I’m not sure my head stirred much after it hit the pillow. A good nights rest and a calm sunny morning stirred the blood so after getting something to eat I got on the bike and headed up Pinto Pass, the climb starts as soon as you leave the motel parking lot. I wanted to warm up a little while waiting for the rest to get ready to go. I did 5 miles and still needed to wait while the rest got their “doll & dishes” rounded up.
I was feeling good and liked to do a little acceleration now and again going up the passes that came one right after the next. I could have my way on the climbs, but still need to perfect my down hill skills. Jason could drop me at will when ever he wished and even Jeff went flying by on several occasions.
We had a little head wind in the valleys between passes but not much. Jeff was doing better, but still not quite up to par after his challenges yesterday. All was well until we headed off Robinson down to Ely. The wind was blowing hard out of the Southwest and for most of the down-hill miles into Ely it was more like going up hill.
Because of a business commitment I had to leave the ride at the end of the day and Judy, my wife, was to meet us in Ely, but she was not there. Now this is a long story, but the short of it, some how the GPS that was to lead her from our front door to McDonalds in Ely got tangled and took her to some remote place in central Nevada. I waited in Ely hopping to hear something with Sam, Jason’s dad, while Jeff and Jason continued on into the wind and over Connors pass. This was a very nerve racking time for me. Needing to be out battling the wind with the guys, but setting in the truck conjuring up all manner of thoughts about what could have happened to Judy. Fortunately, both the Nevada and Utah Highway Patrols reported any accidents or towed cars. Finely I got a call. She had found a farm house with a land line (note, there are not many places outside of towns that have any cell phone connections). She was almost out of gas and had been wandering around for hours and was about 80 miles from Ely. She got enough gas from the farmer and with the help of a passer by, the only car she had seen for hours, she managed to get back to highway 50 at the bass of Connors pass. I bought a gas can and Sam took me to the designated meeting place. We all got there about the same time, including Jeff and Jason.
I guess all is well that ends well, but I’m not sure if I will ever get Judy to come fetch me from any where again.
So now I’m in Miami, with the expectation of finishing here Friday, catching a late flight home and out to meet the boys for the ride in from Delta on Saturday. But, my expectations have not always panned out.
As we have learned from the past, the Ride from Reno is not just a few days riding a bike around, this ride is an EVENT, chucked full of the expected, the unexpected, the usual, the unusual, the funny, the sad, the strengths, the weaknesses, new friendships and relationships – life in a microcosm. I owe much thanks to Jeff, and Jason, Jim, and especially to Sam for their suggestions, support and prayers. This time I was the one who was in need!

The official stats for the day:
None: I didn’t complete the ride.