One thing I have noticed is how much different the perception of the landscape and things around gets when on a bike. Things roll slowly and that gives you time to soak it in. To sweat and suffer on hill climbs, to scream in joy when riding downhill cooled by the wind, to feel wafts of hot air passing, smell the pines or the roadkill. To see the bird fly by you - three times so far.
When in a car, things go by too fast. Cycling gives you very detail focused mind.
One thing I have noticed is how much different the perception of the landscape and things around gets when on a bike. Things roll slowly and that gives you time to soak it in. To sweat and suffer on hill climbs, to scream in joy when riding downhill cooled by the wind, to feel wafts of hot air passing, smell the pines or the roadkill. To see the bird fly by you - three times so far.
When in a car, things go by too fast. Cycling gives you very detail focused mind.
Sorry for not updating this blog. It turns out I'm not really capable of finding the energy and time to write down the days and post updates periodically. Usually I reach the camp/motel and I'm just able to eat and sleep and in the morning I want to get going without long delays.
However, yesterday was very long day and today I might not go very far (70 miles) so there's time.
I've made it to Austin, NV yesterday evening. So far the journey has taken me through wide variety of landscape and temperatures. California was sweltering hot with up to 37°C, mostly flat with occasional rolling hills, golden dry grass everywhere and finally big steep climb towards lake Tahoe with my beloved pine tree forests and occasional yellow Aspen thrown in for good measure. Nevada started off with beautiful long downhill ride of about 800 vertical meters. I got to Carson city which had friendly bike shop where I got my bike tuned up and re-inflated, ate big lunch/breakfast - chilaquiles, and got some supplies in hardware shop (alcohol for the stove, bungee cords for better/faster strapping of my things). Got to Fallon that day and stayed next to the road in the Sage Valley RV park. It was loud but I did not care. It was cold night which made me little worried about the Colorado mountain crossing which lies ahead of me. However, the cold days are here to stay so I have time to work it out :)
Yesterday was a big one. For one I cycled the longest distance on this trip and ever for me in a single day. For sure in the end I was tired and zoned out but I made it. I also crashed early on - I was trying to tighten straps on my handlebar bags while riding and when I pulled on it I have made my bike do really sharp turn. It was very soon apparent that I won't be able to recover from it but in these fractions of second I managed to turn off the road and into the gravel bank. Landed sideways and slid some distance - that probably prevented more severe injuries. Got road rash and bit stiff neck from when I hit the head (thanks helmets). Friendly people in the car that was approaching stopped, helped clean my wounds and waited for me to get going again. Very nice.
After the day I ended up in motel in Austin. The town was a bit of a ghost town in the evening, nothing open anymore even though it was only 7pm Sunday.
