Lonely roads in Nevada

On Monday morning (June 29) we rode a quick 25 miles to Lee Vining where we had breakfast at Nicely's restaurant, and where we met two guys on Harleys who were on their way home to Monterey, CA after a month on the road to Nova Scotia and back. We shared some memories of that beautiful part of North America.

A few miles down the road we turned east on CA 120, a rolling and twisty road that goes by Mono Lake and through a pine and aspen forest and then goes into Nevada  at Benton Hot Springs before ending at US 6.

Carol's view of US 6 from the back of the bike

Share the road in Nevada

We gassed up in Tonopah, NV and in another 50 miles turned south on NV 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway. For those of  you who never watched The X-Files, or Roswell, or don't follow conspiracy theories, here's the explanation: Area 51 near Groom Lake in southeastern Nevada is the site of a secret military test facility where exotic aircraft are put through their paces. Supposedly some of the technology that goes into those aircraft is the result of  reverse engineering from a crashed alien spaceship. Of course aliens were also aboard that ship...

The day was hot of course, but  the scattered clouds provided some relief, and even a brief shower that cooled us off a bit. We went over a few passes of 6-7000 feet, which also kept the temperature down. The only "town" on 375 is Rachel, which consists of a little cafe and bar that also sells alien-themed hats, shirts, trinkets, mugs, books, and posters. We stopped for coffee and the first rhubarb pie of the trip, which was quite good.

Rhubarb pie, mmmmm

Victor in front of the  Little A'Le'Inn

Cacti along the southern end 375

The 100 miles of 375 ended at US 93 and we went east for 40 miles to Caliente (that means hot - and it was 99 degrees when we arrived) where we are spending the night at the Midway Motel. We took a slow and pleasant stroll along the Linear Path, which winds along a (dry at this  time of year) river that goes through the city. We dined at the Knotty Pine Restaurant and even went into the World Famous Knotty Pine Lounge (the sign above the door says so) to buy a beer for Carol.

Cruising along at steady speeds at high elevation, the bike is getting very good mileage (over 50 mpg) and is running fine. Tomorrow we ride through one of  my favorite parts of the southwest - the Grand Escalante along Highway 12 in Utah.

Victor in front of room 4  at the Midway Motel