Wandering Retirees

Ely, NV to Minden, NV

We had a bit of late start this morning because we met the nicest couple from Hurricane, UT, Mike and Deidre.  We found conversation easy and we talked away more than an hour.  We learned about the area in which they spent their lives and raised their kids.  Mike’s Dad was part of the CCC group that build RT 89, a road we traveled quite a bit during our stay in Southern Utah.  They were in Ely to revisit a favorite antique rail and steam engine train.  Very cool.  Of course we told them about our favorite game, “Rail Baron.”

We had a good long ride from Ely, to Minden, NV, south of Carson City. We covered 340 mostly hot miles across desert plains and 10 picturesque mountain passes bearing names like Pinto, and Robinson and Pancake, and traveled roughly the trails of the Pony Express. Our route was US 50, called by Life magazine in the 70’s “the loneliest road in America. We believe it. There were very few cars and about 80 to 110 miles between gas stations. When we first entered Nevada yesterday, we heard about a stamp book put out to promote the towns along Rt. 50. The goal is to stop in these little towns at the museum, chamber offices, or select shops to get stamps proving you had traveled there. We managed to get 5 stamps and hope to reap the prize: a letter from Nevada’s governor congratulating us on our perseverance and good taste to visit Nevada on this road. We suspect that it also forces travelers to notice the multitude of casinos that tempt the unwary. Whatever. We enjoyed and will reach for the prize. Did I mention it was hot?  
From east to west, we crossed the Schell Creek Range, White Pine Range, Diamond Mountains, Monitor Range, Toquima Range, Toyabe Mountains, Shoshone Mountains, the Desatoya Mountains, and two others. Towns include Eureka, Austin, Cold Springs, Fallon and Dayton, all small towns founded on the verge of the huge valleys between ranges. We have some nice pics.

We were so impressed how big the valleys are, up to 50 miles or more with the road slashing across as straight as an arrow. Some miles were filled with little more than hot sand, others boasted scrub and small trees, some miles were even lush with green grass from recent rains. We saw small numbers of cows spread across square miles, and even a small herd of wild horses. We followed a pickup trailing a speed boat, which seemed a bit out of place in the desert. He turned off finally at this beautiful patch of blue water, Lahonton Reservoir. Amazing. And fun.

Tonight we’re staying in an AirBnB in Minden. The founders named the town after their home of Minden, Germany in 1906. It’s cute, pretty even, and is nestled under the east slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which got around 60 feet of snow this past winter. So the view of snow capped peaks is wonderful. Word is that some of the mountain lakes are still frozen. We will have to choose our route carefully tomorrow as we make our way toward Yosemite. But that’s for tomorrow.
Our “Survival Guide”

Scenes from the day …

A mid-day respite from desert terrain.

Dust devils are cool and plentiful in Nevada!

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Our completed map.  We collected 5 of the 8 stamps which earn us the title of “Survivors of the Lonliest Road in America.”