Day 6, 91 mile day, 15.4 mph average, 5,695 Calories.

More than 80 of these miles were on interstate I-80. Now I could bitch and moan about riding on the shoulder of an interstate, but that would violate the “be positive” theme of the ride. So there are my top ten good things about riding on I-80.

10. It makes you appreciate the routes you usually ride at home.
9. You learn what a mirage in the distance is like. (When the sun catches salt flats at the right angle, it reflects back and looks like water. Once you get there, the angle changes and it just looks like land.)
8. There is plenty of time to soak in the same endless unchanging scenery.
7. When you catch a tail wind, it goes and goes and goes.
6. You don’t have to worry about oncoming traffic making a left turn.
5. It’s safer than cycling a windy downhill at 40 mph.
4. When a truck swooshes by, it’s like someone put their hand on your butt and gave you a big push forward. This increases speed by 5 mph. When it’s a triple trailer, the slip stream can add 15 mph to your speed. (no joke)
3. There are rumble strips between the cyclist and the road to jolt the cyclist back to awareness should he start to drift into the lane. I suppose this would also work if the trucker started to drift into the bike lane, but one a truck going 80 hits the rumble strip, it’s too late to do me much good.
2. There are no pesky joggers, kids on tikes, or bird watchers on “the bike path.”
1. It’s straight for 80 miles, you can’t get lost!

We’re starting to rack up miles. The official cumulative total as of today is 409 miles.
The pictures show the salt flats, the typical mountains in the distance, and how we spend our time once we check into the Bates Motel and Casino.