Yesterday's drive from Dayton, Nevada which is just east of Carson City, to Wells, Nevada where we are right now, was a relaxing, sight-filled day. And, it was the most miles we have driven with an RV. 366 miles - not far by some of our other RV friends but far enough for us. We have our CR-V Honda hooked up behind us and the instructions are very clear, do not go beyond 8 hours of driving (being pulled) or damage to the transmission. You would have to unhook, run the car's engine for awhile, then you can hook up again. Even though we drove the most miles, we had the car hooked up for 6 1/2 hours. Not bad! No traffic to deal with, no changing lanes or pulling over to let someone pass - no traffic for miles!
We pulled out of the campground by 8:30am and headed east on the Lincoln Highway Route 50. This route connects San Francisco to New York City. We have traveled it in pieces over the years but not along the Nevada corridor, labeled the Loneliest Highway. We now know why. Nothing, zilch, nada. Long long stretches of two lane 70 miles an hour (if you are a car) with no traffic behind you or coming at you. No houses, not a thing but nature. Raw high desert environment, traveling up and over ranges of mountains and down to the basins and then back up and over. Nevada is known for it's Basin-Range-Basin-Range terrain.
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| Every little town had casinos - this got a chuckle from us |
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| No cars at all |
The California Emigrants who were coming to the gold and silver fields in Nevada and California came along this route. Then the Pony Express used the route in 1860 and 1861. It was a well-worn Indian path for the Shoshone Indians for hunting and gathering prior to the emigrants. Just stunning scenery.
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| From a distance - looked real! Announcing the Cold Springs Station. |
At one point we passed the Sand Mountain and saw sand dunes to the north. And something way in the distance caught our eye - looked like a big box on the side of the road. As we got closer it was a huge Motor home stuck in the sand/mud with it's tow vehicle straddled beside it. What were they thinking?
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| Coming up on the Sand Mountain area - ancient sea caused the salt flats |
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| Guess it's the thing - to write something in stones along the salt flats |
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| The sand dunes |
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| Bus was buried to top of tires - what were they thinking? |
Mountains looming ahead of us, snow covered, no signs of life - no farms, ranches, buildings. No cattle. Just barren land. Came around a corner into a canyon and saw the remnants of two stone homes - wondered what life they had lead.
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| Isolated - the story this could tell |
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| Passed where there were earthquake faults |
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| Going up and over one of 3 passes |
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| Wonder where the road goes? |
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| Very cool to see mountains growing out of the road |
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| The occasional mine in the distance - this one was huge! |
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| Traveled along the Humboldt River for quite a distance |
Meandered our way north from Route 50 and headed up to Interstate 80 and took it east to the town of Wells, Nevada. Small town, sitting at the base of the Independence Mountain range. The town grew up after the emigrants passed through, gold was mined and then silver discovered. Something that we saw a lot of - every small town we passed through were numerous casinos. Most were busy.
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| Even Interstate 80 was lonely - heading up and over Emigrant Pass |
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| Pick one to go through |
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| Wells sits at bottom of these Independence Mountains - our stop for 2 days |
Tomorrow we continue our northward journey, heading to Fort Hall, Idaho which is near Idaho Falls. We have driven through the city before, this time we will stop and see what there is to see.
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