Day 7 - Las Vegas, NV to Bridgeport, CA

Neither Walt nor I slept very well last night. We got up about 5:30 this morning had a little breakfast and headed out to Area 51 and the Extraterrestrial Highway. We expected the ride through this part of Nevada would be long and hard. It wasn't. The weather was absolutely perfect. Warm when we were stopped but pleasantly cool while we were riding. There is a special kind of beauty that can exist out in this dry place. I was really surprised when out in the middle of nowhere there was a lake and ranch land with green pastures.

When we got out onto the Extraterrestrial Highway we only encountered a handful of cars. When we stopped for a break or to take a picture it was VERY quiet. Near the end of the ET segment we ran though many swarms of bugs. We got pelted by them. You can see what they did to the bikes and you can guess what our windshields looked like. When they hit our legs and arms it felt like being hit by small rocks. When they hit our helmets it makes a loud crack.

One thing similar between Nevada and Alaska.... just because you can find a place on the map with a name it doesn't mean you'll find anything there. It is important to get gas when you find it. The next gas could be one hundred miles away. Some of the little places named on the map only indicate a ranch is (or was) there.

We got into Tonopah a little after noon. This was supposed to be our stop for the night. Since it was early and we're on the final leg to getting home we decided to push on to Bridgeport which is on the eastern side of the Sierras. Our route took us past Mono Lake which is a very pretty turquoise color from a distance.

Tomorrow we cross over Sonora Pass and down through Twain Harte and will be wrapping up our trip.