About 5 miles outside of Fallon, NV, I entered the basin/ridges of central Nevada. As I looked at the horizon, I wondered how the road would take me. Around the ridge? Over the ridge? Or perhaps a bit of both (which it actually ended up being). But the climbs were much gentler than rollers of the eastern states. Being gentler meant I was able to go 5-6 mph rather than 3-4 so the time to get to the top I actually thought less than the other type of roller. The day was overcast which was most welcomed from the cloudless day yesterday.
The vastness and baroness of this land was impressive. How many people have never experienced the sense of tranquility from being in a place void of signs of human habitation?
Then I came upon at least 5 miles of all types of messages along both sides of the road made from black stones. The most impressive was the first sentence of our Constitution that probably was a couple tenths of a mile long.
It would change which side of the highway it was on depending on the terrain and topography and followed the highway for at least 30 miles. I had to wonder if it was the original Pony Express route which then became the stagecoach route. If so, it was one that needed an experienced rider for the pony express and one heck of a ride in a stagecoach.
The trail from above seemed to go to this station.
Unfortunately, I could not get close enough to the plaque for you to be able to read it. The original pony express station was just east of this. This became the pony express station and stagecoach stop. It described that the conditions were harsh with the station personnel staying here for three months or longer. Dirt floor unless it rained, then mud floors. This and the Sand Springs station were about 20 miles apart, the normal distance between pony express stations.
I’m actually staying in Cold Springs Station tomorrow to give the body a day of recovery.