So it took awhile getting started this morning. Sure enough I-15 continues bite. I had to stop several times in stop and go traffic on a 5 lane interstate highway. Salt Lake City is a very beautiful city but moves too fast for my tastes. I would've gotten some pictures as I left the city, but I was dodging thunderstorms on my departure. Saw some lightening off in the distance, lots of rain, and lots of traffic. The whole horizon looked ominous, I figured I'd be dodging lightening bolts all day long.
(That is where I came from. Doesn't look real bad, but hey, that's 60 miles behind me.)
Fortunately I started heading in the right direction and away from the rain. Thank goodness. With that, I took off the rain gloves and decided to entertain myself by snapping some shots...finally.
Being distracted with snapping pictures got my mind focused on riding and to just forget all about the weather. While it was barren and desolate, it sure was beautiful. Eventually rolled into Delta, Utah and filled up the tank. Next gas station...75 miles down the road. Next town...94 miles down the road.
The route into Ely was such a varying section of road. Starting from Delta (the last bastion of civilization) it opened up onto the desert proper. Nothing but far off ridges and shimmering illusions on the road. You can see so far but you can never quite make out what you're seeing until you get much closer.
There was a rather lake bed I came across that was off to my left. The heat shot up in waves from the ground and mixed with the atmosphere and it would mirror the mountain range. It was fascinating to see and just as much fun to let it mess with your mind.
Shortly after that, I was running right with the mountains and then up through a canyon of them twisting and winding around. Came out on top at Skull Rock Pass (awesome name) and a huge valley opened up below me.
Then once I neared the Nevada border a site I wasn't expecting. Snow capped mountains.
This area was spectacular and quite breathtaking. I found my self just looking around and staring. As I was moving at 70 mph, it felt like I was standing still due to the immense distances laid out in front of me.
In the distance I saw Dust devils swirling about. Sometimes there would be two or three very small ones moving across the ground. It's unfortunate I couldn't snag any shots of them.
I ended up taking a stop along side the road just before ascending another pass. There was a gas station/cafe back a few miles but I felt like going on. When I saw I had another 60 some miles to Ely, I figured I needed a break since I had been riding from Delta, some 100+ miles back.
(Looking back from whence I came).
This place was so serene. I'll attempt to describe it, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to to do it justice. First off the silence is incredible. Not a mechanized sound. I was so used to the constant traffic next to I-15 in SLC that I didn't understand that I wasn't hearing anything at all except the gentle wind that was blowing through the brush and the pines across the way.
Then straight out of a Hollywood film, a screech from a bird of prey (I kid you not) pierced the desert air. It was a very peaceful moment. The desert sang its siren song.
I rolled on after that break (after munching on some grapes and peach rings) and then I noticed my battery for my point-and-shoot camera had given up the ghost. It was a shame, there were a few things to capture. But to pass some time, I'd pick out a visible landmark on the road ahead and guess how many miles away it was. I was off several times. The furtherest distance I could see ahead was around 8 miles. Incredible.
So here I am in Ely, NV at the Ramada Copper Queen. Right outside my room is the "casino." By casino they mean an array of slot machines. Whoooo boy!
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