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Loneliest Roads in America Tour (ZONC event)

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Old 04-09-2007 | 08:16 PM
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Loneliest Roads in America Tour (ZONC event)

UPDATED DETAILS
SEE BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

ZONC’S RUNNING OF “THE LONELIEST ROADS IN AMERICA”
June 7 - 10, 2007

This could be one of the world’s greatest drives. In the 70’s Life Magazine named Highway 50 across Nevada “The Loneliest Road in America”. ZONC is about to change all that, at least for a while. What may seem like a journey to the middle of nowhere is actually a driving experience like no other. Rough, congested freeways, clogged with countless vehicles are something we are all too familiar with, but picture the 180-degree opposite. Smooth, wide two-lane blacktop and maybe seeing another car every ten miles. Whether they be exciting curves over mountain passes or long straights that run through the valleys, where else can you drive and literally be the only vehicles on the road! The journey to the middle of nowhere is actually the most incredible place to be.

To be on one of the greatest drives we need some people with Z’s who can take the time and want to experience a very rare opportunity to flat out have a blast. The ZONC Death Valley Run in October is a similar example of what to expect. Talk to anyone from that event and get a feeling of what they experienced (view photos -http://community.webshots.com/user/yojack1).

This ZONC event is most likely the biggest run in its 35 year history. To get to the middle of nowhere it takes more time than usual. This will be a four day event. There is much to see and we will start from the Manteca area. Once on Highway 4 we will not see another freeway for three days. We will drive over the 8,000 ft. Pacific Grade Pass and then the 8,300 ft. Monitor Pass on Highway 89. After a lunch break at beautiful Topaz Lake on Highway 395 just across the state line of Nevada we will start to see how, much of America really lives. Traveling through some of the remote farm and ranch land of western Nevada, (Highway 208 through Yerington) you may wonder how people exist out here but then on some point of our journey you will be asking yourself how I exist in the rat race we call home. It will hit you once you return. At the junction of Highway 95 we will turn south past an unusual spot for a lake (Walker Lake) then spend our first night in Hawthorne, Nevada. We will stay at the El Capitan Hotel/Casino and though it is not much of a town, I am sure the casino will help keep us entertained. Hawthorne is famous for its munitions storage site. You will see hundreds if not thousands of elevated ammo-bunkers.

Early on Day 2 we will head north to Gabbs on Highway 361. Gabbs is a one-industry town with the industry being Magnesium established in 1941. Eighteen miles East of Gabbs on Highway 844 sits Berlin Ichtyosaur State Park. Berlin is a 19th Century mining ghost town that we will see. Unfortunately, we will not be able to see the Dinosaur Fossils of the Ichtyosaurs because of a rough gravel road beyond Berlin. The Ghost Town with its old buildings and mining machinery is exceptional. We then head back to Gabbs and continue North on Highway 361 until we hit Highway 50. From there it is east to the old mining town of Austin, Nevada for lunch. The Pony Express came this way, in 1862, Silver Ore was discovered, and a city of some 10,000 people lived in this narrow canyon. The Silver mines gave out long before 1900 and Austin today is an almost ghost town. The afternoon run to Ely, Nevada passes through the geographic center of Nevada, halfway between Austin and Eureka. In Eureka, we will stop and visit the Old County Courthouse Museum. Ely, Nevada (6,421 ft.) founded in 1868, as a Silver mining camp will be our second overnight stop. Just before entering town, we will stop in Ruth, Nevada to see one of the largest holes ever dug. The Kennecott Copper Corporation’s renowned Liberty Pit produced more than 550 Million in Copper, Gold and Silver deposits from 1905 until the late 70’s. The mine was reopened in the early 90’s for a short time, but again closed until this day.

Day 3 from Ely a short drive east on Highway 50 to Great Basin National Park, and a surprise. We will take a scenic drive to the base of Wheeler Peak (13,063 ft.) and then the surprise being a great cave tour of Lehman Caves within the park. The ¾ of a mile cave tour lasts about 90 minutes. It is at this point we will start heading for home returning west to Ely then on Highway 6 to spend our third and final night in Tonopah, Nevada.

Day 4 we will continue west on Highway 6 to Benton, California where we will probably part ways with people that live in the Bakersfield area (if any). Some will head south on Highway 395 and others will head west on Highway 120 then north on Highway 395 through Lee Vining and Mono Lake to Sonora Pass (Highway 108).

You should be home in time for a late dinner with memories of one of “The World’s Greatest Drives” on “The Loneliest Roads In America“.

For more information or to reserve your spot contact:

Jack or Yolanda Atkinson
650-873-5552 Days
650-589-9724 Eves
Email - yojack1@aol.com

LONLIEST ROAD UPDATE

Time with standing, a route change is planned on the trip from Great Basin National park to Tonopah, Nevada. The alternate route heads south on Highway 93, 27 miles east of Ely from Highway 50.

The idea is to hit what’s called “The Extra Terrestrial Highway 375” which heads past the famed Area 51. A small outpost in Rachel, Nevada is home to the “Little A’Le’Inn”. It’s a place where the UFO enthusiasts to look for top secret aircraft and perhaps see weird things going on in the skies. The Little A’Le’Inn is a kind of museum, restaurant, bar and souvenir shop. It is so far out there “REALLY FAR” it is a rare opportunity to see for yourself what’s going on in this mythical area. We will then continue on to Tonopah for the final night. We currently have 11 cars signed up as of 4/9/07. Space is now becoming limited on this event so book now.

Here are the details of our lodging. All Rooms have been reserved so you do not need to call the motels. You only need to let me know if you want Smoking or Non-Smoking so each location can do a rooming list to make our check-in fast. This trip will not be pre-paid. You will pay at the time of check-in. The only thing you need to do is let me know at least 72 hours before if you do not plan to go so we can cancel your room. Please email me back if you want a smoking or non-smoking room. Total cost of lodging $177.00.

We will notify everyone approx. 2 weeks before just to follow up.

Thursday, 6/17
El Capitan Casino/Motel - Hawthorne, Nevada
$42.56 tax included
King - Smoking Rooms Available
2 Queen Beds - Non Smoking Available



Friday, 6/8
Best Western Park View Motel - Ely, Nevada
$58.24 Tax Included
Queen - Smoking
King - Smoking
Queen - Non-Smoking
Double - Non-Smoking 2 Beds


Saturday, 6/9
Best Western Hi-Desert Inn - Tonopah, Nevada
$76.30 Tax Included
King - Smoking
King - Non-Smoking
2 Queens - Non-Smoking

http://www.nps.gov/archive/grba/lehmancaves.html

http://www.stateparks.com/berlinichthyosaur.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbQqm89-hP8
Video of the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachael, Nevada

www.littlealeinn.com
Gateway to Area 51
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