The first ride for 2008 got off to a pretty good start yesterday. It was a bit chilly, hovering around the 30 degree mark. I didn't feel so bad, though, because Mrs. Mozam was on her way to the frozen tundra of Bloomington, Illinois and a -12 degrees, yuk! I seem to have beaten this cold bug, or at least I think I've beaten this thing so I decided to go ahead with my plans for New Year's Day and get some miles in. The plan originally called for a full Century, but using discretion as the better part of valor today, I decided to back off a bit and complete a metric instead. A few of us diehards showed up at 0830 for a cold and crisp start on our journey out to Callville Bay, Nevada for an out-and-back of 62 miles. I was a little hesistant at first because being an old fart now, I did not want to push this virus any further down the pipes than it had already traveled. The lead bunch, Cowboy, FastEddie and Danny, were kind enough to keep the pace under control and do most of the pulling in the headwind we somehow managed to find. Once we got to the Callville turn-off, FastEddie, Cowboy, and Danny pulled on ahead to round out their New Year's Century attempt. Myself, DrDog and Rod continued on down to the bay for what turned out to be a bit of a history lesson.
I couldn't help notice the historic marker located near the backside of the marina restaurant. Evidently, the town of Callville was a trading post/outpost many years ago for the Mormans who were looking for a trading route to and from Salt Lake, Utah. The original Callville landing was located on the Colorado River and is now underwater due to the construction of Hoover Dam. Here's a quick history lesson:
The Mormon Church, on their expansion west, needed a reliable route for their supplies and converts to reach Salt Lake, Utah. Elder Anson Call was sent to select a site for a steamboat port and, in 1864, he established Callville.
A large warehouse was constructed first, followed by a landing, post office and corral. The steamboat Esmeralda completed a trip on October, 1866, and delivered 100 tons of freight.
In January, 1867, the Army arrived at El Dorado and Fort Callville became an outpost until May, 1868. Callville, being very desolate, isolated and lonely, had the most desertions of the Army company stationed at El Dorado, and one suicide.
The Mormon's plan for a supply route via the Colorado was abandoned when the transcontinental railroad was completed in northern Nevada in 1869. Steamboats and barges trading salt between Rioville and El Dorado still made a few stops at Callville.
National Park Service and concession developments at Callville Bay began in 1967, after the North Shore Road was completed around 1966.
Click here for some more information about Calville Bay.
So, what is the moral to today's bike ride? Stop and smell the roses once in awhile, you just might learn something.
No comments:
Post a Comment