October 12, 2014
From St George to Littlefield, a store clerk invites me to camp behind the Dam Bar for free. Climbing in 100 degrees the next day, I find out the hard way that google bike maps warning, “Bicycling directions (beta): use caution.” should be headed: I flag a trucker on I-15 for water after exhausting mine, and pedal a closed and barricaded section of interstate for Overton where I poach a camp site. A warm 85 miles along Lake Mead the next day brings me into Las Vegas, pedaling down the strip to valet my bike at Wynn. “Lonely lands made fruitful”, I see Bon Jovi in concert with the brothers and folks. After slots demonstrate that indeed I am not lucky, I pedal to Boulder City for a night, talking to folks before ruling out 95 and 93 as travel options to Phoenix, instead backtracking to Henderson and throwing the bike in the back of a rental. After a couple of rest days, taking a train to Austin early in the morning!
