San Francisco to Austin, Nevada
San Francisco, California
If you have never made it to San Francisco, put it on your list. It is a beautiful city know for its hills, cable cars, bridges, eclectic neighbourhoods, China Town, Alcatraz Island and touristy waterfront. The Golden Gate Park is one of the USA's most visited city parks. We spent several days exploring this vibrant and unique city.
In the early morning we spotted our first Hwy #50 road sign and began out trip east across America. We had no idea where we would spend our first night. As it turned out, it was a pretty good choice. We made it to Austin, Nevada.
Austin, Nevada
During its heyday, the old silver mining town of Austin, Nevada had 10,000 inhabitants. Now only a scant 250 people try to eke out an existence in a town that greets you with an unfenced junk yard at one end and a faded welcome sign at the other. The buildings in between are mostly tired and falling down. In spite of its sad appearance, the town represents what the American Old West once was.
After 8pm only one business is open and that is The International Cafe & Saloon. Parked in front was a Vintage Firetruck with a blow up doll on top. No this was not a part of the Saloon's facade. It was driven there by five guys from Atlanta, Georgia - "a night out in Austin" part of there annual trip to Las Vegas.
The Saloon can best be described as western eclectic with a fair bit of dust. The walls were adorned with hundreds of $1dollar bills, complete with serious and not so serious words of wisdom. It was as if others wanted to leave proof they were actually there, just like myself. Finished off two pints, walked out the door and thought "what a way to spend our first night on Hwy #50 - The Loneliest Road in America.
Posts from this trip.
