Cycle Across America – Day 24

Virginia City to Driftwaters Resort

45 miles / 1667ft climb

We reached our first 1,000 miles by the end of today!

Last night when reviewing the route for today, my heart sank when I saw the steep four mile climb immediately out of Virginia city. I knew immediately that this would thwart my day and I would be exhausted after that first climb.

Having checked into the fabulous Fairweather Inn, I explained to the two lovely receptionists, Sherry and Becky and asked if there was anyway my bags could be transported to the top of the hill so that I could cycle up but not have to carry the weight. Absolutely they said but there would be room for my bike as well. I had a dilemma for a few short minutes but it didn’t take me long to succumb to the offer and this morning along with everyone’s panniers, Becky took myself and Julia to the meeting point just beyond the top of the hill to meet the others who had climbed it with noticeably lighter bikes. It was a win-win for all of us and a huge thanks go to Sherry and Becky for making it possible.

On reflection, it was the right decision. The rest of the day brought more challenges which I was well equipped to deal with having not exhausted myself in those first six miles. Where to stop to buy food and drink? There were so few options along the route but we managed to find a stop for breakfast and again to top up our water bottles later in the day when we met the American Adventure Cycling Association support vehicle waiting for their cyclists who else has sunk across America but from East to West.

It was the weather, however that brought the biggest challenge today when 25 miles from home, in the middle of , a thunderstorm advanced towards us bringing black skies, heavy rain and strong winds. Just beginning to get soaking wet we found a small shop selling fishing supplies just off the road. We could not have been luckier. The front porch was undercover, there were sufficient comfortable seats with cushions for each.. We could not believe our luck!

The owners of the shop could not have been more helpful and we spent a comfortable 90 minutes there waiting for the storm to pass. Taking advice from the locals we eventually set off with a significant headwind and occasional showers from the passing storm. It took us nearly two hard hours to cycle the last 16 miles to our cabin for the night and a bit longer for Caroline, Paul and John who had to fix a number of punctures within the last few miles of the day.

Lovely cabins in a rural location with a BBQ and a glass of wine were just enough to send us all asleep.