So today we found ourselves about 2 days behind our original schedule which creates an issue of completing the ride on the full TAT route. As a result, we decided to make some miles today partially on slab and partially on TAT. The end result was a 432 mile day on the old girls! We ended up in Battle Mountain, NV after having ridden several off-slab sections.

To recap, we started out the day in Richfield, UT and headed West along mostly paved roads since the path we had gotten stuck on a few days ago was not an option.

Everyone miscalculated how cold it was and we ended up stopping to put on whatever extra clothes we had on the bikes. Most everyone had been using their cylinders and exhausts for handwarmers. We went by historic Cove Fort, just off of I-15 after first fuel stop.

Then on the Black Rock road and Crystal peak on the way to Baker, NV.


Crystal Peak, Ut

The road just after Crystal Peak has been seen on these boards before and illustrates the magnitude of the solitude of the area.



At the other end of this road, you find an unusual stretch of highway made of red blacktop. A nice change of pace from your basic black. Then a short stretch of two track led us to the Nevada border crossing. You have to open the gate yourself.



Then gas up in Baker, NV



AFter which we discovered that all eateries in Baker were closed today. I am sure the fellow said there was an eating establishment a couple miles down the road, but apparently we missed it and ended up at the next town - Ely, NV - about 60 miles away. Worth the wait was a great chinese buffet.



$60 for 7 hungry guys and the following fortune in my cookie:

"Need some adventure and enjoyment? Take a vacation!"

Maybe there is some truth in those things!

This was followed by a fairly long stretch "on the slab"



which went over several passes and great open expanses of nothingness. We stopped for a stretch break after Vinnie confessed to nearly falling asleep after digesting all of that MSG



Dman (shown laying on the ground) said he was changing his spark plug, but we suspect he may have caught some shuteye while he was down there.
After the stretch is was back on the blacktop over a couple more passes,



then back on a stretch of non-paved TAT from that road over to Eureka, NV.



Three of the riders took the highway and three (Vinnie, Mako and Joe) took to the trails and had to open a couple of gates blocking the TAT route, and getting a really neat ride into Eureka.

It was getting late, around 4:00 p.m. and there was a decision to be made. Stay in Eureka, Drive the highway to Battle Mountain, or drive the highway to the Cortez Mine cutoff and take the back roads into Battle mountain. Vinnie, Mako, Joe and Anthony chose the latter and prepared at the turnoff for the worst - a possible after dark ride or a stay in the desert . . .



On the way in, the roads are wide and covered with marbles - at least that's what it feels like as you ride on them. The old bikes were able to make good time, 50+ mph (OK - you can stop laughing now!) at least until Mako nearly got run over by a bolting Antelope! What a sight. Too fast for a picture alas...

We did make it into the Cortez mine which is really huge, but not to picturesque, so we found this instead.



Not sure what it is, but it may be either a mining apparatus or a primitive outhouse.

The TAT road near the mine operations was closed due to active mining, but we located another road just down the road a bit that promised 37 miles of dirt. The promise was fulfilled and included about 4 water crossings for good measure. It was hard to see much detail with all the dust.



As you can see, it was nearing darkness, and one of our riders had no working headlight. Time was of the essence to get into Eureka before nightfall. The crew was successful and we were able to get checked into our hotel before the bikes turned into pumpkins.

Tomorrow we hope to be able to make Lakeview, Oregon and get back on the TAT track. More when we get it.