Day 2--Elko Nevada

We pulled in to the Ruby Mtns outside Elko at about 7am. I checked my watch but instantly went back to sleep. Finally the rising temperature in the berth without air or shade forced me out of bed at about 9am. It felt like a bus hit me, but I managed a short hike down to a series of small lakes (beaver dams really), and watched some people fishing. I too wished for a fishing pole when I saw all the brook trout. Hung out and ate my PBJ sandwich, enjoying the respite and scenery, then trooped back the bus to finish my beauty rest since I had another evening drive coming up.  We did a little more grocery shopping in Wells, NV.

We parked at a city park in Wells, pulled out all of the food and cooking equipment, organized the passengers into jobs (so nice to have 35 helpers!), and cooked a wonderful pasta dinner chock-full of vegetables with garlic bread. At 10pm we were all packed up again and I started driving north toward Jackson Hole, WY. This time it was a mere 4 hours. Split into 2-2 hour sprints it should be easy going.

Within the hour there was more nasty one-lane construction for several miles along Hwy 93. The only open lane was the shoulder (yes, with the ripple bumps to wake you up). Add to the fact that the bus was mere inches from the paved edge and it was pitch black.If it hadn’t been for a car ahead of me I might have been convinced I was driving off road lost in the middle of nowhere. In fact, the road got so bad with the cones making me change lanes without warning that I actually dived off a freeway exit to get my bearings before getting back on the road. Finally construction ended with a nice smooth newly paved road, and the speed limit of 75mph was restored! Dave said no problem on going the speed limit, but most of the time I was just fine with 65-70. At 2:30am (mercifully easy tonight!) I was finished and went straight to sleep, waking only to check my watch as we pulled into Jackson Hole early the next morning.