Day 10 Elko, NV to Wendover, NV   107 miles and 4347 feet of climbing

We started out at 7:00 a.m. this morning from our Best Western hotel in Elko. It was refreshingly cool and comfortable. We have been lucky so far with the weather. Typically it can be much hotter in these parts at this time of year. There was not a cloud in the sky as we cruised down Interstate 80 bound for Wendover, NV, about 100 miles to the east. I decided to start out slower this morning to give my lungs a chance to open up and to give my legs a few miles to warm up. I let the group I was riding with ride ahead at their pace, and I hung back for a while. It was so beautiful out on the road this morning. Pictures do not do it justice.

I wish I could stop and take more pictures, but I went on this trip to ride, and see our great country from the seat of a bicycle, and with 107 miles ahead of me today, for the most part, I decided to just keep pedaling. My fellow rider Jamie is doing a blog that just might win him a Pultizer Prize for travel writing so if you want pictures, check out:

itsthejourney.co

You see the countryside much differently from the seat of a bicycle. You feel the wind in your face on a bike, you hear the birds, you notice wildlife out in the meadows and the mountains. You really experience the land and all its wondrous beauty.

At about mile 48, we all stopped in the town of Wells, NV. to pick up sandwiches. We gave them to the SAG wagon to carry. The plan was to eat lunch at the top of the day's climb at 70 miles.

Our lunches secured, on we pressed down I-80 eastbound. We had a slight headwind but nothing like the last few days. On the climbs, I just put my head down and concentrate on one pedal stroke at a time, not on the riders that are stronger and faster. I find a pace that feels right for me. When the climbs are 5 and 6 miles long, what alternative do you really have?
My asthma didn't seem to be as severe on this climb. Typically in the afternoon, I tend to do better for some reason. Today's climb was to the top of Pequop Summit.

I'm not in the middle of the road like it looks here. It's a rest area and truck stop at the summit. 

At the top of the climb at the SAG, we celebrated Jamie's birthday and Ray's birthday. The staff provided fresh donuts along with the usual SAG fruits, granola bars, and cookies, etc. Later in the day, we came upon the British National Men's Cycling Team- Masters Division. (either that or they came upon Zak and me, I can't recall). At any rate, we joined them for the final miles into Wendover. Zak kept giving me pointers on how to paceline, which I appreciated. 

We all stopped at the bottom of the exit in Wendover at which point the Brits insisted that I move to the front of the pack, and lead us into town and to our hotel. I resisted, but they would not have it, so I led the group the short distance to the hotel parking lot. There were high fives all around. It was such a gracious gesture on their part, that to be completely honest, I wanted to cry. But in the strict British tradition, I kept a stiff upper lip and did my best to remain calm and carry on. Just another priceless day on the road across our great country.