Caliente. Time zones and Nevada.

We woke up super early and started the day with an almost freezing 25 mile downhill into cedar city. We lost almost all of the elevation we had gained yesterday. It's interesting how roads here seem to go up and down the tallest mountains and not in between them like everywhere else. It was 39 degrees when we left our campsite at 10,000 ft. We found all our warm weather gear that we haven't used since Pennsylvania. 

We definitely could have been pulled over for speeding on most of the descent. We didn't see a single car but at the very bottom of the windy mountain we saw two sad looking cyclists with all their bags starting their day with the climb. We gave them a thumbs up as we whizzed by. We've been passing more and more cross country tourists since we started on the adventure cycling map system. They all seem to be heading east though(like we were told to do). We left their maps today though and are back to finding our own way to California. .. 

With mixed results. 

We ended up on this 20 mile dirt road in the middle of nowhere. 

There was a random podium on the ride of the road. Allie insisted she was number one. 

But then,

We entered Nevada! It is starting to feel like we are on our last leg. I've never really been excited to see Nevada.. And still am not super excited.  It is much more mountainous than I expected, but just as empty. We are rarely passed by cars and even more rarely pass places where people live. It is hot and empty. Can't wait to enter California. We sort-of miss cities. And by cities, I mean small towns with more than a single gas station. 

I had another flat today (my 5th of the trip) and tried patching it with the tools I had available in my handlebar bag.  In case anyone is curious, electrical tape does NOT make a good patch. It held for about half an hour and then went flat again. Not the most pleasant place to change a flat either. There is no shade anywhere, but at least we had a strong headwind all day.

We also crossed into pacific time, which I feel like should be some sort of a milestone.. 

I have a question for the audience. 

This is what the road rash on my shoulder turned into.  

Does this require any specific action? I'm going to go ahead and assume this is his part of the normal healing process.

Daily stats:

Miles 76

Ave speed: 10.4

Elevation gain: 2300ft

Max speed: 48.56mph

Haiku:

Our last leg

Riding Nevada

Pedal through

-AB

Our favorite irony: