Day 7 on the Lincoln Highway - July 20th

Day 7 - July 20th

Day 7 - July 20th
Day 7 started in downtown Ely which is located on Route 50. Knowing that my trip on Route 50 was going to be a hot one, I decided to get on the road by 6:30. In 1986 Life Magazine stated that this road was “The Loneliest Road” because there were no attractions or points of interest to be found on the road from Ely to Fernely Nevada. Taking advantage of the article, the tourism board of Nevada now has a Loneliest Road Passport for the travelers. You stop in each town for a stamp in the book. When you have all the stamps (I got them all) you mail the stamp sheet in and receive an "I Survived the Loneliest Road Certificate" from the State of Nevada. COOL

The Nevada Hotel treats bikers like royal guest and gives them preferred parking right in front of the hotel. Knowing the bike was secure there I decided to load up the night before so I did not spend my morning time packing.

On the road at 6:30, the only thing I needed to do was get fuel which was right down the road from the hotel. While at the station I met a guy named Roy from Winnipeg and he was doing the same ride and was ready to go. So after a short discussion we decided it would be wise to ride out together.

Once on the road Rt50 out of Ely climbs into the mountains with temperatures in the low 40’s. As we moved across 50 the temp rose as the day went buy. By the end of the ride which was over 300 miles the temp was well over 100 degrees.
The Lincoln Highway was not marked to well but it was not too difficult to follow either. About 19 miles out of Austin I saw my first Lincoln Highway Marker on the side of the road. The hills going down into Austin were steep with many switch backs. Caution was the word of the day on these turns. Back in the day, owners of Ford Model T’s had to go up these hills backwards because the cars did not have fuel pumps to provide fuel to the engine. Instead they used a gravity feed system that had the gas tank higher than the carburetor. Because the hills were so steep, the gas tank was actually lower than the carbs. Fuel could not go up so backwards was the only way they would run on these hills.

The highlights’ of the day, besides the superb scenery were the shoe tree and Middle Gate Station. The shoe tree is an old tree in the middle of the empty stretch and for some reason people started throwing shoes up into the limbs. There are piles of shows scattered all around the base of the tree. It is an amazing sight to say the least. Middle Gate Station was built in 1869 and was a stage coach stop and was part of the Pony Express. Inside people write their names on dollar bills and staple them to the ceiling. Not certain why this started but there is not a spot to be found.

The day ended in Reno Nevada with a stay in the Circus Circus Casino. The rooms are cheap and I had a good dinner for my birthday.

The Lonliest Road is a must do ride. The scenery was superb and there were plenty of interesting sites to be found along the way.


See you tomorrow as I finish up the Lincoln Highway in San Francisco.

CH

Day 6 On the Lincoln Highway / July 19th

Day 6 – July 19th, 2010
Salt Lake City Utah to Ely Nevada

Figuring the day would be a hot one with temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees I decided to get on the road by 6:30AM. It is a good thing I did this because it took me over one hour to escape from Salt Lake City due to the morning rush hour. I was using the 1913 LH alignment which took me through some pretty busy areas. Once I was moving the trip was quite rewarding because it started with a trip around the Southern tip of the Great Salt Lake. The trip was worth it just to see the lake. The section between Magna and Lake Point offer superb views.


Just after 138 merged back on to I80the trip over the flats started. The trip over the flats seemed to go on forever because it is quite far to tell you the truth. They eventually brought you to the last city in Utah and the first city in Nevada and the line is easy to see… poor and then wealthy. Wendover is a nice town that features a 60 foot waving cowboy named Wendover Will.

On a side note... while at Wendover I met a nice older gentleman who was wearing his Korean War Veteran hat. I politely shook his hand and thanked him for his service. He replied thanks and that he does not get this too much which in my view in unfortunate.

I asked him if he has been to Wash. DC to see the Korean War Memorial and his face went from happy to sad. He replied that with what is happening in DC right now that he has no reason to go there. He also added that he was not happy with the memorial because it is only representing the Army and no other branch. He explained that he was a first gunners mate on the USS Iowa during Korea and that over 4000 enlisted Navy men and women gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country and that they are not represented on the memorial.

Good point that one cannot argue.


Back on the Lincoln Highway.... Once through Wendover I went North on 93A to Ely. This was a trip of over 100 miles with almost NO services available anywhere. It is essential to have proper attire, equipment and water when going through these areas. No problems for me. I am spending the night in the historic Nevada Hotel in Ely Nevada.

The Nevada is a classic hotel from the 1920’s and is very nice with rooms under 40.00 and a discount for bikers. Seeing all of the motorcycles parked directly in front of the hotel is quite a site. They certainly have targeted a market and seem to be doing quite well. While at the Nevada a few friends from my online forum "The Road King Riders" www.roadkingriders.com Visited me at the Hotel Nevada. They brought me the Road King Riders Flag. I will carry the flto another member somewhere else in the USA. The flag (each person who holds it gets to sign it), the map that shows the flags travels and the log book are now in my possession.

The Road King Riders have been doing this since 2006. COOL STUFF.




Day 7 takes me to Route 50 which is known as “The Loneliest Road. It runs between Ely and Reno if you take the original LH route and Carson City if you take a later alignment. Since the heat will be above 100 degrees I packed the bike the night before so I can get on the road before 6:30. Gotta stay cool.

That’s it until tomorrow.

Day 5 on the Lincoln Highway

Day 5
I forgot to mention that on Day four I met some interesting travelers on some alternative methods of transportation. The first couple were driving a 1923(I think) Ford Model T Sportster. The Ford Sportster was an answer the Stutz Bearcat. They were impressed that I knew what it was and that it was similar to the Bearcat. That’s me… the man full of useless information. It was a sweet little coup with no roof and barely any body parts. The windshields, yes there were two were round pieces of glass to shield the occupants from the wind generated when you would reach a top speed of 35 mph. The couple rode from Michigan to Colorado and were on their way back. All back roads. If it rained, they put on their rain suits. The guy driving wore a Charlie Chaplin type bowler hat with round spec glasses. The second group I met in Medicine Bow Wyoming outside of the Virginian Hotel. Their method of transportation… Vespa Scooters. They were mostly 200 to 250 CC in size although one guy had a 300 CC engine that he “hopped up” a bit with some modifications. He had the hot rod in the group. They were very friendly and were happy to pose for a few pictures. They were from Colorado and were heading to the Mount Rushmore area.

The problem when traveling on old back roads in rural areas is finding fuel that is appropriate. Most of the stations had 87 with ethanol. I ended up having to use some plain 87 and my bike was not too happy about it at all. This morning as I left Rawlings Wyoming I fuel up with 93 and the Road Glide was happy once again. While at the gas station a guy there had one of the most gorgeous Blue grey American Staffordshire that I have ever seen. An Am Staff is often called a Pit Bull if that helps you visualize the type of dog that it was. This dog had incredible bone density and such incredible construction and a huge head. Once on the road it seemed that the music on the radio was perfect for traveling. Things started up with some classic Waylon Jennings and then some Bob Seeger. It set the mood just right while cruising across the open ranges of Dick Cheney Country.

Wyoming’s Eastern side pasture like with large flat areas with hills scattered about. As you move west, it changed drastically and the hills became some of the prettiest rock formations that you will ever see. Once you reach Point of Rocks and Green Valley it seemed like every turn brought a brand new ready for Hollywood vista. The Green Valley portion follows the Green River as it twist and turns its way through the area. Very nice scenery to say the least.

Fort Bridger Wyoming had the coolest Lincoln Highway Era motel called the Black and Orange Cabins. These are tiny little cabins with an overhand to park your car under. Super Cool. They are no longer in use but are now part of a historical display that is preserving the Lincoln Highway era. The last town in Wyoming is Evanston. I expected a small little town but this place was nice sized and they had all of the Lincoln Highway sections clearly marked and are using it to promote tourism to their town. Very smart. They had a small set of cabins liked the Black and Orange cabins that they are restoring. They were called the Sunset Cabins. They had a very Mexican looking flair to them. They will be very nice when complete. The ride from Wyoming to Utah took you from the high hills to the Salt Flats. From nice riding weather to 100 degree temps rather quickly. When doing this sort of riding proper hydration is essential.
Just past the travelers paradise “Little America” the Lincoln Highway and Route 30 parted ways. Route 30 went North West while the Lincoln continued on in a Southwestern direction.

Most people do not realize that today’s highways were once simple roads and before that were trails used by settlers and natives and animals. The Lincoln Highway in this area has been replaced in large segments by Interstate 80. There are original alignments out there but they are very rough dirt roads that only the brave in proper vehicles would dare. Many of the old segments are on private land and require permission.

Days Three and Four

Days Three and Four

I have taken the liberty to combine days three and four due to the fact that much of Nebraska and Wyoming are riding without too much to see. Combine this with 95 degree plus weather and it becomes all about getting to the destination.

Day three was pretty much uneventful as I picked up the LH by Omaha Nebraska and made my way across the corn husker state. Last year I rode a north western route across Nebraska through the sand trail so there was mainly grass and cattle. This year’s route had corn written all over it.

The Lincoln Highway in Wyoming is mainly cover by I80. There are plenty of old alignments but the roads are not paved and there is sand everywhere. Not the type of road to take an 800 pound bagger on. The landscape in Wyoming is as pretty as it gets. Plenty of wide open range. Montana is Big Sky country but I can’t see it being any better than Wyoming. The great part was that the increase in elevation brought temps down to a bearable level.
The two highlights of Day four were the Virginian Hotel and the Lincoln Monument. The Virginian is a restored turn of the Century Hotel in Medicine Bow, Wyoming. I planned on staying there but something about the place gave me the creeps so I decided to stay in Rawlings. The place was fine but I felt like I was at the hotel in the movie “The Shining”. Still very cool.

The Lincoln monument is unique as in it is the only true monument to Abe Lincoln on the old road that bears his name. Unfortunately I do not have a picture until later to share. This thing is GIGNATIC to say the least. It was originally located on the highest point of the LH but was moved in 1969 due to I80

Day 2 - On The Lincoln Highway With Chris Hutter

July 15th / Day 2

Bright and early I pulled out of Lena to continue my trip West on Iowa Rt. 20. Only minutes outside of Galena, IL, I drove past the homestead of Civil War General and US President U.S. Grant. A very nice homestead indeed! Route 2o took me across the Mississippi river into Iowa also right through Dubuque IA. As I said yesterday the ride is about all of the senses and as I came down the hill leading to the bridge to cross the Mississippi in the air was the scent of cut wood emanating from a saw mill of some type. It is hard to explain but it makes the ride.

I have gone through Northern Illinois three times and I have to say it is some of the prettiest country that you will ever see. Very rural, and hilly. A must ride for any biker. Last year’s ride on Old 30 was even better than this one.

Today’s trip took me to Dyersville Iowa and Clear Lake Iowa. Dyersville is the home of the Field of Dreams. This is a beautiful old school baseball field that is kept in meticulous condition. Best of all it is open for anyone to play some baseball for free. My GPS took me on a very old style dirt farm road, to get there. But the payoff was worth it because as I came around a turn with corn up to my eyes I was able to see the lights signaling that the field was quite near. As I came around the final turn it was a sight to behold if you love baseball. This field could be the home base of the Church of baseball. True to the movie there was no fence… only corn. I kept looking for Shoeless Joe.




The next stop of the day took me North to Clear Lake Iowa. This town is best known for being the home of The Surf Ballroom. It was in the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper played their final concert in February of 1959. Throughout Rock and Roll this day is known as the day the music died. This term of course immortalized in the song by American Pie by Don McClean.


The Surf is like taking a step back in time. It is an incredible venue with a gorgeous stage, a huge wooden dance hall and all sorts of great images from the past. You can see that the current owner cares because the condition of the building, inside and out is superb for a very old building. If you love Rock and Roll history the Surf is a must for you. Each year on the weekend of Buddy Holly’s untimely death the Surf Ballroom host a Day the Music Day concert. To this day the Surf is known for hosting Rock & Roll Concerts and Big Bands for famous dance parties. The Town of Clear Lake is gorgeous and almost resort like. Sorry no pics of the Surf for they are on my digital camera and I do not have the correct cable to transfer them to my laptop. Bummer. Maybe I will stop and buy a cheap one.



For my biker friends… I have to say the new 210 Road Glide with the lowers and the 14 inch Windvest Shield is superb. The bike cruise without effort at highway speeds with plenty of power no real wheel wobble that the old framed baggers are known for. As for the Windvest shield… I only took one bug hit all day. Superb. What is most impressive is that the handling of the bike is so stable when trucks pass you from either direction. The fixed fairing makes a huge difference. The final bit is that I purchased and am using an Airhawk Seat Cushion. If you are touring these things are indispensable.


I spent the night at the Blue Lake KOA in Onawa . I have included a great picture of my camp on the lake with the sun setting.

Day One - July 14th.

As I stated in an earlier blog entry, today was going to be mostly what I would call a getaway day. My main goal was to make my way past Chicago which I was able to accomplish. The biggest drawback to a day like this is that you are doing some heavy highway riding. The only thing worse than highway traffic is riding in CHICAGO highway traffic. Riding highways just does not offer too much to a biker other than getting miles out of the way

Earlier in the day while stopping for fuel in Indiana I met another biker also named Chris. He is from Oregon and his goal was to ride the perimeter of the USA. He has been on the road since early May. I asked him what he does that allows hi the time and he smiled and told me that he is a computer graphic touch up artist and that he was laid off. With a wink and a smile he stated he was out looking for a new job.

Once I moved past Chicago I took 294 North with my goal being to get to Old Route 20, the U.S.Grant Memorial Highway. US 20 will take me into Iowa right by Dyersville (Field of Dreams) and then North to Clear Lake to the Surf Ball Room. The Surf Ball Room? Why the Surf Ball Room? If you are a lover of music and a bit of a historian you will know its significance you know... if not you will need to read tomorrow’s blog. :) Sorry.

After an entire day on the super slab and now North West of Chicago I put the bike on an old two lane black top (RT 20) heading West to Lena Illinois. Lena was a Stage Coach town back in the day and is now a small farm town with a population of 2900. SAAAAAAAALUUUUUTE! Ple4ase excuse my Hee Haw Reference. It seemed fitting.

Check out the Car Hop here in Lena

The great thing about riding old roads is the overall experience. The best description I can give you is that it is "SMELL-A-VISION" The sites slow down, the sounds become more noticeable, the temperatures change when you go through shaded areas or down through a small dip. Perhaps the best part would be the fragrance of the road. They are always changing as you make your way through various areas. It provides an experience is hard to explain but incredible to experience.

That's it for tonight. Tomorrow I will end up in Omaha Nebraska where I will once again meet up with the Lincoln Highway.

More tomorrow from the Lincoln Highway and Beyond.

Insta-Mapper GPS Tracker

As you can see... my GPS tracker by Insta-Mapper is online and working. Each day my cell phone will transmit my position as I make my way out West. Areas that have no cell reception will upload once I reach an area that does have coverage available.

The GPS Tracker is a free program that utilizes Google Maps. This is a simple program that you download onto your phone. The program can be set to transmit your position at set periods of time. You run the application whenever you choose to run it and it has nothing to do with any GPS services offered through the cellular carrier.

Nice program and best of all.... FREE