(Fallon, NV -> Middlegate, NV)
Anna: We started out today at the church in Fallon, Nevada. On our way, we just passed a huge air force base at 8:00, and we’re rewarded with The Star Spangled Banner blasting in surround sound from various towers.
The landscape was beautiful - this area used to be a prehistoric lake, so it is incredibly flat with some equally incredible mountains around. We saw petrified corals in caves, a giant sand mountain, & some salt flats.
Anna holds tiny Sean as he climbs Sand Mountain.
Asia jumps for salt flats.
People had written names and messages into the sand for miles along the highway. Some of the more recent ones were visable; an artist wrote the preamble of the Constitution in stone which was incredible to see in the middle of the desert (read more here: http://www.kolotv.com/content/news/We-the-People-set-in-store--486957991.html). We actually came across a message left by Spokes from last year, too!
We made a slight addendum to last year’s sign.
Around 1pm, I was feeling the heat and the lack of coffee, so I created what can only be called “a liquid jolly rancher” (Sean). For future reference, that’s a 0.5 liter bottle with 2 packets of energy drink powder & a dash of Osmo electrolytes. A personal highlight was Sean & I singing Taylor Swift’s Shoulda Said No at full volume shortly thereafter.
We ended our 50-odd mike day at the metropolis of Middlegate (population 17); it is a former changing station for the Pony Express. It’s home to a lovely restaurant where we filled up on fries and various other American foods.
Sign in front of Middlegate’s only restaurant/bar.
Meet Cow, the cat. His brother Ubunga is a lil camera shy.