Just got into a Super 8 in Dillon, CO with WiFi and haven’t eaten other than jerky and granola on the bike all day. Although not the orgy of points the past two days…..I’m still digging. I’m going to scoop up points until there isn’t any more time.

I started the morning by snapping a picture of Bendover Bill (what I’m sure the locals call it even though they have a sign that says Wendover Will).   It’s a 76 foot high neon sign that’s the town’s claim to fame….for Mormons trekking the 120 miles across the Salt Lake to not get reconized and gamble.

Then at dusk I snapped two pictures of mountain passes here in Colorado.  A full day.

I broke my previous 11,300 elevation record again by going to Independence Pass at 12,000 and change. I had no clue there were so many spots so high in this state.

I’m hungry…..so I’m going to eat my Subway sandwich and come back to this blog…..just wanted you all to know I’m alive and well.

Be back in 30 minutes…

…….OK back after my first shower in like 4 days….I think it’s 4 days. I was able to eat half of my sandwich…..my stomach seems to have shrunk and I’ve lot weight for sure.

Last night as I got off the drone of I-80 to about 50 miles of twisty I got worried my rear-end was going out. I had known the rear tire was cupped, but it hadn’t made noise or vibration when I was going straight and upright……now it was. I even called up my buddy Warchild when I was in the Reno area and he thought fatigue was getting to me…which he was right.

After finding a rest stop before Winnemucca and sleeping under a picnic table on the concrete (the table would have been more comfortable, but the light ahead was too bright….and two others occupied by Chris Sakala and Vicki Johnson) for about 3 hours I felt a bit better. Cruising the straights seems to smooth the tire a bit…until I hit a set of twisties again. Weird.

I’m planning my Day 11……I can’t believe this thing is about done!

The most direct route and I’m about 1,000 miles out. I’m planning to get up about 5 a.m. and head back. I can pace myself and figure out which bonii I might be able to sneak in. I’m still digging…….I think I’ve got more than enough points to finish, but I’d like to score a Gold medal and move my standing up from 43.

I’ll find out Friday afternoon….at the finishing banquet of course.

Physcially, I’m pretty good. My right ear hurts pretty badly because of having an earplug in it so long, and my shoulders are sore and muscles need a good massage. I have 11 days of beard growth and look pretty scruffy I’m sure. Also, I had a piece of my ass analyzed by scientific instruments. It’s 98% iron, 1.5% nickel, and the remaining 0.5% are other trace alloys.

My one headlight works…sort of. I have an instrument cluster light out….but that half it lit I haven’t been using much anyway. ;) Also, the GPS audio is intermittent. Electricals suck.

Here’s the plan tomorrow:

Just ran across this picture from Lick Observatory in the San Jose area. Scruffy, but smiling: