America's Loneliest Road today. I played leapfrog with a Harley group all day -- we all started at the Reno Hilton and took off for Hwy 50 at the same time. They passed me when I stopped for photos, then I passed them later during their side-of-the-road smoke break. By late morning, we were waving and smiling at each other; by afternoon we were chatting at gas stops (it's not like there's a wide range of gas station options along Highway 50). At one point, one of the guys told me where they were staying in Ely and invited me to have a drink with them. When I rode past the hotel that evening, something in my gut told me to keep looking. I ended up staying in a different hotel...they never really came across as being overly sketchy or intimidating, but I've learned to trust my instincts when traveling alone.

One of the Harley guys riding by.

Hwy 50 was fun, though hardly the loneliest road I've been on in America. Hell, it wasn't the loneliest road I've been on in Nevada. It was still beautiful, of course: miles and miles of nothingness, the desert spread out in all directions. The landscape was very green -- greener than I've ever seen Nevada. I love the desert in bloom; the flowers look like fireworks.

Hwy 50 between Fallon and Austin.

Hwy 50 between Fallon and Austin.

I had lunch at the International Hotel in Austin, which, built in 1859, is the oldest hotel in Nevada. A few good ol' boys loitering outside wanted to chat with me about my bike ("you ride that here all by yourself?" I didn't think my usual retort of "nah, I pushed it most of the way" would fly...).

International Hotel/Cafe, Austin, NV

Historical marker at the International Hotel.

I was pleasantly surprised by the tiny town of Eureka, between Austin and Ely. I'd originally just stopped for gas, but the town was inviting and I wandered around on foot for a little while. The Eureka Museum, behind the gas station, was especially interesting -- for a teensy town museum, it was really nicely laid-out with good exhibits and a friendly docent.

Eureka Museum

I'm not sure why they only post these Hwy 50 signs in decidedly un-lonely towns

325 miles today; 583 miles total.

Next Day --> May 30: Ely, NV - Rock Springs, WY