WINDY!!!!
The morning started out with breakfast at the Palace Saloon in Virginia City. After that I headed down the road to HWY 50, nicknamed by LIFE Magazine as the loneliest highway in the US. I wasn't on it long before I turned south on Alt 395 South to Hawthorne, Nev. This stretch of almost 100 miles was excellent riding although the wind started picking up just before reaching Hawthorne.
Hawthorne is home to an Army Base/Ammunitions Depot and is also known as the most patriotic town in the US as evidenced by the number of flags and R,W& B festooning all of the shops and homes. I filled the tank here and was informed by several bikers coming from Tonopah to expect high winds and dust storms. They were not joking. 10 miles out of Hawthorne I had to trade my sunglasses for googles and put the neckerchief over my mouth and nose to keep the dirt and sand out them. The online weather report said the wind was steady at 40 with gusts up to 55+. The sky was completely brown with blowing dust and at times covering the highway ahead from view. I have never worked so hard to keep the bike centered in my lane and upright. I was happy that there was very little debris blowing across the road. Silver lining...80 degrees!
I arrived in Tonopah about 3:30 and checked in to the Best Western High Desert Inn and, with my "preferred customer" card was upgraded to a 2-rooom/2-bath suite ( this would hold about four of the rooms I stayed in last night, but without all of the character and charm)....it's a little more than I need, but i welcomed the added comfort!
After cleaning up I walked up to the mining museum only to discover it closed at 5:00 and it was 6:00 so I walked down to the Mexican Restaurant I saw on my way in to town and it was well worth the walk!
Talked to good friend Ed Stites and found that he and his wife, Marie, will be in Vegas starting tomorrow night. I'm riding to Henderson and the hotel I'm staying at has a free shuttle to the Strip so we're going to try to hook up. Could be "Hangover III" in the making...just kidding, Pat.
Miles today = 245
Total miles = 812
Weather = Windy, dusty 70-80 degrees
Tomorrow = Henderson, Nv
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