05.31 - leaving las vegas

we left, casually, without rush, but wanting to not waste the cooler morning.  20 miles of flat, straight streets of las vegas, then we turned east on the highway heading to pahrump.  we stopped at 'terribles', to top off water.  then with red rock canyon in the distance, we turned towards pahrump.  42 miles to go and one 3,000 foot climb.


we started out with some enthusiasm, but as we climbed and the sun climbed, it slowly faded.  a good first day's challenge for maurice.  with adopted a phased process and multiple stops got us to the top.


the mountains have such incredible patterning and colors.  subtle tones and shades, the phone camera doesn't do it justice.  i think of all the artists who have been inspired by it.

just over the peak, we stopped at a fire hall a local bike rider had told us about.  they have a garden  hose on the side of the building that they let bikers use, it's smart to let it run for a minute or two so the water doesn't burn you.

and once down off the hill, a final 20 miles through flat desert valley.  similar to the stretch from kingman to hoover dam, except the desert vegetation has more cacti.  and there are no hills to work through at the end, just flat straight into pahrump.


in pahrump we had a warmshower host lined up.  arika and bill.  they're excited to see us and very welcoming.  their house is a bit of a disaster, stuff everywhere.  the kitchen is pilled with dirty dishes, but, hey.  we take very welcome showers and wash our clothes.  then we go out to eat at a nice restaurant at the local golf club. salad and fish.  their stories are interesting and somewhat convoluted.  they're listed on warmshowers as brother and sister, but she says that it's not true, just easier to explain.  his wife apparently died a few years ago; her husband ran off with a younger woman.  he has 2 girls; she has a son.  in 2013, they took a year and biked a loop around the country.  she had only taken one bike trip before, a year earlier.  impressive,  from looking at them, you would not have thought them fit enough.  we heard a lot of stories about that trip.  we were fortunate to be on the recieving end of their giving back.



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