Day 5: Truckee, CA to Sparks, NV

Day 5: 07 June 2007

Truckee, CA to Sparks, NV.  65 Miles.

Blog Address:
http://bikeboyglovach.blogspot.com

Day’s Theme:
Lake Tahoe and Mount Rose – Beautiful Places…..

Weather/Terrain:
Well, it is still quite cool out here, but, the snow is behind us.  Today’s route brought us down a beautiful bike path, right by Lake Tahoe, then up Route 431 to the summit of Mount Rose at 8900 feet!  Beautiful scenery today.  Now we are in bad ass Nevada...

How I feel:
Pretty good – thank God!  Legs were a little sore from the 65 mile uphill yesterday, but, I, and all the riders actually, are doing well.
Thanks for all your e-mails and encouragement – I appreciate it.  I am sorry I haven’t responded to everyone, but, by the time I get my old ass into town and stretch and do laundry – it’s bed time.  Except when I find a brewery………..

Notable Events:
Descending Mount Rose yesterday was a 16 mile downhill.  My bike was quite “wibbaly wobbaly”, so, I checked it out and noticed my rear wheel was out of true.  I got my little bike tool out and fixed it up good enough.  I had the ABB ace mechanic Gerard look at it later and he said “You did nice work!”  Imagine – me, with tools……,.  Joan sent cookies and the riders LOVED THEM – thanks Joan (from me and the other riders). 
There was a “close call” yesterday for Wayne. He was descending from Mount Rose, down the 16 mile downhill, when one car was trying to pass another coming up the hill.  Maybe because they saw Wayne, the passing driver tried to cut back into his lane, but bounced off the other car and to the left towards Wayne.  Wayne had to turn BETWEEN the two cars – he is fine.  Time for some new shorts maybe……... 

Pictures:
What’s Happening:






The day started brisk, but clear.  The four ales from last night did not help…….,. 
This stream ran along a really nice bike path. 












A little nature along the bike path.  Little ducks – not afraid of the wolf!












We rode right along Lake Tahoe for several miles.  It is quite beautiful, as is the town.








Soon we all left CA and entered NV.
 
The bad ass in this picture is Brian from England – he is the reason we all had headaches this morning (the boy can drink……).










A view from along the 8.2 mile climb we had on Route 431 to the summit of Mount Rose.








Lake Tahoe is breathtaking.  Maybe it was the altitude.  It has an average depth of about 960 feet – that is incredible!
 
Dava – why don’t you get a boat slip out here?











Well, the mere 8.2 mile climb we had today was quite hard, but scenic.











An alpine meadow near the summit of Mount Rose.  That is snow in the trees there.










At the top of Mount Rose, 8990 feet, this is what we saw just before we started the 16 mile downhill into Sparks, NV.