A longish 60 mile day for us today, good weather but warmer, mid to high 80’s by midday for our hardest climbing miles at the end, but we made it!
The Western Express route had us on the American River Parkway for our first 22 miles. It was mostly nice but there were times I wished we took a more direct route on highways and back roads. Left just after 8 and arrived around 4:30 in Plymouth.
We passed an economy cross country cyclist camp just outside of town.
Our troubles started where the bikeway was supposed to go under the interstate. We’d already suffered one detour and this detour looked to be worse. Len heads towards the American River to see if bits of our trail still exist.
While Len was investigating one option I ventured under the bridge work to the east dodging dump trucks along the way. We had a fortunate encounter with Ken, a biker his self in his younger days, who was on his morning stroll. After a lengthy conversation we just followed him back the way he came.
We had to bush whack about 75 yrds through the brambles but clearly Ken and others had beaten a path. Not sure we saved time but sometimes cycling cross country is just problem solving.
More turkeys.
Zach and his dog slowed down to wish me well and chat. An ex-pro cyclist he now just takes Maisey with him every where he rides and has done so since she was a puppy. He shared that he recently had ridden the Great Divide mountain bike route from Jasper, Canada to the Mexico border in 21 days. That’s 150 miles per day!!! I wanted to hate him so but he was far too nice.
Sometimes the Adventure Cycling routes aren’t very clear, so we asked the local riders, of which there were many today. Len is showing Lee, apparently also an accomplished amateur rider, where we need to go. Lee, like most local riders we encounter tend to show us a “nice ride”, but one that adds many miles to our day. After a pointless climb of a mile or so that he had recommended we bag it and find the shorter way ourselves.
Not too long after asking Lee for help we find our way into Folsom around noon with 30 miles under our belt. A Burger King appeared before us at the exact same moment we wanted to get off these damn bikes and get in the AC and eat some food. My favorite fast food hamburger is a Whataburger, but the Whopper with cheese was very tasty. We ate, drank, cooled off for about an hour while strategizing our last 30 miles into Plymouth.
Today was Road Kill Day apparently. I thought of so many things to say but I’ll let you make up your own witty comment. Is it inappropriate that my road kill picture comes right after my lunch picture?
They keep saying we’re in wine country now but I haven’t seen any vineyards. I think the snow capped mountain in the distance is near Carson Pass. We’re planning on trying to make it to Kirkwood ski area tomorrow, just shy of Carson Pass and the following day summit the pass and head towards Carson City, NV, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves can we?
And our destination for the night, Plymouth, apparently known as Ole Pokerville, an old mining town. I asked our host Lisa about where the Ole Pokerville name came from but she said she didn’t know. After living here for 25 years, I think she was just too embarrassed to tell me.
Lisa kindly recognized our heated distress and offered popcycles. They hit the spot!! I only wished we had had time for the complementary wine and cheese between 5 and 6. I’m liking boutique hotels!!
After a tasty Mexican dinner (with Margarita) we stopped off at the Pokerville Market and got some Gatorade and nourishing snacks as we’re about to enter a much less populous part of our ride tomorrow. It’s now 9:30pm so time for me to quit blogging and get some sleep! A 55 mile climb tomorrow.
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