Day 7 from Lake Tahoe to Jackson
This is our longest day on the bike 764klms (475 miles)
We ride past Lake Tahoe which glistens in the morning sun and head up over the mountains and ride thru Carson City which is the capital of Nevada, it still has old world charm from the 1800 with some of the old buildings still standing. We then went back in time to Virginia City what a magnificent town, all the older buildings are still standing and I really thought that “Calamity Jane” would ride her horse by; we really are in the cowboy towns which we see on the TV. We only stopped a short while but it was wonderful. The road after Virginia City to Reno was just magical, smooth hot mix bitumen with continuous sweepers that descended down the mountain and because we left early we beat all the RVs and tourists.
We had a different taste sensation at a McDonalds at Winnemucca; all things are not as we know it - but it served us until our destination. As we set out through the great desert of Nevada the four lane highway are well maintained and straight for miles and miles, I even got excited when there was a curve and it is noticeable how polite the drivers around us are. The mountains still have a little snow on the peaks, the scenery of the rock formations is very spectacular as we got further into the desert the heat of the day is getting warmer, and we stop for some water and refreshments at a town called Wells.
Taking a left turn off the highway onto a secondary road we head for Jackpot a small settlement near the Idaho border. We are booked into the Casino called Cactus Pete’s and Alan tells us that the people from Idaho come to Cactus Pete’s to gamble as it is forbidden in Idaho - also something about rednecks and potatoes??
We arrive at 3.30pm but we have lost an hour as it now Central time. Had a smorgasbord dinner of crab, oysters, fish salad etc, etc (in the desert - yeah I know), and a couple bottles of Californian chardonnay at $7.00 a bottle which was excellent.
Tomorrow we spend a couple of hours in Idaho and then cross into Wyoming to spend time with Kristy on her birthday.
We can understand how people come back time and time again – it is a diverse and beautiful country. Or maybe it’s our guide
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