Some Picture Along The Way

    

1) My Jimmy Impersonation        
2) Grabbing a Paleo Kit      
3) "The Shoe Tree"
4) A Damn Cool Road
5) Me Being All Happy
6) That Speck Is Me Riding!
7) ...oh god.  All Bundled Up
8) The Salt Lands
9) Random Sand Dune
10) Me At The Shoe Tree
11/12) What A View!

This Weather Is Starting To Annoy Me

Sorry about the lack of contact yesterday, there is little to no service out along route 50 ("The Loneliest Road In America").  Yesterday we scrambled to get into the car to beat the crazy snow storm that was coming our way.  The idea was to get into the mountains and hop on the bike when I felt like we might be a bit away from it.  So, that's what happened.  Got on the bike a little ways outside of Fallon, NV, and rode through some of the nicest scenery I have ever seen all the way to Eureka, NV.  It has always been a dream of mine to be on one of those long, straight roads leading into the mountains; and that is exactly what I was on the entire time.  So cool.

The weather went through some crazy changes during the day.  I started off in full cold gear, shorts, wind tights,  then wind/rain pants, under armor shirt, biking jacket and wind/rain jacket.  As well as a full head warmer, gloves, thermal booties for my feet, and ski goggles.  About two hours into it, I took off the wind/rain gear, took off the head warmer and took off the gloves, and was still sweating like crazy.  Another hour into though, everything was back on and I was freezing.  I swore as I rode into Eureka, that I had frostbite on my feet. So cold.

Today, well, it's 20 degrees, and snowing.  Sweet!  But we are geting the picture from so many people we talk too, that these areas are right around the cusp of heavy and light precipitation.  This means we are just etting a little spill-over from the heavy stuff farther north.  So, the closer I can get to Utah, the farther I will get from this bad weather.  So, we will escape the worst of it, I'll hop back on the bike and ride to Ceder City, UT tonight.  That's the plan!

Been listening to Harry Potter, thinking about all sorts of things, and just fighting through the hours and weather.  I think once this become a bit more of a pattern, I will be able to settle into a posting schedule, and share some of the details of what I have been experiencing.

So expect so much more!

Josh Courage

The Snow Is Coming Again...

Today started off just fine, felt rested, was up pretty easily before the sun and all.  But then things took a drastic turn for the worst when I looked at the weather.  Snow, snow and more snow is coming on hard and fast, with wind gusts up to 25 mph as I trek from here (Fallon, NV), due west to Eureka, NV.  Some places will accumulate up to 6 inches; but the scariest part of this is twofold: the roads are not so good here, narrow, rough and such, AND, the road I am on is literally the only passage through these mountains.

The below video does not sound very confident on what I am doing, mostly distracted by Lindsey and her hand stands... priceless.  So here is the plan:

We are packing up the car and booking it to Eureka.  From there, if the weather is ok, I will attempt the 70 or so miles to Ely.  My only concern there is that there are literally zero places to stop along these 70 miles; not a house, a bathroom, a barn...nothing.  The idea with this driving decision is that safety must always trump my pride, and sometimes stubborn stupidity.  It is really tough for me to say that, but it must happen.  So, in the car we go, and I will keep everyone updated on twitter and facebook throughout the day.

Day 2 - Finishing Up In Fallon, NV

Had a pretty good day of riding today.  The route was flat and fast; really, the only negative was the cold. But I gained some great ground and made it well into Nevada.

The hills start up again a bit tomorrow!  Going to get some good rest now and get after it!

Day 2 - Placerville, CA to um...snow

Before I get into this insane day, like, INSANE day, I just want to mention how great last night was.

After a great day of riding, Lindsey and I backtracked a little into Folsom to stay with Amy and Carter Morrsion.  These are the wonderful parents of my good buddy and fitness nut Blair Morrison.  They let us in their great house, fed us tons of amazing food, let us chill in their jacuzzi, engaged in some wonderful conversation and were just all around about as generous and kind as two people can be.  I am so grateful to have been able to crash there for a night, I only wish it could have been a few more!  Thank you SO much guys!

Now, on to the fun:

Left a little late, left from Placerville.  Cold.  The hills begin.
Two hours later, only 18 miles in.  3000 feet climbed.
The rain begins, the snow begins...
Cold.
Lindsey meets me with goggles!  Perfect timing.
The snow decides to be mad.
The road gets steeper.
Start Harry Potter audio book.
5000 feet up, the snow is crazy, sticking.
Rest up with Lindsey at a road-side bar/restaurant, dry out the clothes a bit, eat.
Hesitate, but decide to drive up a bit.  Pride is feeling a bit beat down.
Hear about a 15 car pile-p a few miles up.
Bike more?  Hell.  No!
Only 45 miles biked...in 6 hours.
Decide to drive as far as we can up.
But, no chains on tires = a fine and forced turn-around.
We have no chains...
Drive back to Placerville, get on interstate.  Plan: go AROUND mountain!
Nope.
Need chains to drive through route 50.
Yeah.
We are trapped.
Pride feeling a bit better...
Replaced with depression.
Pick up a coffe and decide, let's get some chains then!
Front wheel drive?  Rear wheel drive?  Size of tires?  Type of tires?
An hour later, on route 50, roads seem fine.
10 miles later.  Roads are NOT fine.
An hour later, chains are on.
It's freaking snowing man!  And cold!
10:30pm.  At hotel.  Finally.
Pretty tired (read: VERY TIRED!)

And the crazy thing is?  I did not make any of that up.  This all happened.  I seriously could not have thought of all this myself, AND, I didn't know getting stuck in California was even possible!

So, I am hoping that this day means the rest well be smooth sailing.  And I can finally finish off a day at 6pm, do some video, write up some cool stuff, and sleep more than a few hours.  I am determined to do that before the half-way point.

I also want to give a special thanks to Blair Morrison for posting up some kind words on his awesome blog!  Totally wish you could have been out here for this man, I am sure we will find an adventure or two in the very near future!

And Jim Bathurst for coming up with an awesome idea to get people to come out and show some support!  I will be posting something to add to Jimmy's idea in the coming days; thanks so much my man!

Time for sleep.  Tomorrow is windy, but no more climbing for a couple days!

Josh Courage

Day 1 - Vallejo, CA to Retreat, CA

My Mid Morning Snack Location

So this is not going to be a long post as well, even though it is the first day of riding.  It's late, I am exhausted, and I need to brave freezing cold temperatures, rain, and snow tomorrow; and an 8000 foot climb.

Day one went well!  117 miles in total (was able to cut it short because I left from Vallejo.  I did this because you can;t ride the Bay Bridge, and the Ferry would have taken me to Vallejo anyway) and, besides being very, very sleepy, I feel great.

Lunch In Davis, CA

Nothing super exciting to report, but each day will bring something new, today surly did.  I will post all about it, and about the most generous hosts I could have ever hoped for tomorrow!

136 miles is the goal tomorrow...

The Causeway To Sacramento, CA

Josh Courage

I Ride Tomorrow!

Well, technically today.  It is just past midnight, so it is officially April 1st.  And I am up and out the door at 5:30am to get to my start location and begin this 3700-mile journey across America.

I wish I had something wonderfully insightful to say, but it's late, I am nervous, and I need to get some rest before my first of 30 days of 125+ miles of biking.  So, all I can say is: if you are reading this, go out and do something today, be active, bring a friend or two, or three, or four.  Have one less drink, eat some healthier food, smile a bit more and take a step, even a little one to doing more of the things you love.  That is really why I am doing this.  I love it.  And I hope that a new generation of children and grow up loving to be active as well.

And so I am off folks; the adventure begins...

Josh Courage