Day 62,63,64,65

CALIFORNIA!

Miles Biked: 75
112!!!!!
105!!!!!
0 (much needed rest day)

Hello from South Lake Tahoe, CALIFORNIA! We have entered our 13th and FINAL state in a bike trip across the United States. While some may simply come to California, we in HBC south are forced to earn it. To get to South Lake Tahoe we biked nearly 220 miles in two days, through brutal headwinds, scorching desert temperatures, and one of the most brutal climbs on the entire trip into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Somehow I survived and am in a state of ecstasy as I will hit the 4,000 mile mark tomorrow and San Francisco in FOUR DAYS!

From the tiny town of Eureka we headed over a few more mountain passes continuing on the loneliest highway in America to the town of Austin. The scenery continued it's monotonous views. We continued to bike into a headwind (that has been blowing since Utah) and right before we hit Austin we had a 2,000 foot climb.....with a quick downhill to another immediate climb. The whole second peak thing was really unexpected and made everyone a little grumpy going into "town".

Austin wasn't much of a town. Here is the Austin, Nevada Profile:
Population: 400
Number of Gas Stations: 2
Number of Motels/RV Parks: 1 (which is also a Baptist Church.....where we spent the night)
Grocery Stores: ZERO (closest one is back in Eureka)
Closest Walmart/Movie Theatre/Sign of Real Life: 112 miles.....in Austin....our next stop!

We woke up bright and early to beat the desert heat and headwinds. Since we average 15MPH on the bike, there really is no way to beat either of those....but it makes us feel better to wake up before the sun is out. The good news about our ride from Austin to Fallon is we lost a lot of elevation.....the bad news is it gets hotter when you go down. By the end of the day I was biking in Salt Flats through 101 degree temperatures (that's air temp, who knows what the actual temp of the asphalt was). While most of the ride looked like 99% of the rest of Nevada there were some highlights. About 60 miles in, we came across the "shoe tree". The shoe tree is a tree alongside a dried up stream that has hundreds of shoes thrown in it. The locals are not sure why, and I'm not even sure how the tree is even there, considering it's one of about 3 trees along Highway 50. Lisa, Reuben, Sarah, and I stopped to toss some shoes in (from the pile of rotted shoes at the base of the tree). Just before the tree I was discussing with Claire how I wanted to throw my shoes in the grail of where crappy shoes should go. We made a plan to hide my shoes in a bush with chalk markings that no one else would recognize. After going to the tree I didn't see my shoes.....but later Claire informed me she hide them with a large chalked arrow pointing to a bush that read "Ben.....ASS CREAM". I think it is even better I did not find them to confuse motorists until the next time it rains (they average 6 inches a year....it could be there awhile). After I made it to Fallon I dived in the city pool, watched two teenagers make out on the front steps, broke even on a quarter slot machine in the quickie-mart, talked with a church member for 30 minutes about brothels(he did all the talking while I looked for ways out), and called it a night.

From Fallon we headed to CALIFORNIA....but like I said...we had to earn it. The headwinds picked up just outside of Fallon and lasted for the remaining 100 miles. We treked across the capitol, Carson City and then headed South. As I chugged along with all my might to go 12MPH we hit the Sierra Nevadas. From the distance they didn't look any larger than what we had been coming over, but upon closer inspection I realized they went straight up like a cement wall. We headed South for awhile before we started our climb. The pass was built straight into the cliffs and was a 9% grade for 9 miles. The headwinds became so strong going up, there were times I thought I was going to be blown backwards. For people in cars, I must have looked pretty foolish going 4MPH. One car of teenagers even thought it would be funny to hang out their window and bark at me. I gave them a friendly West Virginia wave. Upon reaching the top I cried with joy as it was all downhill to Tahoe. The lake might as well have been the Pacific Ocean. As soon as we crossed the border Lisa exclaimed "wow, people are better looking in California" and after coming through West Virginia, the bible belt, and the desert.....she may be right (better water here).

So here we are in Lake Tahoe. It is amazing this town even exists. They had a devastating forest fire come through earlier this summer that took out over 250 houses. There are plenty of "Thank You Fire Fighter" banners still hanging over pubs and restaurants. Today we relaxed as best we could. I got to sleep in.......till 7:30am. Then we hit the beach and Casino where I lost $20. Tomorrow we will climb out of the Sierras and head into Placerville. From there, we pass Sacramento to the Bay Area and the finish line. Come on legs.....last me four more days!

Thank you everyone for their comments! Those messages made my day!