[PRCo] O~T: Loneliest Highway

[Jim Holland]

MisNomer for that highway - more people than expected travel it.    
Speed Limit is 65 or 70 most of the way even though only just 2 
lanes.     Between Reno and Austin is rather uninteresting but there is 
an Alternate 50 just before Austin that is like another world.     NV is 
like High Desert - Valleys Themselves between mountain ranges are 4,000 
to 6,000 feet high.     Mtn ranges run north to south  (or vice-versa)  
and road is essentially east to west.     Sparse vegetation but having 
such a wide angle view of the valley from the crest of a mountain is 
Absolutely Breath Taking.     Ely lies in beautiful valley that is 
essentially flat and level for 90-miles north to I-80~!~!     Southwest 
of Ely are beautiful virgin forests whereas north of there it is much 
more plain.     Dipping into the teens at night now in Ely; days if 
sunny are still in the 70s and 80s.     GREAT   RR  Museum there with 
some real potential.     Stopped and talked to some of the members there 
and they made one feel as though we had known each other since childhood 
and were now renewing acquaintances.     Much coal in the area - Utah 
and so on - and LA-LA-LAnd had a feeler out for 20-years to have a coal 
fired Electric Utility plant built near Ely but never followed 
through.     Now interests in Vegas are thinking along the same lines  
--  RR tracks in the valley to UP / SP near I-80 would be rebuilt  (RR 
Museum Owns this)  and would be used to whoever hauls in the coal with 
the stipulation that the museum have operational rights!!     Real 
potential but much talk against coal because of Global Warming.     Have 
spent a week there exploring the area and would dearly love to live 
except, while the isolation is a strong attraction  (esp in the world of 
today,)  it is really just a little too isolated  --  way to far to go 
to get to anywhere else.
.
If you want to see a Really Lonely Highway, then take 50 east of Ely 
into Utah  --  line poles are non-existent but the views, vistas, and 
ride are absolutely exhilarating!     As you crest one mountain peak you 
see the next and the roller coaster ride upon which you shall embark  
---  On A Clear Day Rise and Look Around You  --  would be good to hear 
Beautiful BarBra Belt that one out!!     You had mentioned taking Marie 
down into Bryce  --  exceptionally beautiful  --  and if you did you 
might have missed 50 east of Ely depending upon the route you took.
.
I have taken Many A Backroad here in CA and the west in general  (good 
TV program here in SF is Kron-4's  Bay-Area Backroads which goes well 
beyond Bay Area.)     I know spots where one could feel as though he was 
the first to set eyes on the area  --  and traffic levels could be used 
as evidence for such a claim.     I like areas to which others are not 
attracted because of the peace and quiet and serenity they offer.     I 
know a spot in OR along a beautiful lake with snow tipped peaks in 
summer that is truly exceptional.     Although a state maintained 
campground is on the lake, it totally lacks facilities except for a 
place to park.     Very little activity and even less traffic.
.
Portland OR area nice because it is Almost Possible To See The Dotted 
Line when you pass from City to Suburb and Suburb to Country  --  here 
in Megalopolis you never run out of concrete so All The Dotted Lines are 
covered Oop!!!     (Such Dotted Lines are Tourist Attractions in places 
like Edmonton and Calgary!!))    The end of the line MAX terminal in 
Gresham is often framed by Mt. Hood  --  Always Snow Peaked  --  and 
probably 50-miles off yet.     Pure, beautiful country just beyond 
Gresham.     Portland neighborhoods are quiet and peaceful as opposed to 
SF where busy busy is the norm at ALL hours of the day and night.     
West of Hillsboro - udder end of  MAX  --  is Pure Open Country and the 
coast range of mountains.     Absolutely gorgeous up here.
.
The Columbia River Gorge is absolutely unbelievable No Matter How Many 
Times I travel it  --  always look for new and different locations along 
the way and different backroads to explore.     Mt.St.Helen's, who 
popped her cork a couple decades ago, didn't affect the Gorge, at least 
not within about 50-miles  --  all her ash blew east and covered Idaho 
and Montana~!~!




Fred Schneider wrote:
> This one will be a lot more difficult. Reno you say? Well, Herb, 
> Nevada actually contributed to the breakup. She absolutely loathed the 
> drive across U. S. 50 from Lake Tahoe to Carson City to Fallon, 
> Austin, Eureka and Ely. I thought the loneliest highway in the U. S. 
> was actually pretty ... I would actually drive that road again. It is 
> probably the shortest route from San Francisco to Denver (U. S. 50 and 
> then I-70) but it is unused because Americans believe that only 
> Interstate highways are suitable for going anywhere.
>
> I still like the blue highways.