April 23 & 24, 2012: Bullhead city to Burns Oregon

APR  23, Monday, Onward to Eureka, Nevada

We left Bullhead City at 8:30 am and took Hwy 163 to Hwy 95 north.  We went through Las Vegas on I- 515 with little traffic but hot...98*F.  We got on I-15 north-east and eventually reach Hwy 93 where we stopped for a break and fuel at “Love” truck stop, (4.19/gal).  We went on north on Hwy 93 and eventually turned on Hwy 318.  Just past Preston, we turned right on Hwy 6 and arrived in Ely at 3:30.  That whole area we drove on is known as the “Great Nevada Basin” and is basically just one big valley and very much like a desert.  We fuelled at 4.19/gal, had a snack and continued on to Eureka on Hwy 50.  The temperature in Ely was 83*F and Eureka 79*F, warm and comfortable.  Hwy 50 is known as the loneliest highway in North America and I can vouch for that.  (See pictures in folder 85)  Anyway, even at 6500 feet the temperature was warm.  We climbed three easy passes going as high as 7500 feet but no snow and warm temperature.  We reached Eureka at 5 pm and stopped just before the town itself.  We are staying at Silver Sky Lodge and RV for the night and paid $25 for full hook-up.  Time to relax and enjoy this wonderful weather, we are surrounded by dark threatening clouds but blue sky above us.  This is another route that I have wanted to complete and now is done.  Tomorrow, more new grounds are in the making.

N  39* 29.897’

W 115* 57.464’
Alt:  6601 feet

We travelled 418 miles (678Km) in 7.5 hrs at an average 55 MPH and stopped for one hour.

APR  24, Tuesday, to Burns, Oregon
We were on the road by 8:15 am and drove through Eureka, an old mining town and turned onto Hwy 278 north to I-80.  This part was quiet and boring; high plateau with low shrubs and prairie grass.  We went over two easy passes then turn West on I-80 and went on to Battle Mountain where I fuelled @ 4.26/gal and had a late brunch.  We went on to Winnemucca and turned north on Hwy 95 to Hwy 78.  What a boring drive.  Flat, long distance and we only had one exciting scene where we entered a canyon, went down to a small valley and climbed back up on the other side.  The only excitement in this whole day was driving on Hwy 78 when I almost ran out of fuel.  Yes, you are reading it right, I got down to the fumes almost; the needle was on empty and the fuel tank was lit up telling me I had 30 miles to go.  We finally arrived in Crane where I put in $50 of fuel @ 4.72/gal.  I honestly thought I wasn’t going to make it!!?
Anyway, we carried on and arrived in Burns, Oregon a half hour later.  This has been a looooong day!  9 hours total!  We are at Burns RV Park, a Good Sam member and paid $32. For the night.  They have WIFI but I found out it is verrrry slow!

N  43* 35.811

W 119* 02.984
Alt: 4125 feet

We drove 423 miles (685 km) @ 56 MPH average in 7.5 hours with stops of 1.5 hour.