Christie and Emily early morning on the loneliest highway in America.
Left earlier than usual so we could get to Ely in time for Emily to make some work calls. We were on highway 50, otherwise known as the loneliest highway in America. We were gearing up for the same heat we had yesterday, but it was surprisingly pleasant out all day We had a 153 mile day so we began the day at 7 am PST. Although, the road was pleasantly uninhabited, we did have some friends out there. We started the day with Anne and Bill Ottemann in their 1912 Regal and a few miles down the road we ran into Dean Draper, a reporter Emily met the previous evening. Em was excited to hear about all of his historic fun facts and knowledge of the area. Dean stuck with us from Delta to the Nevada border taking photos.
We cruised through some really beautiful scenery and there was no one around! We drove through the Sevier Desert and past what remains of the Sevier Lake. We skirted Great Basin National Park and made it over two more mountain passes. Sacramento Pass which stands at 7,154 feet at the summit and Connors Pass at 7,722 feet. Our new thing today was to throw Babbs into Neutral and roll the hills. Seemed to work well and it was AMAZING how quiet Babbs was! She is a serious trooper and overall a SUPERSTAR these days!
There were barely any bugs today, which was a treat and with the exception of a few dead snakes, the roadkill was minimal. We met some really great people out on the road today. The first gentleman we met was Geoff Wheeler who stopped on the side of the road to chat as we filled our oil. Geoff was driving a budget truck from Salem, WI to Petaluma, CA for his daughter. She was driving with her friends ahead on the interstate, but Goeff was taking the scenic route because it was more beautiful and there were less people. We were excited to meet a fellow back road traveler and wish him a safe and fun adventure to California! Way to enjoy the journey! Geoff wins our Embrace the Pace Award of the day.
air in the line? Nope out of oil!
We stopped in Garrison, UT for lunch at the Border Inn. When we rolled in we met two more inspiring friends, Nico Chiarito and Calen Barca-Hall. These two gentlemen are biking from Santa Cruz, CA to New York. It was fun to chat with them about the elements, upcoming passes and life in general. If you want to check out their adventure you can find them at twodudestwobikes.blogspot.com. After lunch we put the top up just in time for the rain to come down with a vengeance. Nico and Calen we were thinking about you guys grinding up the passes while getting worked by wind and rain with absolutely no place to take cover. Hope everything was ok for you both!
Calen Barca-Hall and Nico Chiarito
The end of the day was filled with beautiful sights, as well! We drove through the Humboldt-Toiyabe’s National Forest. This national forest covers 6.3 million acres and is the largest national forest in the lower 48 states. The last stretch of the day was through and ended in the Steptoe Valley. As we approached Ely, NV things weren’t so lonely anymore! There were many flashing lights and small bars.. Woohoo. Happy to have crossed into Nevada!
After a couple hours of free time at our resting location The Nevada Hotel, we loaded back up in the Maxwell and headed to the Northern Nevada Railroad Museum where there was a gathering planned by Mark Bassett and Mary Williams. Emily realized a great new form of hair drying as we drove Babbs in our “evening attire” to the festivities. We were treated to a wonderful BBQ prepared by the Beta Sigma Phi, Rho Chapter. Thank you Ely, NV for all of your hospitality!
The ladies at Delta Sigma Phi-Rho Chapter
After dinner Rolln the town Historian gave us information about the town of Ely and Alice’s relationship. Evidently, Alice was the first person to take the southern route from Salt Lake City, Utah to Ely, Nevada. Sally treated us all to some fun stories from Alice’s adventure.
Sally waxing poetic
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Emily accepting an authentic Nevada Northern Railway Locomotive 93 coin from Mark Bassett and the mayor of Ely
After all of the festivities we were taken to the train house. The museum houses locomotive 93, a running one hundred year old train. We were guided by Nolan. Who was a wealth of information and we were very impressed with how much he appreciated the magnitude of where he was at such a young age. We encouraged Nolan to continue on with his passion of trains and history - so wonderful to meet a young man who appreciates preserving some very special history!
OK, that’s it. I have officially moved from kelly green to british racing green with envy.
Terry Huston on July 5th, 2009 at 5:58 pm #
Still wish we were there with you, we are so proud of you. Keep driving safley. Jenny Washburn
Jenny Washburn on July 6th, 2009 at 9:47 am #
What an excellent adventure to commemorate! Good luck and safe travels. Be sure to bring a sweater for SF - the fog has been thick.
Aleitha Burns on July 6th, 2009 at 9:59 am #
Talk about embracing the pace! We’ve named our car “Racing Snails”, it’s a 1979 diesel VW Dasher that runs on waste vegetable oil. We’ve traveled about 8,000 miles in the past year, usually on the back roads and in the slow lane. Many gravel roads in the Ozarks were nearly impassable. It must be an amazing journey in the Maxwell!! I hope to catch up with you (Emily and fam) when you’re back. Safe travels, I love the adventure!
-Kjersten
Kjersten Hallin on July 6th, 2009 at 2:28 pm #
You inspiring ladies have provided exactly the kind of inspiration and friendship I was hoping Calen & Nico would find along their journey. Good luck with your drive! Now we have two cross country blogs to follow.—Lisa (Calen’s mom)
Lisa Barca-Hall on July 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pm #
Wow!!! What an amazing journey you all have been on! It’s been fun to follow you on your blog…you’re almost there. Way to go, be safe and have fun…Billy T. and Marianne
Bill Turina on July 6th, 2009 at 10:07 pm #
Sally - it looks like you are having a blast!!!! I’ve been enjoying the blog. Looking forward to hearing a first hand account when you return!
Lee Anne Bryant on July 8th, 2009 at 12:56 pm #
It was literally a delight and an inspiration to find such adventurous ladies taking to “the loneliest highway in the USA”. It was wonderful to meet you…I made it to Petaluma, not without further adventures, but none so much fun as coming across you folks on Hwy 50….Hope you make it too…I”m sure you will, and what a grand accomplishment.
thanks for making my trip!
Geoff Wheeler
Geoff Wheeler on July 11th, 2009 at 7:17 am #