September 9, 2005
We have had quite an adventure already and it is only just beginning. Since the last journal entry we made it the rest of the way to Reno/Carson City. We ended up staying three nights and partying with Dan and NT. It was good to get to know NT, he is one of Aaron's best friends and I didn't even meet him until our wedding. We had a leisurely weekend, walked NT's dogs, had a BBQ, and then finally left on Tuesday the 6th for our drive across Nevada.
First stop, hot springs in the middle of nowhere.
We took Route 50 out of Carson City after stopping to see Aaron's grandmother, aunt, and cousin. We headed out East on route 50 for a few hours, then turned off on to route 722 (after missing it the first time). Next, we go onto a dirt road for another 6 miles, and yet again another dirt road, until we see a big metal tub in the middle of a huge free range with cattle roaming all a round. We decided to set up camp there. NT had made us large wooden poles to set up our tarp, quite a nice little “Hobo” camp if I do say so myself. We took a short walk down to a dry lake bed, through many cows and a very sandy road. You can see for miles out here so you know by the dust trail on the dirt road when someone is approaching. In the distance we saw a large dust cloud slowly coming closer to us. Soon a man in a large 4x4 truck pulls up. Through the passenger window of the old Ford, all you can see is his naked chest. He stops, turns around gets out of his truck. He goes over to the hot tub and splashes some water out, enjoying his bath, then speeds off. All this without word to Aaron or myself. Weird, but when you are out in the middle of the desert you are probably seeking solitude and don't want to talk to anyone. We spent a nice night without our tent on the back of the minivan (now to be known as Dusty).
We heard cows mooing all night and it was amazing to see so many stars. Also we saw some mysterious orange lights flashing in the sky. At first glance one might say they were UFOs, but Aaron informed me that there are large areas in Nevada for federal/military bases. Our best guess on the strange orange lights was experimental aircraft practicing. Before going to bed we took a dip in the hot springs (a pipe leads into a tub from nearby springs that come from the ground)
The next morning, after another dip in the hot springs, we had a wonderful breakfast of hot dog scramble eggs and coffee with maple syrup. Then, we were off for more dirt roads and of course beautiful land.
We headed back to route 50 into Austin, NV, an old mining town. We spent some time there walking around, and had lunch at the Toyabie Cafe, before heading out toward the Ruby Mountains.
I never knew how beautiful Nevada was, how vast the land is. It is like being in a different country.
On our way up to the Ruby mountains we were mostly on dirt roads. Being a girl from Upstate NY, that can be a little frighting sometimes. Aaron scared me on some crazy road up to a cave he saw on a topo map. I found some sort of canine skull and a lot of trash, but also a beautiful canyon and a lot of sage brush. We ended up driving at night as usually as Aaron has a tendency to linger and take a million pictures (which is fine since we are in no hurry). Our only deadline is October 4th at Newark airport.
