After spending the night in Middlegate Station, a comfortable camping area with motel showers and a lively karaoke bar, we were to have our gear loaded by 5:30am the next morning. For that reason, most of the riders passed on the singing and opted for early to bed. After a quick breakfast we were on the road by 6:00am. I started the day's ride like most other days riding with Patrick Joseph McGovern. He is a delightful riding companion. We stopped early on after about one mile to view and take pictures of the shoe tree (a famous landmark on the loneliest road in America that has hundreds of pairs of shoes hanging from its branches.)

Then we started to climb for approximately 20 miles (5-6MPH at 55 RPMs). It was tough but quite scenic. This was our first day without a cue sheet - a relief after the confusion of California. It was decided that we would turn off "the loneliest highway in America" for a more quiet road (Rt 722). In the 66 miles of riding we had one car pass us from behind, other than our own support vehicles. That is quite a road! There were no flats today after a rash of them yesterday, so we made good time in spite of the climbing. We had a tail wind and a 20-mile downhill that made the climb worthwhile.

Pat is not an avid talker (He claims he is out of breath.), so the long ride provided time for reflection and prayer. Everyone arrived in town in good shape. The last three miles into Austin, NV, another steep uphill, reminded us of our early riding of the day. We ended the day at a nice camping area with a pool across the street. We also enjoyed a nice communion service with Deacon Jim Butts, father of fellow rider Erin Butts. It was a fitting way to end a blessed day of riding.