Thursday, August 21, 2008

Longest ride on the lonliest road

We have reached Fallon! It took us 2 weeks, but we are finally through the desert. The ride changes now. We are less likely to die of heat or lack of water but, there is a whole new element of danger when you run into a lot more people. Things should certainly become more interesting the farther we get into California. I'd love to get some reader feedback, if there is anything you've been wondering about the trip, please leave a comment.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Eureka!!

Zane had left before me and rode off to reach Eureka. After 77 miles of solo riding it was almost like that night didn’t happen. We are really good friends and we have fought before, but it’s a sign of a true friend to let a thing like that slide. Eureka is a nice little town, but I’m looking forward to riding with Zane off into the desert. We are getting really close to being done with this lonely road. Riding through California will be a different type of adventure all together, so…ever onward!

Fear and Loathing in Ely, Nevada

A very good friend of my family passed away recently. It was in his honor that we started drinking on Friday night, but as Greg himself would attest; drinking has a way of getting you into trouble. I didn’t intend to drink much, but I had caught the attention of a few locals, who insisted on buying me drinks. I had a good night of fun, but Zane was really tired so he slipped off to set up his tent in a park a block away. When I left the bar to go and check on him I noticed the no overnight camping signs and the sprinklers turning on.It seemed to me to be a good time to vacate the park, but Zane had other ideas. After I had got our gear out of the water I started taking down the tent with Zane still in it, The idea was to leave ASAP. Zane then told me, in not so kind words to “back off”. This was after I had one of the tent poles out. I put the rain fly up as I left…but I don’t think Zane appreciated the gesture. I left Zane to go back to the bar not realizing the position I had left him in. I figure water was still getting into the half made tent and Zane had to get out and put it back together while getting wet. In his soaked/drunk/tired state of mind, Zane decided to show me how much he appreciated my “help”. When I returned I found my gear scattered across the road. I figured a fight was all there was to do at that point. I apologized to Zane (though I’m not sure if he heard me) and kicked him through the tent. He rose quickly and it was on. We threw each other around a bit and there was lots of yelling. I clipped him pretty good in the nose and he got me in the eye. He kicked my gear over so I kicked his gear over, pretty good fight overall. It all ended in the weirdest way. A truck full of girls pulled up and yelled at us to stop fighting. We stopped for a moment and I walked over to them to apologize. It was a group of 5 cute girls and they invited me to a drink to calm my nerves (just what I needed right? More to drink) I was tired and needed an escape so I went with them and let Zane alone at the park. It was a fun time and I was good at getting the girls to laugh. We went to a party but shortly after I arrived I asked them to take me back to the park. It was a bit too crazy of a night for me. When I got back Zane was gone and I didn’t talk to him for a while afterward. I think the moral of this story is pretty apparent.