Highway 50, the loneliest road in America got a bit more lonely today.
It was really desolate once outside Fallon. The ride was basically all within the Great Basin. The Sierra Nevada mountains (tick) lie on the western edge and the Rockies (sh#t) lie on the Eastern edge.
Temperatures have again stayed on the cool side which has helped me. Unlike California last week which was roasting.
I cant remember any houses, shops or anything today.
I did pass fairly close to a US airbase and have seen fighter jets circling almost all day. Also had a low fly by from a US helicopter but unfortunately the jets stayed quite high despite signs warning of low flying aircraft.
The area has been used for aerial gunnery and bombing, and for nuclear tests in the past. One local told me there are several missile sights out here armed and ready to go in case they are called on!?!?
My entertainment for the day was seeing how many passing trucks I could get to beep their horns.
As they approached I would raise my hand and pretend to be pulling down and quite a lot played along and beeped their way past me. Unfortunately 1 or 2 continued to play along after I had lost interest in the game and proceeded to scare the sh&t out of me and send me wobbling all over the place. Bet they loved that.
48 miles of pretty easy riding later I arrived in Middlegate Station. This place is amazing. Run by a bunch of cowboys. Not English cowboys, real American cowboys. They didn't look too pleased to have a customer, weren't interested in small talk and probably couldn't give a toss if I'm riding coast to coast to the moon and back. I love it. I know under that moody exterior they are happy as Larry and the only thing that will ruin that good mood is inane chit chat from some hoohaa whose not from round here. Suits me.
I did speak to one local on the veranda outside though (initiated by him). Part of the conversation went a bit like this;
Local - howdy
Me - howdy
Local - whet yu drin ron ere boi
Me - err just passing though
Local - wee jes udin heep drig bee urrgg
Me - yep
Local - weeel u geet donk beer roodkeeel boi
Me - yep cheers
Local - *spits on floor
Heading back inside I ordered their famous Monster Burger which has apparently featured on Man V Food. Im yet to have this confirmed. If you finish it you go on the wall of fame and get a t shirt.
I never expected to finish it but thought I better experience this burger while I'm here. When it came out I almost cried.
It was more like a cake than a burger. There was no way I could even pick it up let Alone open my mouth wide enough. So I started cutting it like a cake with looks of disdain heading my way. One local smugly said to me 'you didn't know what you were ordering did you boy' - quite cocky for a 12 year old girl I thought to myself. (Joke)
I did manage about 2/3 of it and could have pushed on a bit from there but threw in the towel.
Both my knees have been complaining a bit recently and the next 3 or 4 days of riding are going to be really hard so tomorrow I'm planning on staying here for a rest day to fully recharge.
It's gonna be just me and the cowboys sitting in happy silence. Hopefully there aren't too many tourist passing through who want to chit chat too much.
The Rockies finally came into view today. That gave me butterflies a little!
It was really desolate once outside Fallon. The ride was basically all within the Great Basin. The Sierra Nevada mountains (tick) lie on the western edge and the Rockies (sh#t) lie on the Eastern edge.
Temperatures have again stayed on the cool side which has helped me. Unlike California last week which was roasting.
I cant remember any houses, shops or anything today.
I did pass fairly close to a US airbase and have seen fighter jets circling almost all day. Also had a low fly by from a US helicopter but unfortunately the jets stayed quite high despite signs warning of low flying aircraft.
The area has been used for aerial gunnery and bombing, and for nuclear tests in the past. One local told me there are several missile sights out here armed and ready to go in case they are called on!?!?
My entertainment for the day was seeing how many passing trucks I could get to beep their horns.
As they approached I would raise my hand and pretend to be pulling down and quite a lot played along and beeped their way past me. Unfortunately 1 or 2 continued to play along after I had lost interest in the game and proceeded to scare the sh&t out of me and send me wobbling all over the place. Bet they loved that.
48 miles of pretty easy riding later I arrived in Middlegate Station. This place is amazing. Run by a bunch of cowboys. Not English cowboys, real American cowboys. They didn't look too pleased to have a customer, weren't interested in small talk and probably couldn't give a toss if I'm riding coast to coast to the moon and back. I love it. I know under that moody exterior they are happy as Larry and the only thing that will ruin that good mood is inane chit chat from some hoohaa whose not from round here. Suits me.
I did speak to one local on the veranda outside though (initiated by him). Part of the conversation went a bit like this;
Local - howdy
Me - howdy
Local - whet yu drin ron ere boi
Me - err just passing though
Local - wee jes udin heep drig bee urrgg
Me - yep
Local - weeel u geet donk beer roodkeeel boi
Me - yep cheers
Local - *spits on floor
Heading back inside I ordered their famous Monster Burger which has apparently featured on Man V Food. Im yet to have this confirmed. If you finish it you go on the wall of fame and get a t shirt.
I never expected to finish it but thought I better experience this burger while I'm here. When it came out I almost cried.
It was more like a cake than a burger. There was no way I could even pick it up let Alone open my mouth wide enough. So I started cutting it like a cake with looks of disdain heading my way. One local smugly said to me 'you didn't know what you were ordering did you boy' - quite cocky for a 12 year old girl I thought to myself. (Joke)
I did manage about 2/3 of it and could have pushed on a bit from there but threw in the towel.
Both my knees have been complaining a bit recently and the next 3 or 4 days of riding are going to be really hard so tomorrow I'm planning on staying here for a rest day to fully recharge.
It's gonna be just me and the cowboys sitting in happy silence. Hopefully there aren't too many tourist passing through who want to chit chat too much.
The Rockies finally came into view today. That gave me butterflies a little!
First view of snow capped Rockies in distance.
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