Day #3 Thursday, 6/13/13 Ely, NV to Midvale, UT

This third day started out rather uneventfully after a rough evening of sleep at the White Pine Motel in Ely, NV. It was an adequate bed but the air conditioner noises from adjacent rooms was quite annoying. We rushed out of the room at 7:30 am to get a quick breakfast before heading east on Route 50. This rushing would later prove to be a rather bad thing.

First, I left my Samsonite briefcase with cash and my iPad at the side of the bed. This would not be discovered missing until we started to bring luggage in from the car in Midvale, Utah this evening. The case has been found but the cash and iPad are missing. The police are still working on the case and I will have to backtrack 300 miles tomorrow to retrieve the case and remaining contents.

The next rushing error was to continue on Route 50 rather than go to the north from Ely to The Great Salt Lake. This was not a bad error as it took us to Great Basin National Park and it was a great way to spend the day.

There is a great cave to explore at the park, called Lehman Cave. The human history of Lehman Caves is both interesting and insightful. The discovery of such a natural wonder only 130 years ago is thrilling, while the abuse the cave endured during its early years causes many people to cringe. Learning about the early years of Lehman Caves provides context for the cave today. History remains the great teacher.

People would snap off portions of the stalagtites as souveniers during the early years of the cave.

Shield formation

Bacon

After the cave exploration, we drove to the summit at 10,000 feet to look over the Great Basin. There is a Bristle Cone Pine Tree that lives there and it can live 6000 years.

Vistas from the summit

After leaving Great Basin National Park, we turned toward Utah to reacquire the Lincoln Highway. During this transit up Route 6 near Eureka, NV., we found this shoe tree. The original shoe tree described in the Lincoln Highway book was cut down by vandals. This is a different tree.

We arrived in Midvale, Utah at approximately 6:30 PM (after a time change to Mountain Time). This was when I discovered the missing briefcase.