We just got back from a fantastic long weekend riding the US 50 – the loneliest road. Starting in Denver we travelled the 1000 or so miles all the way over to Lake Tahoe. The name was originally intended as a bit of an insult (let’s face it there isn’t much there) but the enterprising Nevada tourist board decided to reposition the slogan as a positive, highlighting the peace and tranquility that allow you to comune with nature rather than the absence of any apparent civilisation. It was amazing, completely desolate but strikingly beautiful.
We rode along well maintained roads for mile after mile after mile as the scenery subtly changed. Travelling through these beautiful empty spaces made me think of the earliest pony express riders who took this route coast to coast. Actually apart from the road itself, I don’t think much has changed. You can imagine them dodging Indian arrows in many potential ambush sites. Judging by the original job ad it is amazing they got anyone at all to do it.
