Back to Ride Itinerary   Meet the Riders   Bamacyclist Home

Day 4
Up we go!!!

ROUTE: Auburn to Truckee CA DISTANCE: 75 Miles WINDS: Tail most of the day
WEATHER: Sunny and warm...65 at the top of Donner TERRAIN: Very hilly...Sierra Mountains TOTAL CLIMBING: 8200 feet

DAILY DOINGS: Today promised to be the toughest day on our trip...at least on paper.  Today we climb over 8000 feet as we head up the western slopes of the Sierra Nevadas and over Donner Pass before screaming down the back side into Truckee.  The morning started out routinely with a leisurely breakfast and loading for a 7:00 departure.  The riders were met with instant climbing as they left the motel, but we expected that.  Everything was going along smoothly...Barb was moving up through the riders and I was close behind when we ran into a bridge over the interstate that was under construction.  I zoomed there to size up the situation with the foreman of the project and he said we couldn't come through...OK, Barb go forward and talk to me on the radio so I could route everyone through the detour.  As it worked out, the detour didn't add any mileage but it did take us up a pretty good climb before we got back across the interstate about 6 miles farther down route.  Barb and I hustled to get the detour scoped out and painted so everyone would be confident about where to go, but there's always that 10% that don't get the word.  Seems Larry didn't see the arrows clearly painted on the ground so he just pressed thorough the construction taking with him several others (some of whom saw the arrows).  After he got through all the construction and was pedaling his way on course, he called me on my cell and informed me that some had missed the turn and had gone straight and that I should go find them.  LARRY!  I'm looking for YOU!!!  Everyone else is where I sent them!  Your group is the only people MISSING!!!  Luckily, by 12 miles, everyone was back on course and enjoying the strenuous terrain...strenuous, but beautiful.

Our route early took us back and forth across I-80 on hilly frontage roads that were scenic with nice smooth surfaces.  At mile 32 we got on I-80 and were greeted with one of the smoothest shoulders I've ever seen...but that didn't last too long.  I-80 is traveled much of the time in the winter with vehicles with chains.  The road surface is one of the roughest I've ever driven on and the shoulder (after the initial smooth section) was a bit chewed up in places too.  Traffic was heavy and the noise from the tires on the rough pavement added to the stress of riding on interstate.  Although not the most pleasant 17 miles on our trip, everyone got through OK and enjoyed the scenic Donner Pass road that led over pass after they got off the interstate.  I spent most of the mid day going back and forth helping riders with flat tires and at one point I came upon Darryl who had flatted both his tires at the same time...now that's economy, two for the price of one.

After the second SAG at Donner Pass, the riders were greeted with a super down hill into Truckee.  A scenic, technical descent down the mountain that gave respite from all the climbing of the day.  I took this photo of Joe, Johnny, and Rose at the top of the climb.  They thought it was for a brochure shot for next year, but I was really getting a good photo of them for the APB I may need later...they were off route so much today that I'm getting gun shy. 

As we pedal through here, it's hard to believe that in the 1840s wagon trains crossed this rugged land on their way to San Francisco.  Wagons had to be disassembled and lowered off the cliffs by rope and then reassembled at the bottom...tough crossing.  We on the other hand, just pedal our bicycles up the slopes and coast down the other side.  You probably know the story of the Donner Party that tried to cross in 1846 and got caught in this area by one of the worst snow storms in history and resorted to cannibalism to survive.  This is a tough area and unimaginable in those times.

The last riders got in around 6:00.  I hustled in just in time to do mechanics at 5:30 and then to rap at 6:15.  Dinner was a pizza dinner at the motel...nice finish to a long day.  As I sit here typing and thinking about tomorrow, I'm thinking we're not through climbing yet.  Tomorrow we start out climbing right out of the motel to Brockway Summit then over Mt Rose.  Weather looks good and we're looking forward to another great day on a bicycle.  Check on us tomorrow.  See you then.  M

PS:  An alumni, David Kahn from the '04 Mississippi Ride, came by and said hello tonight at the motel.  He also brought tasty, ripe cherries for our SAG today...Thanks David and stay safe. 

DAILY DISCERNING DIALOGUE:

"How are the flatlanders doing today?"
"If we don't get to the top of this hill pretty soon, we're going to be flatliners!"  Riders asking Team Florida about their day.

"Don't worry, that hill on the detour was free!"  Debbie consoling the riders after the big climb on the detour.  She's starting to think like staff now!

"I now have a better appreciation for the internal combustion engine."  Joe after climbing to the first SAG.

"Everybody that stayed on route today missed a great down hill!"
"Yeah, but they also missed the great climb to get back on course."  Johnny after he, Joe, and Rose blew by a turn at the top of a hill.

"Arrows...what arrows?"  Larry when he missed the detour arrows I painted on the road.

"Knees, don't fail me now."

"I don't know why the pioneers had such a hard time finding their way to San Francisco, they could have just followed I-80."

  DAILY DUH:  Today's DUH goes to our good friend Clarence from the great state of Alabama.  He's been a hoot with his southern humor.  I understand he said yesterday that if we had to pick him up in the van any time on the ride, not to bother bringing his bike.  But that's not the focus of today's write up.  Tonight while standing in the dinner line, he shared, "I'm leaving a trail every day.  I may be doing the Hansel and Gretel Ride across America.  I've left stuff everyday...I've lost my sunglasses one day, my shorts the next, my vest today, and no telling what else.  I figure at this rate, my luggage bags will be pretty light by the time I get to New Hampshire."  "But of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."

RIDER OF NOTE: Joe carries a placard on the back of his bike that says "OL COACH,  Moline IL"

He rides with this placard in remembrance of his good friend and riding partner, Jerry Leggett who was a very successful Illinois high school basketball coach who died of a heart attack on a local bike ride.  Now on Joe's major rides, he carries his friend with him.  After the ride, he returns the placard to Jerry's wife.  Thanks for sharing Joe...keep pedaling.

 

DAILY DIGITAL DELIGHTS

OK, did I miss something?  Or am I just confused.

Larry was assigned "Pastry Duty" this morning...he vowed to guard them with his life, but all we wanted was for him to hand them out.

Laura may just be taking today's ride a bit too casual.  Love those flip flops.

Rich takes to heart the advice of putting A personalities on the back burner for this ride.  Notice his calm exterior...all the while his insides are screaming, "What's the hold up...it's time to get on the road!"

Not to be accused of "holding up the boys" again, Bernie made it a point to be ready to roll even before the guys had loaded their luggage. 

Jenny tried to confer with the local Dali Llama about how to find her way around the detour...and how will I ever climb all these hills?  As you can see from the photo, little interest was displayed on such trivial problems.

Gordon, come over here.  This is a great place for a photo!  It would be just a little better if you'd just move back...just a little.

Gordon...GORDON!?  Hey Alan...Come here...here's a great place for a photo.

Copyright © 2006 by Bamacyclist  
All rights reserved.