I woke up very early today and started off with breakfast, a couple of sugary pastries I'd gotten from a small supermarket on the way back from dinner last night. I did most of my preparations yesterday evening, so once I was fed, dressed and sun-creamed this morning I was pretty much ready to roll.
I got on the road at 6:30, just before the sun came up. It was a cold start to the day, but I knew the heat was to soon arrive. I got the first 10 miles under my belt before the sun peeped over the top of the mountains, and when it did the temperature started to rise quickly.
20 miles in and at 8am, I joined the I-80 for the rest of the days riding. The surrounding ground was bright white from all the salt and the temperature continued to climb steadily, but I managed a good pace. The air was salty, similar to what you get at the seaside but much stronger. It wasn't too windy though, which made cycling easier but hotter.
I began a slight climb where the surroundings became more desert like with sand and small grass plants growing. The road edged around one of the hills out there and with no wind to cool me down I got very sweaty.
After a little while rhe climb stopped and descended, and past 'Knolls' the white salt flats returned. At the 35 mile marker (counting down to the Nevada border) I stopped to go to walk onto the salt. It was slightly squishy, almost like wet sand, and my cleats left a trail where I'd walked. Under the top crust of salt there was a clay-like mud. You can see why nothing grows there!
A bit further on the salt became even whiter, and I stopped again to have a look. From the freeway it almost looked like snow had fallen, but on the ground were now a few inches thick of compacted salt crystals.
I reached my motel at around 2pm having made quick progress all day. I averaged a fairly speedy (for a bike with loaded panniers) 15 mph, and it wasn't as hot as I had imagined. I would even go as far as to say it was easier than yesterday's ride that was half the distance!
At the motel, I went for a dip in their outdoor pool to cool off. It was very refreshing, but I soon got hungry and got ready to wander into town for some dinner.
Wendover sits right on the state line,with one half ('West Wendover') in Nevada and the other (where my motel is) in Utah. The first thing you notice walking into town are two medium sized casinos perched on the edge of Nevada. I walked around a bit and eventually chose a world buffet inside one of the casinos itself. Again, I ate myself silly, but it was good. They had steaks, Chinese, Mexican, Italian and a large choice of desserts!
Then it was time to waddle back to Utah to get an early ish night. Its a shorter ride tomorrow, but with a thunderstorm forecast for the afternoon I don't want to hang around too long!
Miles today: 105.1
Total miles: 2603.3
I got on the road at 6:30, just before the sun came up. It was a cold start to the day, but I knew the heat was to soon arrive. I got the first 10 miles under my belt before the sun peeped over the top of the mountains, and when it did the temperature started to rise quickly.
20 miles in and at 8am, I joined the I-80 for the rest of the days riding. The surrounding ground was bright white from all the salt and the temperature continued to climb steadily, but I managed a good pace. The air was salty, similar to what you get at the seaside but much stronger. It wasn't too windy though, which made cycling easier but hotter.
I began a slight climb where the surroundings became more desert like with sand and small grass plants growing. The road edged around one of the hills out there and with no wind to cool me down I got very sweaty.
After a little while rhe climb stopped and descended, and past 'Knolls' the white salt flats returned. At the 35 mile marker (counting down to the Nevada border) I stopped to go to walk onto the salt. It was slightly squishy, almost like wet sand, and my cleats left a trail where I'd walked. Under the top crust of salt there was a clay-like mud. You can see why nothing grows there!
A bit further on the salt became even whiter, and I stopped again to have a look. From the freeway it almost looked like snow had fallen, but on the ground were now a few inches thick of compacted salt crystals.
I reached my motel at around 2pm having made quick progress all day. I averaged a fairly speedy (for a bike with loaded panniers) 15 mph, and it wasn't as hot as I had imagined. I would even go as far as to say it was easier than yesterday's ride that was half the distance!
At the motel, I went for a dip in their outdoor pool to cool off. It was very refreshing, but I soon got hungry and got ready to wander into town for some dinner.
Wendover sits right on the state line,with one half ('West Wendover') in Nevada and the other (where my motel is) in Utah. The first thing you notice walking into town are two medium sized casinos perched on the edge of Nevada. I walked around a bit and eventually chose a world buffet inside one of the casinos itself. Again, I ate myself silly, but it was good. They had steaks, Chinese, Mexican, Italian and a large choice of desserts!
Then it was time to waddle back to Utah to get an early ish night. Its a shorter ride tomorrow, but with a thunderstorm forecast for the afternoon I don't want to hang around too long!
Miles today: 105.1
Total miles: 2603.3
Google thought this was snow!
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