Over the Sierras ito Tahoe

The riding work of Sunday and Monday left me with little energy or really ability to document a lot of what took place. While it was good that I chose US 50 in the interest of getting some traction for my efforts, because it was a holiday weekend, the incessant car herds made it very hard for me to take my hands off the bars a lot of the time. After I left Alder Creek campground along 50 with a 6AM start, my hands were so cold, I couldn't feel them. So that approach did not work either.

It did get me over a pretty large ascent into the small town of Strawberry before I then took on 7500 foot Echo Summit. Both passes required a tremendous amount of effort. I pretended like I was doing a gym workout where I would push for 40 or so minutes and then start looking for a turnout where I could stop and rest.

I stopped where these widened spots in the road began. -walked me and my bike to their top most end and sat down. I drank water and ate an energy bar or two as I caught my breath. 10 sometimes 15 minutes later, I would use the turnout to remount as I could not do on the uphill and ride to where वेयर I had gotten off and turned around back up the hill for more.

In all, on each long 6% grade, I must have made five or six stops during the day. I also used these stops to take photos and talk ideas into my recorder. of which i realized that not a lot needs to be done to make US 50 bike worthy indeed.

Before I CLIMBED ECHO, i STOPPED IN STRAWBERRY AND TALKED to Jim, the only store proprietor. He said his business is down by a third and that what scares him is all the people paying for 3 and 4 dollar items with credit cards. He said he sees one or tow bike riders a week u here and yet I am sure he would more than happily welcome all the bike riders that would come his way if the biking were better o this stretch. In fact, there are a lot of little hotels and other purveyors who would be much benefitted with more such bike traffic!

From Echo Summit इ looked down on the south end of the Lake Tahoe valley toa fast downhill that went down forever I took the whole lane and prayed as Ii powered along with my legs crossed in front of the steer tube. Holiday cars were backed up coming from Tahoe as I scorched past them. And I was moving as I thought a bout all the people and reasons I needed for this descent to have no errors.

The uphill traffic was no doubt astounded but I did not dare to let myself be distracted by looking. I couldn't help but notice the grey rock wall adjacent to them. or in other words, how to get a bike lane in there was a big hmmmmmmmmmmm. But I did make it to the bottom safe, sound and relieved. as well as grateful to all of you for your prayers and support.

Soon I made contact with Chuck Harrison, an employee of Lynn LePage's back in Folsom. Chuck, an 86 TransCon vet, was at the beach but told me to come to his caBIN WHENEVER I WAS READY. f\He had wifi and power that I could use! However since he was five miles away, I decided to work on line at a deli until later in the afternoon. However their wif went down after a few hours and I head up S Lake Tahoe Blvd to हिस house.

I got there without my precious computer though and had to go back. A ten mile detour that must have me famous as I traveled back and forth on Lake Tahoe Blvd, aka US 50 the Lincoln Highway. It was also a mistake that did not leave me much time to visit with Chuck............

The next day I ride to Carson City over yet another pass made worse by some huge climbing around the lake. More on that next blog.........

THX 4 all of U!!