Locals

I knew I just had to put myself out there. Van, Joe, and Linda were enormously helpful. Google maps show a massive detour to my destination: south to Reno, then North to Gerlach. A 3 hour diversion, and the only possible way. A secondary road shows up, and is simply labelled 'unpaved'. If you have ever ridden a motorcycle on gravel roads, you know it is not an easy way to travel. When asked about this road, Van sardonically mentions "There's locals who have lived here for years and years, and they say never take that road with a motorbike." Sounds like my kind of experience. He began describing the route, and with Linda's help, shared a better way that goes past a park (the only green space in Winnemucca), then winds past a lake, and underneath I-80. "You know what?" Van said. "Go down to Mike's MineShaft Bar. He's been a burner for years, and he'll know exactly the way to get there." "It will probably be awhile before it's open, though," I replied. "No way," Van retorted. "It's open 24 hours a day."