Hi blog!! It’s Will, coming to you all from a hammock on the Lahontan Reservoir campgrounds!! Quick hammock note - I am claiming the title of The Stanford Spokes Hammock Queen. Before this adventure, I’d never slept in a hammock, but after Tubb set up a hammock for me to sleep outside in Pollock Pines (due to cat allergy concerns), I fell in love with the experience, and I have now slept in a hammock 4 out of 9 nights of the trip. For anyone reading this, go sleep in a hammock, you will not regret it.
The Spokes Hammock Queen and Tubb frolicking in hammocks
Today was our first day fully in Nevada, and for a San Franciscan city boy like me, it was a whole lot of hot and dry, especially compared to the city. I swear it never goes above around 75 degrees in SF, and here, we’re biking in 90-100 degree weather, which is very foreign to me. A testament to this heat is the products from our recent Costco run by Ethan and Hunter - two large jugs of Cetaphil lotion and 48 bottles of Gatorade, which we are running through at an alarming rate. We love to stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes!! With this, naturally, also comes a debate for the best Gatorade flavor - which is obviously blue, right?
The best thing about Nevada, though, is that it is FLAT. FLAT!!!!! After the Sierra Nevadas, I think we all needed some flat land to cure our sore legs. On today’s ride, we were also lucky to catch a tailwind that pushed us for a solid portion - we cruised through the lands of Western Nevada. After climbing the only hill of the day, Hunter (a very wise man - I have deemed him the Spokes father) old us, “Treat this ride like it’s a leisure ride”, which I really took to heart. As we biked through the beautiful Nevadan scenery, I truly felt like I was enjoying the ride, chatting with Eva, Kawther, Ethan, and Hunter, listening to Noah Kahan (we all have Stick Season stuck in our heads), and snacking on wasabi almonds. What a life!
YAY NEVADA!!!
Today’s post ride festivities were also incredible - some of the best yet, in my opinion. First, we took a dip in the Lahontan Reservoir. The water was the perfect temperature after a hot Nevada bike ride; it was truly blissful. I don’t think I’ll forget that moment in the water for a while.
Also - SPAM. SPAM is amazing. Eva and I bought two cans of SPAM back in SF, and I’ve been itching for a night to camp so we could make SPAM with Cup Noodles. I was genuinely thinking about this meal for the entire day, and it hit the spot. The warm noodles and salty, pan-fried spam were just oh-my-god amazing. Camp food is yummy food!! We have also converted Tubb into a SPAM lover, which I take great pride in. Excited and looking forward to more SPAM-filled meals in the future!!! (Ethan, if you see this, please buy SPAM tomorrow at the grocery store XOXO)
Our next stop is Middlegate, Nevada, which apparently has a population of 17 people, so when we get there, we’ll comprise over 25% of their population. Very exciting stuff!
Eva getting an early-morning arm workout by digging a hole for Joan, our host in Carson City
Quick shoutout to Joan for being incredibly hospitable, and for reminding me that Earth Balance vegan butter exists and that I need it to be a constant presence in my life. Good night - see you in Middlegate!
Will