Tom's Mom's RIDE
  • Blog
  • Galleries
    • Joshua Tree NP 2019 >
      • Monterey Bay 2015
      • Canyonlands/Arches 2015
      • Capulin Volcano 2015
      • Kings Canyon/Sequoia 2015
      • Capital Reef 2015
      • Zion 2015
      • Colorado 2015
      • Golden Gate Bridge 2015
      • Stormy
      • Sunflowers
      • Cemeteries
      • Panoramas
      • Tommy and me
      • Joshua Tree NP 2012
      • Channel Islands NP 2012
      • Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smokey Mtn. NP 2014
  • Home
    • Contact
  • The original ride
  • Back Story
  • The ride continues
  • Links

Nevada 

7/28/2016

4 Comments

 
Picture
I am currently back in Ely, NV, just in a different hotel --- I miss the ambience of the Historic Nevada but here at La Quinta, Stormy is parked right outside my room and I don't have to deal with stairs/elevator.  I was going to try and make it to Wendover yesterday, but on the easiest route, I still manage to miss a turn.  Didn't realize it until I saw the welcome sign for California --- Damn good play list -- all I'm going to say on that.  
When we left Ely just a couple of days ago, we traveled rt. 50, " The Lonliest Highway in America".  I believed that to be true until yesterday.  Rt 6 from Coaldale to Ely is the lonliest stretch I've ever been on.  I can count the # of vehicles I saw on 2 hands.  The majority of those were NevadaDOT trucks.  The only places where it looked like there might be life was in 2 different cluster of blue houses and maintenance garages -- all belonging to NDOT.  The road was very well maintained and not one piece of litter.  I tried for a long time to find some, kept my mind occupied.  There was no place to fuel, even using my spare container of fuel, I pulled into a Shell station in Ely with 43 miles on my reserve gauge.  I usually get 45 mpg, although at altitude I'm getting 48-50mpg.  Either way, I was seriously worried.  104 degrees and no shade --- I did not want to walk!  Stormy pulled through once again.  
There were some interesting sites along this stretch of road --- there was  the Columbus salt marsh outside of Coaldale.  There was no sign, but my map says that's what it was.  Outside of Hawthorne, where I spent last night, were acres of barrack type buildings.  A sign said they were a part of the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant.  There were also dirt hogan type buildings with a concrete entrance going underground and a single smokestack coming out of the top.  There were a lot of them.  Don't know what they were.
Outside of Tonapah ( isn't there an Emmylou Harris song about with Tonapah in it?), there was a flight testing area -- a  pretty robin egg's blue rocket marked that dirt road.  Ahhh, the Nevada desert.
​I have gotten back into my alone mode.  When I left San Francisco without Lisa, I was homesick and shaky.  After I crossed the Bay Bridge into Oakland, there was a fully engulfed pick up truck on the side of the road -- response on the way -- I could hear sirens as I sped by.  Freaked me out -- my mind started focusing on all the things that can go wrong.  Stopped that train immediately -- zippity do da, what a wonderful day -- mom and tom --- does it everytime!
Spent my first night alone in Groveland, CA at Hotel Charlotte, 2 rooms left --one off to the side with a queen - but very small.  The other one had twin beds.  I took the queen and it was perfect.  I felt like I could stay there for days.  The Iron Door Saloon was right across the very narrow street and it's local beer was Thompson's Ale.  Nice, friendly people.  I asked if my room was open for another night -- it wasn't --- not meant to be.  Onward to Yosemite and the most beautiful surprise -- Mono Lake!
4 Comments
Todd
7/28/2016 11:12:54 am

Safe travels back to Colorado...I'm sure no one there will care if you get there a day or two early. :-) Getting trailer ready to roll...Ural gets loaded today and I do have a case of Golden Monkey to share when we get there.

Reply
mmw
7/28/2016 11:29:47 am

YES!!!!🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒

Reply
Betty Ebrecht
7/29/2016 09:43:44 am

Looking forward to seeing you soon! I have the perfect room for you to rest in for a few days before the festivities. 💟

Reply
mmw
7/29/2016 10:04:21 am

Good to know. Perhaps I could even help get ready❤️🎉

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2021
    March 2021
    June 2020
    August 2019
    February 2019
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly