping out, I booked into the Jim Butler
Motel in Tonopah NV, enjoying modern amenities such as heating and laundry
machine, followed by chicken fajitas at El Marques Mexican Rest……….
Until next time...
Tony Bike
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