Colorado Trip - "The Loneliest Road in America"

When I was planning this trip back to Colorado for our annual "Reunion Run" with Robert, Joe, Gerald and Walter I wanted to go a different way. I'd gone east on 10, 40 (66), and 70 and I'd driven back on 80. One road I hadn't driven was highway 50, called "The Loneliest Road in America" through Nevada. I took 99 to 80 until Fernley, Nevada and that's where I picked up 50. I really enjoyed the drive. Of course I'm Blessed to have a good vehicle. I wouldn't want to try it otherwise.  

The first town after Fernley is Fallon. There is a naval air station there where a lot of our planes and some of our squadron used to go on temporary duty. I never had to go. I stopped to take a picture of the A-7 on display entering town and then stopped when I found a used book store. I can never pass one up. 

The drive followed the Pony Express Trail and there were ruins of several former Pony Express stations. 

The next day I drove to Great Basin National Park. After stopping at the visitors center for information and to get my passport stamped I drove the Wheeler's Peak scenic drive that climbed to about 10,000 feet. When I got to the top of the road I set out on foot and hiked to the Bristlecone Pine Grove. It was amazing seeing trees still living that were thousands of years old. The hike with a short side hike to an alpine lake on the way back was around 4 miles round trip but the fact that the entire hike was above 10,000 feet made it seem longer. It was a beautiful day for the hike. 

From there I drove to Green River, Utah. I was once again reminded how beautiful the drive on I 70 is through western Utah. Had I not posted pictures from the beautiful overlooks in a previous blog I would have been much later finishing the drive. The worst part of the day was being reminded what a sad town Green River, Utah is.