This is bitchin'! I'm sittin' in the Days Inn in Moab, Utah, wi-fied up. I think this might actually work!
We spent last night at the Ramada Inn & Copper Queen Casino in Ely, Nevada. They had a data port on the telephone for dial-up. They gave me a local number, but I couldn't figure out how to connect. My set said I was connected, but I missed something. I was tired. This is, after all, a learning curve and it helps to be alert.
We took US 50, "The Loneliest Road in America", from Fallon NV to Ely. Fallon is famous for Fallon melons and for having a Naval Air Station billed as "The World's Largest Aircraft Carrier". In 250 miles of two-lane, we crossed 11 mountain ranges over passes from 4400' to 7600'. There's only two towns in between, Austin and Eureka, both old mining towns clinging to mountainsides, literally and figuratively. Ely is at 6500'.
On the way, we got passed three times by the same group of Indiana bikers on sport machines with one really weird trike: two wheels in front, one behind, Yamaha (I think) shaft-drive powertrain. The driver had a single-seat cockpit. I looked at it in the gas station in Fallon, and it had a handicap control setup. It takes balls to ride out from the Midwest when you can't walk, folks. These guys weren't dawdling, either. They were haulin' ass.
Today was more mountains, but with some I-70 and some spectacular geological scenery thrown in. We came here for the Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, but come to find out this burg is mountain bike and 4WD central as well as a geological wonderland. There's a 'sickle rally this weekend, apparently run out of "Bone Daddy's Custom Cycles" which is across the street. Hawgs and other large bikes all over the place. Also, some kind of music festival. It's a happenin' joint in a beautiful setting.
On the technical side, we're 740 miles from home. Gas has been runnin' $3 to $3.11 and, get this, starting at Ely, 87 octane is the middle grade. That's new to me. Regular is 85 octane. Our mileage has run from 20.1 mpg to 23.2 mpg. I'm happy with that. V6 Toyota Tacoma.
I didn't put in links 'cuz...no guts! I'm afraid I'll screw up and lose it all.
More later.
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