Daily Mileage: 48 Miles
Odometer: 315
Ride Time: 4:48
Avg MPH: 10.0
Max Speed: 33.1
Climbing: 1404 feet
Altitude at end of day: 4546 ft.

     Ted and I were able to roll out pretty early at 7:02 AM after arising around 5:30AM. Any early miles before the temps get too hot are a plus for me.
     About 10 or 11 miles out of town we stopped at a nice rest stop called Grimes Point Archaeological Area at which you can take a self guided interpretative hike to view some petroglyph carvings and learn some interesting facts about very early inhabitants of this area. We did not take the hike but talked with some folks who had just returned from it and they said the carvings have been diminished by the elements since they viewed them in the past. While we were resting there we could see some Navy jets taking off a mile or so away at the Navy's training center for their 'Top Gun' pilots. Cool.
     The scenery in this area has it's distinct beauty with mountains visible in the distance but it is pretty arid and desolate with sparse vegetation in many areas. You have to admire the tenacity of the early settlers who were able to carve out a living and survive in these parts with very limited access to water.
     On route to Middlegate Station we had too pretty long climbs that were not severely steep in the 2 - 6% range but the first was about 4 miles and the second about 5 miles. Both peaked around 4600'.
     We took several rest stops and picture stops as needed and arrived 48 miles down the road from Fallon at the Middlegate Station around 1:30PM. This 'Station' was definitely a welcome site for me as I am sure it was for Pony Express Riders, settlers, miners and travelers in the past. The owners allow free tent camping out back but Ted & I opted to split a $30 motel room for the shower and A/C.
     Middlegate Station is an interesting place and was actually used by the Pony Express during it's 18 month history as a place for the riders to change to a fresh horse. It has a saloon / restaurant / motel/ gas station and a small grocery store section as well the area in the center with picnic tables where you may pitch a tent. History here at their website: (http://middlegatestation.net/HISTORY.html).
     Check out this ad when they were recruiting riders:
"Ad in California newspaper read: "Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred." This info from the net. "Most riders were around 20. Youngest was 11. Oldest was mid-40s. Not many were orphans. Usually weighed around 120 pounds. Pay was $100 to $120 per month."
     We ate a late lunch there in the saloon. There were some of the Navy guys outside pitching horseshoes or washers, I forget which. There are some interesting pictures on the wall of the Naval pilots and planes.
     Three other cycle tourists rode in a bit later and tent camped here at Middlegate. If I am remembering correctly two were friends who had started in Indiana, Nathan & Daniel. They met up Brenden along the way. He works for a state senator and rode from Boston. Their plan is to finish up in San Francisco. They all ate the monster size hamburger which I think if you eat it all you get it free or discounted or something or maybe just a stomach ache.
     We elected to cook supper out on one of the picnic tables to use some of the the food we were carrying. Actually it was Ted doing the cooking as my little Trangia alcohol stove keep blowing out in the wind. We had lentils, pasta, & kidney beans. Very good. All in all a very good day.