In the desert

Distance covered: 76 Miles
Time in saddle: 6hrs 34 Mins.
Overall distance: 808 Miles
I slept well in the desert last night. Jeremy left before I got up.....don't you hate it girls when they leave without saying goodbye...only kidding. I decided to cycle alone today. It was good to cycle with someone, but I felt a little obligated and it was probably the same with Jeremy so it's best we travel at our own speed. He was a genuinely nice Guy and he's looking forward to meeting his wife in the East, I wish him the best.
The road was really long today, not that steep, although there was a nice early rise...no not what you think...a mountain of about 5200feet high, which wasn't too bad. At least I didn't have to go back down for anything today.
It has been incredibly hot today...I nearly took ff my duffle coat at one point. The straight road was really boring. It lasted seventy five miles without any bends, just straight. It's amazing what you think about when you are cycling. I thought about my mum and dad today. Funny how they just popped into my head. I like to think that they would have been very proud...mum in particular would have been very worried but still proud.
I have had my phone off for a couple of days. I've not been able to send any texts or receive a signal so I thought that I may as well save the batteries. As I finally approached my destination for today, Delta, a town in Utah. Yes another state out of the way, I turned my phone on and got a load of messages....fantastic. I can't tell you how much it cheers me up. Cheers everyone for your fantastic support. Mike, my friend who owns Viva TV rang me and had a chat. It's great to hear a voice you recognise. Everything is fine in the UK apparently and lots of people are watching the blog, that's good to know. Sometimes I think that there is only me who is thinking about it. I know that's not true but when you are cycling alone for a while your mind plays tricks.
I had a funny experience as I finished my ride for today. Just before entering Delta I stopped at a garage/shop on the edge of the desert. As I bought some food I went to the fridge for a can of beer, my treat for today. The young shop assistant looked at me is a concerned way. I thought that she was trying to recognise the accent. She then said"you are old enough for beer aren't you"I nearly kissed her. I told her I was fifty one. I couldn't believe it. Saying that I was covered in desert dust and had my helmet on. I suppose she could have thought I just looked rough.....what ever you think it made my dad.
As I am writing this I just received a phone call from Rob, a mate from school. Great to hear from him. I think that is a measure of true friendship. You don't have to live in each others pocket but now and again it's good to hear from them. It's the same with Graham Allen who now lives in Australia. I received a message from him and his wife Pat and it's very much appreciated. However old I get he along with Brian Calder will always be my closest friend...you can't erase history can you. When he comes home to visit England every four or five years it's as if he's never been away....somehow you just feel comfortable in their company. Every day is eighty miles nearer to home....I can't wait.

Day Nine
Distance covered 85.1 miles
Time in saddle 7 hours 55 Mins
Overall Distance: 732 miles

I woke up in the night a few times last night. The hotel was fine, very Victorian in its décor, although it was only built in 1927.
The casino lights from across the road kept flashing. I did close the curtains but I could still see the light. I kept hearing noises too; perhaps my mind was active…first time for everything then. I even got on the Internet at about 1.30am my time…or was I dreaming. Did I chat to anyone on the web?
I left about eight o clock in the morning and decided to call in for breakfast on the edge of town The café was old fashioned, probably furnished in the fifties and never updated, it was very nice. The waitress was probably from a casting agency, she epitomised everything you imagine a small town waitress to be. Probably late sixties, and still attractive. Her American twang straight from the B movies of the fifties. She asked what I would like and I said egg and bacon please. ‘Do you want your eggs easy’ she drawled. “You can struggle a bit but as long as I get them in the end” I replied…she didn’t get it…. trouble is no one ever does. After a hearty breakfast I cycled off into the desert full of beans…well egg and bacon at least. The first twenty miles were a breeze and the time passed quickly. I passed a dead rabbit on the road, how unlucky can you be. There isn’t a car for miles, perhaps one every ten minutes and it gets knocked down. It had four lucky rabbits feet but it didn’t seem to do it much good. I stopped to have a break, something to eat and do some filming. There are never any cars about until I start filming then they all come. It’s like that scene from the Truman Show, when he’s trying to leave town and all the cars appear at once. After finishing my snack I cycled merrily away up a very long and steep hill. It must have taken me an hour and half to get to the summit and I was relieved at getting to the top. I went to get my camera to take a picture of the view. I realised that I had left it, along with my phone at the bottom of the hill. I had propped up the video camera with it earlier. I turned my bike around and sped down to where I was filming. I was gutted. As I travelled quickly down the hill I kept thinking that I would have to come back up once I’d retrieved my camera and phone. I got down the hill rather quickly, travelling at around thirty miles an hour…. it was steep.

My camera and phone was where I’d left them and I had no choice but to turn around once more and cycle and push my bike up the hill again. To say that I was miffed is an understatement, but at least my camera and mobile phone were safe. I seemed to get to the summit quicker the second time, perhaps I was a little angry with myself and the aggression helped. I must do that more often…not. About twenty miles further on, in the middle of nowhere I stopped at an old staging post….yes they are all called that. It is Pony Express country. The guy behind the bar came out and told me it was open, bless. I was the only customer at first, others came in later. He was very chatty and actually bought me a drink. He was a surfer dude from the East coast but came West when he go older and loved it. He seemed very contented. Jeremy, the young guy I met in Ely came in after about half an hour. He’d set off later than me but obviously managed to catch me at the stage stop. We decided to travel together for a while. The hill into the next valley was very tough and it was quite nice to be cycling along with someone. He’s a lot younger tan me so I found it quite difficult to keep up but I did, it was a good incentive.

Towards the top of the hill Jeremy decided that he wanted something to eat. I decided t cycle on I was sure that he would catch me at some stage. After a further forty miles or so I stopped at another eatery, a more modern building that had a casino, and a motel. The food was ok but nothing to write home about….so why am I doing so. I stayed about an hour then left to see if I could do another ten miles or so before it went dark. I keep saying this but I cannot get over it. The vastness of the place is amazing. I was cycling for hours without coming across a single person or building. As it started to get dark I decided to look for somewhere to pitch my tent. I had plenty of choice, there are millions of acres of desert to chose from. I finally settled on a spot, because it was getting dark. I found loads of little holes in the ground…everywhere. I filled some in with dirt and pitched my tent. If they are where the snakes live….I don’t know I’m not Davit Attenborough….then I hope I’ve not pissed them off. I don’t mind if they bite me as long as it is somewhere I can reach to suck the poison out….do they still do that, I’ve seen them do it in films….In fact I tried to put my tent up in a circle, like they do in the westerns, but it doesn’t work with one tent. Who should cycle up the road as it got dark….Jeremy. I invited him to pitch his tent near mine and we had a good chinwag before retiring to our own tents for the night.
It’s bee a good day today. It is always going to be hard going, but some days are harder than others….today has been less hard so that’s a result…..I’m another eighty miles nearer to home…bring on tomorrow.

Day Eight
Distance traveled: 79.9 miles
Time in Saddle: 7hrs 25 minutes
Overall Distance Covered:647 miles
I started off this morning dreading the start. I'd been told by a guy in the bar last night that I had three massive hills to contend with as I left Eureka. Not a thought that I was happy about. I think the hills are getting the better of me psychologically. I have decided that I am not going to bother thinking about them in the future....just do them. I don't have to ride up them, I can walk with my bike...I'll crawl if I have to as long as I get up them, so no more fear just the realisation that they are going to be difficult....and.
I felt a bit sorry for myself this morning, but I had a good chat with myself and decided not to be such a marde arse. Compared to what our boys. and girls are going through in Afghan and Iraq what I am doing is easy peasy so just get on with it.
It was good today. the sun was shining, but not too hot and the miles were passing by without much trouble.I am missing my boys a lot, but that is to be expected, especially when it's Fathers Day.
A large truck went really close to me today and I had to put my foot down to stop myself from falling over. The first time I've been blown off on my bike...I thought it would be nicer than that. Generally the traffic is really good and gives me a wide berth, but occasionally there is a car, or usually a truck that gets really close.
I went into a really small bar last night for a quick pint. I just wanted to sample the local culture. As I walked into the bar everyone stopped talking. I walked casually up to the bar, trying to blend in and spoke the immortal American greeting...."yer alright luv". I was rumbled straight away. Ironically a guy in the bar originated from Manchester and recognised my accent straight away.
I'm in Ely at the moment in a hotel called The Nevada Hotel, apparently famous for having stars stay, probably many years ago, but it's nice. I won't be getting on line tomorrow because I will be sleeping in the desert for the next couple of nights. It's at least 150 miles to the next town so I have no choice, but I don't mind. I quite like sleeping in the desert it's nice and quiet.
I'm having loads of trouble uploading my videos, it's taking ages then sometimes it doesn't work. I'll get it sorted. I've got some nice footage that you may have to see when I get home...but it will go on line.
I bumped into a young guy tonight who is cycling from San Francisco to Denver Colorado. A lot of people seem to be cycling someway across the country but not many are doing the full trip.
I received a message that my colleague from work, Brian is going to be in Malaga when I am there and is going to meet me at the airport. That is absolutely fantastic and I can't wait to be there.

Eureka

Day Seven
Distance: 71.1 miles
Time in saddle: 6hrs 37 mins
Overall distance: 567 miles

Eureka, I've got to Eureka. Sorry I know its corny but I've been dying to say it. The ride out of Austin started with a long climb. Why is every town on my route in a position where you have to enter the town with a climb and leave the town with a climb? Is it just to pi** me off? It’s working.
I made some really good progress today, the road was relatively flat and the conditions were good. I was chased by another storm. I’m beginning to get paranoid now. I cycled like mad for hours but it caught me eventually and absolutely poured down. It only lasted about half an hour but it flooded the desert, which was an incredible sight. The smell from all the plants was fascinating; it smelled a bit like mint. I saw a rattlesnake today. It was long and very flat…it had been run over by a car. I wouldn’t like to bump into one in the middle of the night.
I was quite tipsy last night. I let my hair down….not a lot..and had a good laugh with some people I met. I felt great this morning. I was going to stay in Austin for a while because they were having a parade and street carnival. Considering there are only about fifty people in the town I didn’t think it was worth hanging around, so I left early.
As I have already pointed out the road that I have been on is the ‘loneliest road’ in America. Today proved that point. I am not kidding you it went on forever, straight as a die and always there. God I wanted a bend, just to do something different.
There were a couple of hills, which I walked up. Not because they were high but just to give my bum a rest. It is really beginning to hurt at the moment. I put some antiseptic cream on my groin this morning, and it helped a little.
For the first time I had to ‘go to the toilet’ in the desert. I made sure that there were no snakes about. Could you imagine phoning 911 to say that I’d been bitten on the bum…. who would suck out the poison? Even if I could reach it myself I would have second thoughts about doing it. As it was there were no snakes and to be frank I had a nice poo. Another ‘thing to before I die’ thing to be ticked off.
I cycled into Eureka about five o clock. I could have gone on but I want to be in Ely tomorrow and it’s only another eighty miles, so I can start in the morning. I haven’t been in touch for a few days and I don’t want you to get worried. I slept in the desert one night and the other night I stayed at a motel that didn’t have Internet access.
There is a climb out of Eureka tomorrow, there’s a change, and ad I’ve got some really big hills until Ely. Bring it on.
It’s Fathers Day tomorrow. I just want to give Daniel and Thomas a message from their Dad. I am missing you more than you could ever imagine and I love you very much…. can’t wait to see you.

Getting to Autin

Day six
Distance: 79.4
Time in Saddle: 7hrs 17 mins
Overall distance: 495 miles
Woke up nice and early this morning feeling really good. Had a great sleep, there were a few jets low flying over through the night, but I found out that it was the firing range for the Naval Top Gun Air force so it was to be expected. At least they didn’t drop anything near me, not that I would have wakened, I was completely knackered.
The ride towards Austin was great…to start with. Nice and flat with plenty of speed. I started early and the weather was fine, but by eight o clock it was burning hot. Whoever said that Nevada was flat hasn’t been there. The hills weren’t as steep as the Sierra Nevada’s but they are there, long and slopey, probably not a real word, but appropriate.
I stopped at an old staging post, called the Old Middlegate Station it was great. The service was fantastic ad the clientele superb. It was an old staging post that was used up to the 1900’s. It’s heyday was in the 1860’s when the pony express passed through. It was where I had my breakfast, and a good one it was. The road I cycled on is officially known as the ‘loneliest road in America’ I can understand why it got that label. I rode for what seems like forever and didn’t see anyone, other than at the staging post. A great guy who was obviously a motorbike enthusiast. He had a big bushy beard, a pony tail and motorcycle leathers. I think his name was John...I'm terrible with names. He spoke candidly about what was important to him...he could have been a typical guy in my local. It’s amazing, we think we are so different but we’re not. He was quite intimidating at first glance, but like many times I have experienced as soon as I started to chat to him he was great .
There is a saying that you should never judge a book by its cover.... So true.
I seem to cycle forever today. It was only eighty miles, or just under but it seemed longer. I passed a few old staging posts that were used by the immigrants and the pony express. The history, although quite young in relation to Britain’s history is still fascinating. I’ve watched the cowboy films but the vastness of the country is unimaginable.
I found the last fifteen miles really hard, I had trouble with chaffing, and believe me it’s not funny. When I get back to the UK I want to start an association of people who have cycled across America, and I know there have been many. At the yearly reunion we will rub our bottoms with sand paper and knee each other in the dangly bits..that’s what it feels like. A storm approached and I was worried that I might be caught in the centre of it. As I rode up the last hill a very nice couple stopped and asked me if I was OK in the storm and did I want a lift? I was very tempted but I didn’t want to cheat. I carried on and the storm caught me about half way up the hill, which I was traveling up at three miles an hour. It was fantastic…. being from the UK I was used to to being caught in the rain…. refreshing it was. The lightening was impressive to say the least….. Fantastic.
As I eventually managed to get to the town and I stopped at a shop/petrol station. The woman who offered me a lift was getting petrol. She said that if I didn’t get a motel I could stay in their spare room…. amazing. I may bump into them later as the town has an event later…..I didn’t. It turned out that a heavy rock band was playing in the Church Hall. There were only about four people there. It was a shame because the band were really good.
I’m worried how difficult the last ten or so miles were today, perhaps I’m getting tired, lets see how tomorrow goes.
I bumped into John, the biker and his mates. We had a drink together in the bar and had a chat.He was fascinated with the Titanic, which ironically I have a connection with. My Uncle ken has a relative who was on the Titanic, in fact two relatives. One died, he was a stoker, the other survived, he was a steward in charge of a lifeboat. It's a funny world isn't it?

In the desert

Distance: 98.4 miles
Time in Saddle: 8hrs 17mins
Overall distance: 416 miles



Day Five
Got up in the middle of the night to make sure the video had down loaded to you tube…hadn’t so tried again, successfully this time. As I was riding out of town on highway 50 I got a wolf whistle from two ‘gals’ in a convertible. Admittedly they were coming from behind. I’ve been told that my bum is my best feature. Or was it my face…. or was it my face looked like my bum. I can’t remember but it’s always nice to get a wolf whistle. It made me peddle a little harder, for about two hundred yards. I met a couple as I cycled along today, they were doing a cycling holiday and were going to Fallon. Everyone seems to go there, but it’s not a very big town. I had a rest at a deserted petrol station, the shade was very nice. It was along pretty straight road to Fallon and relatively flat, thank god. However it does tend to make your bottom hurt. Mine has been really uncomfortable today….I’m a little worried because I woke up with my underpants on the wrong way round? Only kidding. It’s pretty desolate round here, miles of nothing but desert and scrubland. It makes you wonder how people make a living. I stopped at a conveniences store come hardware store come gossip shop. There was only one customer while I was there and she came for a chinwag. The lady who owned it was very nice and took my picture outside the store. I did have a very cold can of lager. It certainly felt refreshing.
The trouble with cycling in this weather is that you don’t know if you are sweating because the heat evaporates the moisture as soon as it appears on the skin. I will have to be careful to keep drinking fluid. It’s like riding with someone blowing a hot hairdryer in your face. My mouth gets terribly dry…I’m a moaning get aren’t I. I’m only telling you how it is. I did warn you that I would tell you everything. I’m having a break at a McDonalds at the moment. I’m outside with gusher having a nice cold drink. I can’t get their Internet at the moment so I’m doing it in word and will down load it later.
I don’t believe this. I just got another wolf whistle…off two lads. I went to the ‘rest room’ as they say in America…I couldn’t rest so I had a wee. As I was walking past these two lads and a girl. One them whistled, I’m pretty sure it was one of the lads. The same happened when I came out. I suppose they were just trying to get me to react…I didn’t rise to the bate, if you’ll pardon the pun. I have never been wolf whistled in all my life, now twice in one day...I feel really cheap...I'm goin to stop wearing short skirts.
I set off again after something to eat. I was going to stay in Fallon, there is a really cheap motel there but I had plenty of light left so I decided to press on I did another thirty odd miles, which I’m pleased about. I always seem to cycle better as the day progresses, perhaps it’s the cooler weather or just my bottom goes numb and I don’t feel it as much.
It’s been a much better day today. The roads are flatter, if dead straight and long…a little boring. The scale and the vastness of the landscape is awe-inspiring. You can see the trail that the pioneers used to get to California. They must have been as hard as nails and very determined. Until you pass through this country you can only imagine the challenge it must have been for them.
I’m camping in the desert at the moment as I write this. I’m not too far away from the road as I noticed a sign saying navel training missile range….not a good sign. I’ve heard a couple of jet planes going over but they won’t bomb near the road…will they?

Another hard day

Forgot to put details for yesterday. I was shattered and wanted to go to bed.
Day Three
Miles traveled: 67.5 miles
Can't remember the other statistics.


Day Four
Miles traveled: 83.9 miles
Time riding: 9hrs 23 minutes
Overall distance: 317.5 miles
I woke up this morning with the hills in mind. I knew that it was going to be difficult with at least 30 miles of climbing ahead. Last night was frustrating, when I was really tired I came across a bar/shop with the open sign on. It was getting dark, I was tired and it was like an oasis. When I approached it was closed and they had left the sign on...I was a happy bunny.... not. That happen twice today, talk about false hope. I started cycling at about 6.00am and right away the big hills started. It's called the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and it goes to 8,500 feet high. I once rode in a Sierra Cosworth...this was a lot harder. At times I was riding at three miles per hour....for hours. It was brutal. There were times that I thought that I'd got to my limit, but that wasn't so, which is nice know, maybe tomorrow, we'll see. I remember before I started the ride I joked that I had a scientific strategy about the ride...peddle like mad until I finish. It turns out that it's the best policy. There were times when I was so tired I could hardly peddle...I walked up some of the hills pushing my bike, which is probably harder but it gave me a break. I knew if I sat down it would be more difficult to get u so I didn't. All the time I thought If I just keep peddling or walking then I will get to the top. The only trouble was there were many 'tops'. It was great when I went down hill occasionally but I knew that I would suffer for the easy ride...there was always another hill just ahead. I've included some photos so that you get some idea of the height.
Cycling on your own is soul destroying when the going gets hard. I always knew it was going to be a psychological challenge as well as a psychical one. I met some great people today, which certainly boost moral and makes the ride a lot easier. The first guy I met was loading logs onto his truck. He asked me where I was going. When I mentioned England he wanted to know if I would be home in September. He would be in London and said that he may see me around.....bless.
I stopped at a ski resort called Kirkwood. I managed to get on the Intenet to check my mail etc. I got lots of messages, on facebook, blogger and text. I can't tell you how much it means to me when I get a message from home. Without sounding too naff there were times today when I felt quite emotional to say the least...I know marde arse..but you have to be here. The messages I received completely changed my mood and made the challenges of the day much easier.....please keep sending them, honestly they are a life saver....ok they don't actually save my life but you know what I mean.
I met quite a few cyclists who were doing a similar route. I don't know how far they were going but certainly to Fallon, my next destination. These guys were great. They offered me water and actually gave me a round of applause when I approached their support vehicle further down the road. I gave them a leaflet with my website on so they may be logging on. I met two other guys who were local lads, and they gave me one of their water bottles, I lost one of mine somehow. We all had a good chat and it certainly made me feel a lot better. It is amazing who stops and chats to you when you are doing something like this. A guy on a motor scooter pulled over and chatted to me. He said he's thinking about doing the same thing and wanted to know in a sentence what I would advice....I told him in one word...don't. He caught me at a bad time to be honest. I was half way up a series of massive hills. Now I've had a feed and a shower I feel better and would certainly advice anyone to do it....but it is hard.
The good things about cycling up to 8,000 feet, is there one? Seriously the views are fantastic and the ride down is usually very fast. I reached 45mph before I started to get jittery. The side winds were a little scary so I applied the break. The last fifteen miles or so was very flat but there was a surprise waiting for me just before I arrived in Carson City, another hill. It was not very big but it's a bit like when people are bitten by a dog...all dogs are scary after that. I feel the same about hills at the moment. I finally arrived at the motel, which is very nice and hopefully will have a good nights rest, ready for tomorrow.