First out so we were up before 0600 from the gym floor where we slept. It was not too bad as we were so tired. Last team came in about 2300 so it was a bit noisy then. Breakfast at Denny’s then I had to install a new chain and true wheels as I am looking after the mechanical for my team. I was really tired from the climbing the day before so thinking about climbing Mt. Rose, 8900ft to the summit out of Reno seemed impossible to me. On the way to the base I started thinking, why I am doing this, not for me but for the names on the back of my jersey, for all the people who donated, for my wife Romy, my daughter Alina and all the people fighting the battle. Thinking about this made me realize that my two hours of pain is nothing compared what these courageous people have to deal with. By the time I reached the base this made me determined to achieve this for them and I did it, all 8900 ft into the snow. The ride down was great, 10 miles of steep downhill to Lake Tahoe. It was amazing to see such a large deep lake at an elevation of 6200 ft. And the water was clearer than any water I have seen anywhere. We finished our leg in Tahoe South village that reminds me so much of Lake George NY. We then had a 4hr drive to our destination for the night which was another shelter in a church in Bishop CA. We are last team on the road tomorrow into Vegas. (Just for laughs, I was climbing along Lake Tahoe, chatting with Jamie on my left rear when he yelled out my name just as I collided with a parked pickup truck in the bike lane. I was only travelling about 10kms so tossed me onto the pavement locked into pedals embarrased but bike was OK:)
