Day 4: Auburn to Trucke, CA -- 72.6 miles

OMG! Today was incredible!!! I am sure most of you could tell I wasn't sounding super excited about today. I was really mentally preparing for a very long hard ride for today. I had heard horror stories that two years ago, on top of Donner's pass that it was whiteout blizzard conditions. I hate snow, and riding down a steep hill with no gaurd rails for 10 miles on wet pavement was really freaking me out. One of my goals is to ride this whole ride without getting on the sag wagon, and it was a long journey. Practically up hill the whole way. For those of you from Colorado, it literally was like riding uphill from Golden to Aspen...just a continuous mountain to climb that was never, never ending!

We started the day at 5:30 am, eating the grand slam special at "Denny's!" (Brings back memories doesn't it Maggie?)... Anyway, I was biking on the road by 6:15am, and the steep inclines, hills and mountains began almost immediately. I was pumped and ready to go. One good thing that I had forgotten was that for every hill you climb, regardless how steep, there is a magnificent downhill to coast down on the other side, so this, in my opinion, made the work worth it. I was also surrounded by scenery I am not used to, so I was enjoying all the great sites of California, mainly mountains...which I had forgotten were so amazingly beautiful...and yes, many parts of it reminded me of Colorado! As one fellow biker shared with me, "another beautiful day in paradise," and it really was!

So as I kept climbing up in elevation...we are up to 8.000 feet now...I found that as I pedal, going 5 mph, if i pump 13 times it = 1/100 of a mile. 130 times = 1/10 of a mile, and 1 mile - 1300 pedal pumps on my bike. If you go 10.9 mph, 1/100 of a mile = 6 pumps. I know you can all rest easy now, knowing this little piece of trivia!

There was construction going on on interstate 80, so the construction crew rerouted us for about a quarter of a mile until got to a safe place to start riding again. Safe on I-80? I know! I think this is where my brother and sister stopped to put chains on the car one winter if I am not mistaken. It really though wasn't super bad, I was just glad to get off the highway, and start up Donner's pass!

Oddly enough, Donner's pass was a piece of cake compared to all the climbing we had done up to that point...probably the last 6 miles was tough. Once we got to the top, it was soooooooo worth it. For those of you who've gone there, you know what I am talking about. It made me feel that all this work was so worth it, just to see Donner's lake from the top of Donner's pass! And, there was no snow, no rain, and we were all so very glad that we did not have to resort to eating one another! Once we got down the mountain and to our hotel, we had pasta, salad, and bread instead. Gearing up for another day!!!

Just a few random thoughts to share with you as I've been biking and seeing the sites the past four days. I did not know that Best Western Hotels still existed....I think I was in kindergarten that last time I had stayed at one, or I've been living in NYC too long! Also, did you know they still make JHIRMACK shampoo, conditioner, and soap? Again, I haven't seen those products in many years! I also was wondering, how many interstates are there in the continental U.S? Does anyone know? I know I-70 in Colorado, and I was on I-80 today...again, just random thoughts as I bike during the day!

I got slightly sunburned today. The first day riding, a fellow rider, John, came up to me to remind me to always reapply to my nose, as he had had 3 seperate skin cancer's to his. Today was a reminder of how the higher elevations make me so much more susceptible to burns!

Well, today is our last day in California, and tomorrow we are off to Nevada, and to Lake Tahoe!!! I have never been, and am very excited to see the sites! Still having a blast, even though I biked for 12 hours today (yes, I am slow)... and even tho I can feel every muscle fiber in my quads, I am still having an absolutely amazing time!

Hope you are all well! Will talk to you later! M