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Day 3; Austin to Eureka; included 82 miles, three passes to crest (4000+ feet), and 6 hours on the bike:

I woke on Tuesday morning to the dread of knowing that I was to start day 3 of my journey climbing the longest, highest pass of the 410 mile trip. For anymore who has driven through the town of Austin, you know that if you're going east there is a significant hill to climb going both into town and out. I was to be returned to the previous days stopping point. Which today would be todays starting point, and then climb the 10 miles into Austin (this is where I collapsed onto the shoulder of highway yesterday). All I could think about as Steve drove me to the starting point was; welcome to day 3 of your self imposed pleasure trip. Please tell me that today was going to be easier then day 2's physically exhausting ride?

I'm off for a day of riding, on another picture perfect day. The climb back up through the town of Austin was actually very peaceful. At was 9 am, and the sun was rising high enough to warm the frigid morning temperatures to comfortable. Steve had drove ahead 15 miles to get onto his bike (he still has come up with a cool name for his bike) then ride back to me, turn around and ride with me back to the car. This way he can get some miles done (this is what we decided would work best for the rest of the trip, Steve to drive up 15-20 miles mount his bike ride back and then both of us ride to car again). Steve and I met at the top of the summit, and I took a phone video that included the summit's elevation and that it's the highest of the 12 or 13 summits (passes) that we ride. I ride on down a really fun, and dangerous grade, and Steve moves the car forward another 20 miles to repeat the process.

Riding up the sleep grade through the town of Austin, NV

Little did I expect to pass not one but two fellow bicyclist as I raced down the mountain pass, but that's exactly what happened. Who could be insane enough to be out here in the middle of the countries 5th largest state? I just had to find out what drives someone to do this (I'm not sure that I know what drives me, and I was really hoping that these strangers could provide me with some answers?). As I approach where seemed like an older gentleman (with no helmet, I might add), I was concerned coming up behind him without warning, so I needed a way to let him know I was there? I stayed a back a ways and yelled out, "Yeah there crazy fellow biker", not sure best opening line, but it got his attention. We chatted while cruising  highway 50 pavement. I came to understand a little about my fellow bikers feelings on the difficulty of the ride and how far he had come. I got a name, Tim, and residence of Carson City, but never could get my question answered of what drives him to do this kind of biking trip (Oh he was planning on riding to Colorado)? Maybe this wasn't supposed to be answered; just one of those things that each one of us secretly carries inside, driving them to accomplish great feats? After a bit, I rode on by thinking this was probably only the first meeting of many to come?

Tim as I rode up behind him yelling out, "Yeah crazy fellow biker"

Meeting a couple of fellow bikers and riding a lot with Steve made day 3 go by so fast. This day included three 7000' passes, and a couple of fun, fast downhills, but the best thing was it really felt easy compared to yesterday (thank God). We did have a challenge finding a motel room in Eureka. Steve had called all the motel in town while waiting for me to finish one of my days segments, and found out that all the rooms in town where taken. As we rode into town in the late afternoon, and our great day was made even greater by lucking out finding a motel room just as we enter Eureka (There was a lady in front of the first Motel we passed, and Steve just asked if she by chance had any rooms for the night, can you believe that she had a cancellation and offered us the room on the spot? Nice ending to a long, but enjoyable day I'd say!

The Eureka motel, that we were fortunate to get because all the room in town were taken.

Three days, 260 of the 410 miles completed, over halfway point. I knew as I dismounted Lourdes I was going to make my dream of riding my bike across Nevada, now I could truly enjoy the last two days of the ride.