Set of in the freezing cold looking for some breakfast. Started to walk up Austin's main street. Most of the shops were closed or should I say derelict. Were going to go to the Toiyabe for breakfast (highly recommended on Trip advisor). Gave up and retreated to the International Cafe and bar. Got talking to the owner, he has owned it for the past 9 years and is in the process of refurbishing it one room at a time. It has 24 rooms. So, sometime soon it will be back to what we can remember it was in 1980!. He also said it was the first time in 3 years that snow had fallen.
Now for our motel. It turned out to be the only motel in town that allows pets to stay. By the sound of things early in the morning we had two small dogs living next door (they pined when ever their owners left their unit -which was from 6:30 am on-wards. The motel advertises itself as a quaint motel. I would sell it as basic.
Around 9:30 we left Austin and headed for Ely (pronounced EE ly), First stop was another petroglyph site - Hickison Petroglyph. Went for a walk (in some snow). Regan found a number of deer or elk footprints in the snow. Was a good 15 minute walk and very informative.
Hit the road again, heading to Eureka. Well sad to say Eureka was closed. One couldn't help but get the impression that it like Austin was dying, which is really sad.
Eureka Opera House circa 1870's.
Stopped for lunch, nothing to write home about. However, forgot to get my highway 50 passport stamped ( a little about this later).
Then it was on to Ely and the Jail House motel and casino. Ely, is another mining town, this time based on copper extraction. Our motel is very nice. Comfortable and warm. The WiFi is no existent.
Th motel is located in the middle of old Ely, with a really old casino across the road. Went for a walk to try and find the eco- drug store. You guessed it. It was closed (but only for the day). We were looking for a "t-shirt" that said "I survived driving the Loneliest Highway". Saw them back in Eureka, but only as sweatshirts. Once again we drew a blank.
Went out and got Mexican. Was nice but had one wee problem - 4 meals and 3 forks.
Should mention our waiter in Austin. He was friendly and well informed. He first thought we poms, then Aussies, so finally we told him. Turns out he has a relative or two living in Christchurch. I mean distant relative. He had lived in Austin for about 20 years. Our motel check-in person 44 years. Anyway he made eating at the International pleasant and enjoyable.
So that's all she said folks. Hit the hay early.
The Official Hwy 50 Survival Guide
Toursim Nevada provides this passport. In July 1986, Life Magazine described Nevada's highway 50 which runs from Ely to Fernley as the "Loneliest Road in America". The document covers a brief history of the towns along the highway; Carson City, Fernley, Fallon, Austin, Eureka, Ely and Baker. You are meant to have your passport stamped at each town. Then post it in and get a certificate to say "you survived Highway 50". I managed to get 3 stamps. Bugger!
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