Reno to Austin, NV — 175 miles . The first half of the Highway 50 "survival challenge."
In July 1986, Life Magazine described Nevada’s Highway 50 from Fernley to Ely as "The Loneliest Road In America". Life asserted that there were no attractions or points of interest along the 287-mile stretch of road and recommended that drivers have "survival skills" to travel the route.
Bob and I disagree with the Life assessment. Petroglyphs, a sand mountain, Pony Express stops and the remoteness of the road make it one of the most scenic & historic corridors. The MP3 purred along in the 104-degree desert heat and never missed a beat.
We traveled through Fallon, an agricultural center famous for its "Hearts of Gold" cantaloupes, Grimes Point, an archaeological site containing prehistoric Native American rock carvings (Petroglyphs) & Sand Mountain — a two-mile mound of sand rising several hundred feet from the desert floor. The Old Shoe Tree is a giant cottonwood filled with hanging shoes (you acquire strange urges in the desert).
Tonight we’re in Austin, NV, once a prosperous mining camp; now marginally surviving. It’s an authentic Old West town untouched by Disney.
We had a couple of beers in the International Cafe. It was me, Bob and the owner/bartender, who hails originally from Ohio.
You guys are truly an inspiration to us all. I am an avid rider at 50yo. and plan to ride for many more years…Thanks.
Hello,
I just stop to talk to you when you were stoped for gas in Ely,Nv. I ride a harley and just had to stop and see.
I hope you have a great and safe trip and i will check back on this site later.
Take care
Trudy
How’s the ride? The Lonliest Road in America was very interesting. What if you don’t have enough gas or water? Do you know how long it took to build the Lincoln Highway? — Harry
Hi guys! This is the first time we’ve looked at the website and it is really cool! I didn’t know you had a slogan. I like it! I like the pictures on the site. Keep posting more. Hope you have a good rest of the ride. — Isabel
GREAT to read your comments. Length of time to piece together the LH–not sure. It wasn’t really “built. Different towns joined together & called themselves the LH. People were then able to go from town to town & not get lost. You can never forget about having enough gas & water when traveling in the desert on America’s most lonely road.We’ll be through with this section tomorrow.
Thank goodness–Bob wants to drink my water!!!!
Good to hear from Izzy & Harry in the desert.
Apparently you took my husband’s picture in Fallon, Nevada. He was the Vstrom rider. He was excited about your scooters since I ride a Honda Silverwing 600 FSCA. I don’t see his picture in here, but it looks like you had a good trip anyway. I am in southern Utah this summer by Zion; there are a lot of bikes down here. Bring those three-wheeled scooters through Zion and stop at the Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort where I’m working. I’ll trade you my Silverwing…… (I actually love it, but I can see where three wheels would be handy in areas like this and Nevada where every other pull-off is dirt.)
Diane
Tell me the truth, did you carry xtra gas on board or in the SUV? I want to take the LH, but 3.2 gal at 60 mpg is 200 right?
Does that mean there is a station or I’m packing gas?
Great write-up. After nearly 3 decade of not liking motorcycling no matter how much I wanted to like it (and I had a lot of motivation since everyone else in the family rides), I found myself saying to Brian yesterday, “Maybe we should get one of those MP3s…? It looks like fun and I don’t have to think about tipping over the whole time I’m on it.” Looks like a ton of fun.
More blogging! Your write ups inspire me to want to hit the open road! Instead, I’m about to take a subway to work in Queens… Not quite the same.
Buddy & Bob:
You are truly an inspiration. Linda sent this link to us, and this is the first opportunity we had to check it out. The “loneliest highway in America”….Is it true??? We are thinking about you and are looking forward to all the details when you return…We were sitting at lakeside tonight, thinking that we hoped to have you share your experience over a lakeside dinner….
Donald and I will follow your travels…he is looking over my shoulder right now….
Best, from your friends LULU and DONALD, IN PIERSON LAKES