Day 12 - Ely to Fallon, Nevada

Day 12 – Sept 27th , 2005

Ely, Nevada to Fallon

I can’t start today off without sharing with you another “coincidence”. If you remember, I was headed off for dinner last night to the Jailhouse for a steak dinner. I almost talked myself out of going but am very happy that I didn’t. You are literally put into a cell block and the door can be completely closed (though I hope not locked). I was feeling truly isolated. Across the corridor, in a double cell-block, sat a couple and three other gentlemen. They appeared to be having a lot of fun together which only served to make me feel more alone. I ordered a glass of wine, opened up my journal and got out my pen to flesh out some of the notes I had made at fuel stops along the way. The picture here is whom I thought I was facing dinner with. Without meaning to – no – that’s not true, I started listening in to the conversation across the way. Hey! They’re talking about motorcycling! I wonder if they’re here on bikes? I kept telling myself to get up, go across and introduce myself – I have a few stories I’m sure they may find of interest too. But basically, in that type of setting I’m actually pretty shy though most people don’t see that side of me generally. I finally got up the nerve to make the approach and they looked pretty surprised when I stepped into their cell. I said – “Sounds to me like we have something in common”. “Oh, what’s that?” “A love of motorcycling”. We got chatting and telling stories and they asked if I were here on my own. When I said yes, they said – “Well, bring your wine on over here and join us”. I said I would be delighted to and packed up my wine, water, placemat, utensils, journal, purse and jacket and sat down with them. The waitress when she came by with my salad thought I had “flown the coop” and we all introduced ourselves. Now here is where it gets really interesting. The couple, as it turns out own and operate a motorcycle dealership in southern California – a Honda dealership no less. He has been selling Hondas for 30 years which is the same amount of time I have been riding a Honda. One of the other fellows is a realtor – I have been a realtor for 20 years. A delightful man, a little older than the rest of the group has had both surgery and radiation for cancer which follows the same treatment that my husband has come through. Lastly, and most “coincidentally” – the fourth gentlemen is not only a hospice volunteer but has served as president of the board of directors for a hospice in Southern California. Do you think we all had a few things we could share in common? Before dinner was finished, I felt like we had known each other for years. After dinner they said “We’re going to the Casino across the street to play some Blackjack – come join us”. I said I would but I was just waiting for my dinner cheque to arrive. Craig, (from the Honda shop) said “Don’t bother waiting – It’s already paid for”. He said “We have an understanding where one of us pays for dinner each night and tonight’s my turn”. I was so surprised and wanted to argue but thought it would be churlish so I thanked him and shook his hand instead. Thank you all – you really made my evening.

This morning when I went outside I had a surprise waiting. Sometime after I got back to the motel and went to bed there must have been one heck of a rainstorm. Paladin was actually sitting in the middle of a big puddle and of course everything was soaked. I had asked the managers when I checked in if I could park under the overhang near the office but they weren’t too keen on the idea. I asked if he had some rags I could wipe the bike down with and they kindly supplied me with these. Sometimes motorcyclists earn themselves a bad name by using the hotel/motel towels for this purpose. Believe me, it doesn’t earn any Brownie points. I got him all wiped down and loaded up but the sky wasn’t looking any too friendly and threatened another squall at any time. Now this could have been a lot worse – remember only the day before they had 27F – well add precipitation to that and the ground would have been all white. Yikes! Not my favourite riding by any stretch of the imagination.

I headed off down Hwy 50 under an angry, threatening sky which beneath all the Hwy Route signs reads “The loneliest highway in America”. They truly are not kidding – at every gas station they have T-shirts, bumper stickers, key chains and what have you emblazoned with “I survived the loneliest Hwy in America”. Here’s the good news. I was talking to Rod about my frustration with my iPod constantly freezing up and he had an idea that perhaps it was getting vibration and/or heat from being in the pocket of the bra on the gas tank. Today I slipped it into my jacket pocket and it played all day. Talk about a time I needed it most. Thank you my dear – you are brilliant as usual.

Going over some of the mountain summits was what you could call “refreshing”. You could see evidence of early snow in a few patches at higher elevations. Arrived into Fallon, Nevada in good time. 300 miles in only 4 hours and that includes 3 fuel stop and go’s. I made up some Nature’s Tea last night and all the plumbing is working just fine but I think next time I won’t drink the whole pot…

Once again, absolutely no sign of highway patrol but I thought that should I get pulled over I could make an attempt to allow me to pay whatever the fine might be into the hospice fundraiser. Hmmmm – would definitely depend on what kind of day they may be having.

Tonight, I have a lovely room at the Holiday Inn Express. With wireless internet. When I first came upstairs with the trolley cart loaded with all the gear from the bike I got to my door (on the third floor) and the key card wouldn’t work. It was quite a ways down the hall just to the elevator so I didn’t want to have to push that cart all the way back, but also, I was reluctant to just leave everything there in the hall outside the room. A dilemma. Finally I decided I had no choice and headed down the hall leaving everything there. One of the guests in a room a few doors down was sitting watching TV with his door wide open. I asked him if I could use his phone to call downstairs thus saving me that trip. “Of course, come in, help yourself”. I called down to the front desk and they said they would be up in a few minutes with a new card. We got chatting while I was waiting and it turned out this gentleman had just lost his wife this year to cancer. He also had had a wonderful experience with hospice and couldn’t say enough good things about them. It seems funny that when you are doing things like this that these experiences just seem to “find” you.

Downstairs, the hotel also has a hot tub, sauna and pool and I plan to go down and get myself warmed up. Got a little chilled today – the hot tub will feel marvellous!

I am thinking I will stop at a Honda shop in Reno as Paladin has been having several “quirky” starts that from past experience make me think, battery, starter or ignition. What do you think Robert – any clues?