Near Apex to Las Vegas: Where am I?


Map
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Statistics for today
Distance 65.98 kms 41.01 miles
Climbed 230 meters 755 feet
Ride time (hours) 4.61 -
Avg speed 8.8 kph -
Avg climb 2% -
Max grade 7% -
Statistics for trip to date
Distance 27,701.40 kms 17,212.60 miles
Climbed 289,501 meters 949,806 feet
Ride time (hours) 1,964.85 -
On this page

Saturday, May 17th, 2014

What with the morning gunshots and the temperature inside the tent when the sun comes up I'm not sleeping in today. On my way back down the hill I hear a rattle and almost jump out of my shorts; yup it's a rattlesnake but he's lying still in a bush a good six feet away so no need to panic.

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That's a rattle snake. He was kind enough to give me a warning. Sorry guys, no close-ups this time. Tiger rattlesnake (Crotalus tigris).
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Las Vegas.
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No Shooting? Ha!

I'm into Vegas pretty quickly. I didn't realize I was so close. I stop at Denny's for badly needed liquids and breakfast. Water has been problematic for a long time, so much desert riding since Guadalajara, but now it's getting ridiculous. I went through eight liters yesterday plus a liter this morning yet I'm still dehydrated... and it's going to get worse before it gets better.

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I've never been to Vegas before so I spend the day riding around to check it out. This place is strange; I feel like I'm in some kind of bizarre mix of Times Square, Cancun, New Orleans, and Disney World. Interesting in a freak-show kind of way but definitely not my kind of place. After I've seen the sights I ride to the southwest end of town to set myself up for tomorrow. I do a bunch of research for the days ahead, make an expedition to the supermarket for supplies, and reevaluate my gear. I need space to carry more water; the only stuff I have to give up is cold weather clothes. That's what goes on the chopping block... even though I know I will probably be missing it soon. When I'm done I've freed up enough space to carry about 12 liters in a more or less comfortable configuration, more if I start getting crazy with strapping bottles all over the place like I did in South America.

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Beef, booze, broads... and subtlety.
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This street performer explained to me how to modify a bicycle to ride on train tracks. He said there are clubs of people that do it, he wants to do a long distance trip on active tracks.
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Hahaha what is that???
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Kitchíssimo.
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Sex and guns and gambling and booze...I'm not in Utah any more!
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Mmmm smogburgers.
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Hahaha nice cellphone tower oops I mean Christmas tree.