Today was emotional, exhausting, exhilarating, and down-right fun.   I’d like to express my appreciation to “Bob” and his “Friday Night Jihad” for making today so enjoyable. 

We started today 112 miles west of Delta, Utah, and were expecting a light day in the saddle.  Apparently I had the wrong expectations from the beginning.  We started with a long climb up Sacramento Pass (7,154’) and along the climb passed a ranch that has a large gated archway, made completely out of antlers, at the entry off the main road.  The archway has two chandeliers, also made from antlers, hanging at each side of the archway.  What always makes me laugh as I pass by this “interesting” place is the sign hanging on the main gate:  “Posted – No Hunting!”  Thousands of sets of antlers apparently donated by animals who willingly walk to the front door and say, “Excuse me, I won’t be needing these any longer and I was wondering if you’d have any use for them?” 

At the summit of Sacrament Pass I was honored to be able to witness Jason’s tender memorial to his sister, Alison, who lost her battle with cancer about a year ago.  It was a powerful reminder to me of why we do this ride each year:  to raise money for Huntsman Cancer Institute where they are well along the path in the search for better tolerated, less toxic treatments for cancer and, ultimately, cures for the >150 type of this damnable disease.  This ride is about people like you, like me, like Jason, like Alison, like Carla, and like our families.  Raising money is the only reason for this ride. 

I’ll ask your indulgence while I vent for a minute.  This ride, unless you’ve been out here day-after-day, is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.  It’s not like sitting down on the old beach-cruiser for a 2 block pedal to the grocery store for a bag of Oreos.  It’s physically ultra-demanding.  We’ll burn between 8,000 and 12,000 calories each day and will turn the crank ~210,000 times between Reno and Salt Lake City.  We’ll sweat so much the chin-strap on our helmets will turn white from the salt.  My maximum heart rate is 186.  On days where the wind blew and blew all day long, I’ve spent > 8 hours in excess of 90% of my maximum heart rate.  There’s the danger of myriad cars and trucks passing by at 85 miles per hour, mere inches from you and your bike.  I personally witnessed an 18-wheeler this year come so close to Jason that, had his left elbow been sticking out for some reason, he would have lost the elbow and probably his life (for heaven’s sake, one and all, move over for bikes!  No one has to prove to us how big and powerful your motorized vehicles are – we know!  We drive them when we’re not on our bikes!). 

My apologies for the tangent but the Ride From Reno is not a casual pedal around the block.  We do it out of responsibility, obligation, memory, commitment – it doesn’t matter how we label the reason for doing this ride.  At the end of the day, it’s about raising money so Alison, Carla, Dick, Ron, Scott, Cameron, Mark, Jim, and many, many, others don’t have to endure the terror that is cancer.  If you haven’t yet donated go to https://www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=235 and make a generous donation.  In the comments area please write, “Jeff Warren’s Ride From Reno”. 

Well, back to Day 4.  We descended Sacramento Pass and rode to the Utah/Nevada border where we took a few photos before soldiering on across what is an interminable area of real estate:  Snake Valley.  No snakes seen this year but crossing the valley seems to take a freakin’ week!  I hate Snake Valley!  At this point during the day the wind was our friend, although that was about to change.  We climbed to Skull Pass (I think that’s what Jason said it was called) and the climb about killed me.  After 5 high summits yesterday I just didn’t have much, other than fumes, in the tank.  But I made it.  Jason is so strong and fast that the ride toward Delta was at breakneck speed, until we were 40-miles out.  In an instant the wind violently changed direction.  Huge dust storms came out of no where, towering in height and turning some areas dark as night.  We hunkered down while a few of them passed us by but the wind was relentless from the northeast.  We had 40-miles to go at 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 mph.  Jason was out in front doing his best to shield me from the brunt of the wind but when it’s blowing >50 mph (which it was at times), there’s not much protection anywhere! 

After slogging along for a couple of hours in the wind and dust, we struck upon something Janet and I used to do.  We had Jason’s dad, Sam, pull-up beside us in his pick-up and, keeping the truck between us and the wind, we drafted off the truck all the way to Hinckley.  Instead of 12 mph in the wind, with Sam’s help were at 21 mph!  What a life-saver.  Thank you Sam! 

We arrived in Delta a little after 7 p.m. and after spending ~ 9 hours on our bikes, only had 112 miles to show for it.  Maximum pain but little gain.  Four down and 1 to go.