Today was another day of watching the mountains pass and hoping Ely was going to live up to my hopes. I was walking the downhill side of Little Antelope Summit when I spied a ceramic cup lying in the sand by the side of the road. I picked it up and shook the loose sand out of it and it didn’t look too bad: no chips or cracks and it wasn’t broken from the toss out the window. So I gave it to Valda for Mother’s Day. Was she thrilled 😉  I walked about two more miles and found another cup – different style, but in great shape. Either someone had some bad coffee that day and couldn’t wait to throw it out (cup and all), or those wacky Nevadans are starting another ritual in the same tradition as the shoe tree 🙂  Anyway, now we both have coffee cups!

Happy Birthday to our son-in-law Trace Rowe. I talked to him briefly on the phone and he was just getting ready to eat some cake. Must be nice :p

Happy Mothers Day to my Mother-in-law, Vivian and my daughter Syndi. Till the next time I have broadband…

Miles Covered: 20.5
Total Miles: 596.75
Money Found: $0.00
Total Found: $18.79

Miles Covered: 20.5
Total Miles: 576.25
Money Found: $0.25
Total Found: $18.79

We left Eureka, NV last Wednesday morning and started out for Ely, some 78 miles away. Eureka was a bit of a disappointment at first since we couldn’t find propane, but Valda dropped me off and proceeded to track down a propane distributor and get our tank topped off. The road into town, through town, and then out of town was 9 miles uphill. We got through Pinto Summit and then it was downhill all afternoon.

Personal to Barry & Carol M of Victoria, BC, Canada: Thanks for your donation to Gateway. It is much appreciated.

Miles Covered: 21.25
Total Miles: 555.75
Money Found: $0.00
Total Found: $18.54

We are in Eureka, NV – population around 600. Not much here, but they do have a casino, two gas stations, two small campgrounds and a post office. They actually have more than that, but it was a bit of a let down after looking forward to getting here for the last four days.

We are sitting in a Nevada Historical Marker pull off and as you can tell, I have broadband! 🙂 Valda said to get it quick before it gets dark in case the broadband goes away. I don’t think that’ll happen, but I know what she means. The trip from Austin to Eureka covered around 70 miles and I’m not sure we had cell service for half that trip. I’d like to get that guy in the TV commercials for Verizon who goes around with a phone to his ear saying “can you hear me now?” He could walk in front of me and every 15 feet I’d say to him “can you hear ME now???” Then I’d poke him in the ribs with my walking stick. 😈

I just walked till 2:30 today. We had to empty holding tanks, fill up with water and try and find it propane (which we didn’t). Now we have to go all the way to Ely (78 miles) on about a half tank. Hope doesn’t get cold.

To Mary Kate of Miami: I blog every night into my documents MS Word and save them when I can’t get on the Internet. I do record into my phone, but mainly I just remember things.

Miles Covered: 13.75
Total Miles: 534.5
Money Found: $0.00
Total Found: $18.54

Today was a lot like yesterday and the day before that. It starts out sunny and mild and by Noon it clouds over with scattered showers. So far it hasn’t stopped me from walking. I should be in Eureka tomorrow. I have been looking at the same mountain range for the last three days and l’m ready for it to go away. I think when I make my right hand turn to go into Eureka that it will finally be behind me. I sure hope so. We are only 14 miles from Eureka, but no broadband. Hopefully tomorrow!

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 520.75
Money Found: $0.04
Total Found: $18.54

The day started out really good with mild temps and sunny skies and a light breeze. I made some good time and we ate lunch at Hickison Summit. While eating, the skies turned to lead and it started raining pretty good. I thought I would be walking in the rain in the afternoon, but it stopped and I actually had a dry afternoon, with sprinkles just now and then 🙂  The Toiyabe Mountains are behind me and rival the Sierras in beauty and height. They are about 35 miles behind me, but look a lot closer!

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 500.75
Money Found: $0.27
Total Found: $18.50

Same old, same old.

Miles Covered: 20
Total Miles: 480.75
Money Found: $0.00
Total Found: $18.23

Well, I have Internet access, all day at my disposal, and a lot of blogging to catch up on! Today we are in Austin, NV, elevation around 6600′ and population around 1000. It is an old 1880’s mining town on the original Pony Express route. They say the town looks a lot like it did a hundred years ago and I believe they are right. It has a charm about it though and we are happy to be here for a day off.

We got up this morning and ate breakfast at the Toiyobe Cafe. What an interesting breakfast. We met Donna, our waitress, and talked a little bit with her. Her husband is a cancer survivor from 1987 and she has a son Kevin in the military overseas. Our thoughts are with him. While at the cafe, we met Paul & Kay S who gave us a nice contribution for Gateway For Cancer Research. Many thanks to them! We also met Dave and Steve who both gave us a cash contribution for Gateway. Again,  many thanks to these two gentlemen! Dave said he heard my interview on Dee Gregory’s radio show last Friday on KHWG in Fallon. That made my day. 🙂 Once again l’m rejuvenated!

Toiyobe Mountain Range

Not much different today than the last few days. The weather was nice but cool and there was little breeze. We are almost to Austin,about two miles from the “welcome” sign. We spent the night in Austin at an RV park and will take Friday off.

The Toiyobe Mountain range is awesome and I’m glad I don’t have to walk over them at the highest point. They look even more intimidating than the Sierras. It was a good day and I’m glad to be where I am.

I want to thank Shannon E of Cushing, OK and her Spanish classes for following my blogs. Sorry l can’t remember much of my Spanish from college, but gracias anyway.

Miles Covered: 18
Total Miles: 460.75
Money Found: $0.01
Total: $18.23

Okay, this is going to be brief. Valda and I are sitting about 20 miles West of Austin, NV and we are by the side of the road in a large turn out area surrounded by scrub brush and sand. There are mountains all around. We thought we might get the broadband and we were right, but only a bar and a half. I will catch up on the last 3 days when we get to Austin tomorrow. We plan on taking Friday off (and Saturday) so everything will be caught up by then, just in time for us to head for Eureka and 70 more miles of desert and probably no Internet 😦  We have had cell service though and that is good.

Miles Covered: 19.25
Total Miles: 442.75
Money Found: $0.00
Total Found: $18.22