like a....boy??

Where to begin this time! I'll explain the title in a just a minute, so hold onto your seats...

So with a little more than two weeks under my belt, I just topped over 1,000 miles today as I reached Escalante Utah! That was indeed a call for celebration, meaning a legitimate dinner and a good beer. I have been in Utah the past few days, so its a lovely change of scene from the dusty deserts of Nevada. If any of you have not been to Utah, please go. It must be one of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes of the US. Definitely wondeful to cycle through the towering red rock canyons and flowing rivers.

I think I last left you all in Eureka Nevada, and it has certainly been a long, slow, and very hot ride since. Let me just break it down for you in simple terms here, and give you a few scenarios to marinate over, because it might just be the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard.

#1: I have had two incidents with sprinklers. Let me explain. While biking through the desolate terrain of Nevada, the towns are few and far between, which is great and terrible at the same time. I was able to camp out for free most of the way in local parks, church parking lots, the whole works. However, the downside to that is the unexpected sprinkler systems that just so happen to blast off in the middle of the night.
My second night in Eureka as I was cozied up in my warm sleeping bag, I was abruptly woken at 5 am by a sprinkler; literally in my face, in my tent, in my sleeping bag. In the middle of a dream about Sex and the City (yes the TV show) and completely delirious, I first tried to drag my tent to safety, but no such luck. I've been sleeping with ALL my stuff with me in the tent, so naturally it was quite weighted down, and dragging the whole tent was not an option.
All I could think to do was shove everything back in its place in my panniers, and run it to the bathroom across the lawn. However, this required running through seven more sprinklers along the way. Lets just say, it would have been quite the comedy if anyone had actually witnessed this little debacle of mine. I had to run back and forth between the bathroom and my tent a few times, finally making it to safety in the park bathroom with my bike and everything next to me. Good thing there was a hand dryer to dry my hair and some of my clothes. Since I had to wait out the sprinklers for a bit, I literally had to cook oatmeal- five star style- with my camping stove, on the floor, in the bathroom. Realllly?

Believe it or not, I had another run in with a sprinkler a few days later in another park, but in Utah this time. You would think I might have learned my lesson and put on a rain fly for my tent, not the case. I was even camping next to two other cyclist who both took the extra five second for a rain fly. There I was thinking, "amateurs, I don't need to bother." I woke up at 3am to blasting water again, not a pretty sight. So my restful night of sleep was cut short, and I spent the remainder of the night shivering in a wet sleeping bag, on top of a picnic table. You guys must be getting jealous now, right?
#2: As I was about to arrive in Utah I stayed in a tiny town across the border called Baker. I was given a recommendation for a great place to camp from some other fellow cyclists. The owner lets cyclists camp in the back for free, as long as you eat a meal at his joint. Sounded pretty good to me.
So after a very long 84 miles of riding, I was exhausted and ready for some grub. I got my campsite ready and without changing from my bike gear, made my way to the restaurant for some dinner and beer. So obviously still wearing my spandex, biking jersey, and biking hat, I took over a booth and started scouring the menu. A few minutes later, Mr manager comes over to me and literally says, "So what can I get for you tonight, sir?" Yes, you read correctly, SIR. He called me sir.
So for starters, I obviously feel really great about myself already. Its great to feel so feminine after biking 80 miles and not showering, and then doing the same thing over and over again. So he pretty much hit it point on. I clearly went immediately to the bathroom, put my hair up in an obviously girly bun, and tried to clean myself up a bit. I still don't think it worked.
I'm gonna go with this scenario though: He was so shocked to see a single woman traveling alone, and on a bicycle, that he just couldn't see past it and made himself believe that I was a boy! The nerve. This is also quite discouraging, because at least for me, it seems totally natural to bike across the country as a lone female....am I right?

#3: On a lighter note, I've had some wonderful encounters with friendly people along the way, more specifically, one of the cutest old men in the world approached me the other day and said, " Well that's a pretty huge load for a single gal. I'm just wondering with such a thin lady like yourself...well where does all the energy come from??" His genuine interest and enthusiasm for what I'm doing was definitely the kicker in getting me over the next mountain, which by the way was a 26 mile climb at an 8% grade...brutal. I also met some really hardcore tough women cyclists finishing a long days ride. They loaded my bike with Gatorade, energy bars, and good thoughts. One of them even said she felt like a pansy compared to me, and that is pretty huge coming from a professional looking cyclist decked out in snazzy spandex. I took it as a compliment.
#4: As I mentioned before, a very kind man was nice enough to hook me up with an actual hotel in Ely, Nevada. This was definitely a highlight of the trip so far, and probably overall. It was amazing to stay in a warm room with a bed and television for the night. I felt a little haggard walking into the casino where the hotel was, with my massive bike and glorious spandex on, but I felt like a celebrity when I was greeted by the staff. What a wonderful gift that was!

So I am generally feeling better as the days go on, but not looking forward to the next few days of Utah terrain. Supposedly I am up against some of the most difficult riding conditions of the whole country, so it should be great fun.

Thank you wonderful friends for all the encouragement and support, it means the world...and in this case, it means hauling myself up a mountain! Keep the good thoughts coming!

much LOVE.

S.