Couldn't believe it was actually trying to rain

the ride near Stagecoach, NV

Couldn't believe it was actually trying to rain this morning in Fallon. I made the correct choice getting a room as I didn't have to break camp in the rain. I was able to wait out the rain in my motel room. I enjoyed the shade though this morning. I am now in Stagecoach, but heading into a pretty solid headwind. Got about another 30 miles to go to Carson City. Looking forward to rounding the bend. Might make it home tonight.

This morning in Fallon it was trying to rain out.  I decided to stay put and drink hot tea and eat danishes.  Around 9AM it started to clear up to the west as the storm moved east.  It was a good call to get a room as it meant I could leave town dry for the possible final push home to Reno.

good shoulder finally on the west side of Fallon

Fortunately the shoulder on HWY 50 finally widened quite a bit to the point where I had an entire lane all to myself.  Traffic was pretty light on HWY 50, but I was pedalling into a stiff headwind.  I decided to take my helmet off which I can clip just so on top of my handle bar bag.  It rides really nice here and I found myself doing this on steep climbs or lonely sections of roads where my speed was quite low.

pedaled near the shore of Lahontan Reservoir

I saw a new store in Stagecoach, NV that had a nice front porch on it with tables out front.  I pedaled over to here and purchased some ice tea to go with my left over pizza.  The folks who ran the store where quite nice and definitely interested in where I had been riding.

Stagecoach, NV

Out front I enjoyed my left over pizza in the shade and sucked down plenty of iced tea.  The wind was still pretty stiff out of the west and I started to think about branching off my intended route into Carson City and head up to Virginia City instead.

shortly after Dayton I turned onto Six Mile Canyon Road

Back out on HWY 50 the wind made up my mind for me.  I could see the large V for Virginia City up on the east side of the Virginia Range.  I had an option of continuing on from this point into Carson City, then back to Reno on old HWY 395.  Or I could head up Six Mile Canyon the back way into Virginia City from Dayton, then down off the front of Geiger Grade into Reno.  I decided to do the Six Mile Canyon alternate as it would cut off some miles, save me bucking a headwind and allow me to explore another road I have been eye balling for a while.

climbed up to Virginia City via Sixmile Canyon Road

The climb up Six Mile was a good choice.  It was quite scenic pedaling along the canyon bottom with the cottonwoods providing ample shade.  There where some of the steepest short climbs of the entire trip on this road and I was just hoping I could keep the momentum going.  Surprisingly enough I made it all the way up the canyon with out stopping, although my chain was starting to skip near the top.  I am sure it is stretched pretty good after about 2,000 miles riding on the same chain.  Near the top I saw a heard of wild horses lumbering through the neighborhoods.