Day 42: Nevada to Toledo

Posted by: Arin

After a long sleep, we ate breakfast and packed up our stuff. We really needed to get riding again. The last time we rode 50 or more miles was a week ago! Sure, we've been taking days off and stopping in cool places, but it was time to end the slump. 

...of course we started riding at noon. It was ok though, we were determined. With just one stop in the middle of the day to fill up our water bottles and get a snack, we made it 50 miles to Toledo. Knowing there weren't many towns for quite some time, we stopped at a Fareway grocery store in town to get some dinner. It was my first time at a Fareway and it's pretty weird. They have this thing where they bring your cart out to your car and load all your groceries for you. At least their prices are good. 

By the time we were done shopping, it was already 5-6. We had heard a few of the locals saying it was going to rain and it did look like it, so we were on the lookout for some shelter. First we had to go fill up all our water at a gas station (and buy a pint of whiskey). As we left the station, some guy asked us where we were going to sleep. When we said we were camping, he told us about a park up the road with a covered stage or something. Grateful for the info, we headed up the road and came to the park. There was the perfect spot! A covered picnic area with 3-4 foot high brick walls around it. We had cover from police and the sky! In preparation for the storm, we drank our little bottle of whiskey.

Around 8:00 it started to rain. By 9:00 it was pouring. The wind picked up too, sweeping sheets of water into our covered area and soaking the entire place.

There was lightning going on every five seconds too. We spent a bunch of time capturing lightning flashes on our iPhones. Keep in mind it was pitch dark out otherwise.

Huddled in the corner, we made our dinner. It was going to be a long night. Luckily the rain and wind eased up around 11:00 and there were two dry spots: on top of tables. Brad and I each got a tarp from the tent to use as a blanket (it wasn't too cold out) and set up our sleeping pads on the tables. We didn't want to get our sleeping bags wet. Somehow we were able to get a good night's sleep.