Average Miles: 9.77
Max Speed: 28.87
Total Miles: 1,754
A rather long (10.79 miles) but fairly easy climb out of Carlin to Emigrant Pass. The Humboldt River, and the railroad, go around the mountain, and I'll bet the emigrants did as well. River may flow through a narrow canyon making interstate construction impossible without endangering the river and its canyon though. Battle Mountain gets its name from the more or less continuous skirmishes and battles in the area between the Paiute & Shoshone people and settlers, miners & emigrants passing through.
On the climb out of Carlin - there could be 10,000 comancheros behind that ridge and you'd never know it.
About 2/3 way to the pass, looking back east toward Carlin
Just one more pass tomorrow, then nothing until the Sierras
Road surface continues to be the most significant factor for the quality of the ride. Older sections of the hiway are concrete and in addition to the parallel, continuous rumble strip there are these "rumble patches" that span the entire shoulder so they can't be avoided. Too much traffic to ride in the traffic lane so it's over one of these every 17.6 yards - I counted them, twice, right at 100 per mile. Unlike the parallel strip these are more like wash boards. The troughs collect debris so present major flat tire risks plus the effects of the vibrations on the rig and in my head.
We're rejoining the river valley - oasis in the distance
Somewhere along here a car passed then pulled over and stopped. Driver got out and went into back seat and just as I got there he emerged with an ice cold bottle of water which he handed off to me with a huge grin. It was a Mexican couple, I would guess at least in their 70s. I thanked him in both languages - he just kept grinning and drove off.
River valley very wide here - Boulder Valley - this is the south rim
And that's the north
Probably too far away for you to see well - looked like thousands of steers
Six miles to Battle Mountain
One mile to Battle Mountain - walked into town
See that little wire? That's what caused the flat and has also caused the previous three - wire from exploded truck tires
Heading for Winnemucca tomorrow. Only 3 or 4 more days on the Nevada interstate.
What has always intrigued me about Battle Mountain is the huge "BM" painted on the mountain. Makes me think that sometime in the prehistoric past some huge giant came by and took a dump right there which has since hardened to rock. Kind of makes me think of mountains in a whole different way. But then, maybe I'm just full of crap.
ReplyDeleteYou are Chuck. I can't believe you didn't already know that.
ReplyDeleteSo easy to leave an 18-inch wide path 'unrumbled' through those strips for bikers. Alas, the world thinks only about the god automobile.
ReplyDeleteConsidering the venue, my thought when the guy pulled over would have been he's reaching into the backseat for a firearm. My faith in humanity has been elevated.
Ride on!
Day 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous ride!
How about some beef jerky for endurance - there might be a fancy grocery in the Lake Tahoe area offering something that looks reasonably edible-
Take a rest! See you soon...
Marianne
Yet another trail fairy, it's nice to know they're out there. Bummer about the rumble strips and all the debris. Hey, did you have a light on your rig when you were going through the tunnel? One more pass and then a bit of a rest - take it slow. Ann
ReplyDeleteLooking for jerked ostrich? Why don't you rig a magnet ahead of your front tire? Could you use that foam tire inflator and leak repair stuff? Find a couple curlers to go ahead of you with their brooms. Chuck, I haven't seen you for so long I have no idea what you're full of.
ReplyDelete