The Loneliest Road in America

Wednesday, September 22. We left Silver Springs, NV this morning and headed East on U.S. Highway 50, called the Loneliest Road in America--an appropriate name since it crosses large desolate areas with few signs of civilization. There are several desert valleys separated by numerous mountain ranges towering over the valley floors, including the Great Basin. The road is excellent, good pavement and very little traffic. No pollution either--the air is dry and clean.

US 50 follows roughly the path of the Pony Express riders. Those brave young men carried mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, with stops in places such as Ely, Eureka, Austin, Fallon, Silver Springs, and on to Sacramento. The requirement to become a rider was: "young, skinny, wiry fellows not over eighteen. Must be expert rider willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred." It took 10 days for a letter to travel the entire 1,800 miles of the Pony Express route.

Fallon, called the "Oasis of Nevada," is a booming town, and has farming, cattle, and commerce. Just south of town is the Naval Air Station, which includes the Naval Fighter Weapons School (“Top Gun”). The base offers a 32-space RV park with full hookups.

We stopped for lunch and gasoline in Austin, NV, about half-way across the state, located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of 6,605 feet. Austin is considered a "living ghost town," a well-preserved example of an early Nevada mining town. It was founded in 1862 as part of a silver rush reputedly triggered by a Pony Express horse who kicked over a rock. By 1863 Austin and the surrounding Reese River Mining District had a population of over 10,000 (currently the population is approx. 425). There are several high quality turquoise mines in the area, plus a number of shops that manufacture jewelry from the turquoise, which has made Austin a sort of Turquoise mecca. A number of restaurants, intriguing saloons, motels, B&Bs, and other stores make it a worth-while stop.

Finally arrived in Ely as it was getting dark. Stayed at the KOA.