We got up and played on the Internet for hours this morning. We were in a lull. We were tired from the long day of Death Valley heat from yesterday.
We ate breakfast around 11 am. then went to town.
We watched a bunch of motorcycles traveling toward the Chicken Ranch. Lauren remembered they were having the Bordello Thunder Run. We missed out!!
We spent the afternoon washing clothes and sitting around. We grilled some chicken and are in for the night.
It was not a day of picture taking, as we have none. Tomorrow we do something that we have never done in a long while. We are playing golf!
Saturday, September 30, 2017
9-29-17 - (Day 60 - Death Valley)
We left camp this morning with a light, long sleeve on. It was a nice, cool, morning. It was a gorgeous drive to Death Valley. Lauren had to remind me to slow down on the picture taking to conserve camera battery life.
When we arrived at Death Valley National Park about an hour later, the long sleeve came off. Our first stop was Dante's Point, it was as pretty as it was in 2012. Only today it was better, we were riding on Amber.
Pano from Dante's View
We stopped at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, then went across the road to eat our lunch under the date trees. Even though the flood waters had washed away some of the trees since our last visit, it was still a nice place. We had a Road Runner watching our every move while we ate. I guess he thought we might drop something.
After lunch, we stopped and checked out the Furnace Creek Golf Course, then headed to Badwater Basin.
Badwater Basin is 282 feet below sea level, something we are accustomed to living near New Orleans. We ran into a couple from Nashville, Tennessee. We were so happy to hear that Southern Drawl.
On the way back, we took the 9 mile loop of Artist's Drive. It was beautiful. Nothing like riding on a switch back masterpiece of art. I just couldn't hold back on the picture taking.
The temperature rose to 100 degrees. It was hot. The little bit of perspiration we had evaporated before it could cool us. As they say, it's a dry heat.
We made a stop at the Harmony Borax Works refinery and saw the 20 Mile Mule Team wagon. I can't imagine how hot it was to work in the refinery in this desert heat.
We took a ride to Stovepipe Wells. There were too many tourist here. We headed toward Beatty to make our loop back home.
We crossed Daylight Pass. Talk about the difference in Daylight and Dark. We went from 282 feet below see level to 4,317 feet above sea level. The temperature went from 100 degrees to 82 degrees. A difference of 4,599 feet elevation change and 18 degrees in temperature change. It was NICE!
We stopped at Rhyolite to visit the ghost town. It was real ghost town with crumbling buildings. The bottle house was very pretty. The air museum was very unique.
We made it back to camp about 8 hours later. It was a beautiful day to tour Death Valley. There is no way we would have rode on Amber in 100 degrees down South, but we ain't in the South.
Many more pictures, click here:
When we arrived at Death Valley National Park about an hour later, the long sleeve came off. Our first stop was Dante's Point, it was as pretty as it was in 2012. Only today it was better, we were riding on Amber.
We stopped at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, then went across the road to eat our lunch under the date trees. Even though the flood waters had washed away some of the trees since our last visit, it was still a nice place. We had a Road Runner watching our every move while we ate. I guess he thought we might drop something.
After lunch, we stopped and checked out the Furnace Creek Golf Course, then headed to Badwater Basin.
Badwater Basin is 282 feet below sea level, something we are accustomed to living near New Orleans. We ran into a couple from Nashville, Tennessee. We were so happy to hear that Southern Drawl.
On the way back, we took the 9 mile loop of Artist's Drive. It was beautiful. Nothing like riding on a switch back masterpiece of art. I just couldn't hold back on the picture taking.
The temperature rose to 100 degrees. It was hot. The little bit of perspiration we had evaporated before it could cool us. As they say, it's a dry heat.
We made a stop at the Harmony Borax Works refinery and saw the 20 Mile Mule Team wagon. I can't imagine how hot it was to work in the refinery in this desert heat.
We took a ride to Stovepipe Wells. There were too many tourist here. We headed toward Beatty to make our loop back home.
We crossed Daylight Pass. Talk about the difference in Daylight and Dark. We went from 282 feet below see level to 4,317 feet above sea level. The temperature went from 100 degrees to 82 degrees. A difference of 4,599 feet elevation change and 18 degrees in temperature change. It was NICE!
We stopped at Rhyolite to visit the ghost town. It was real ghost town with crumbling buildings. The bottle house was very pretty. The air museum was very unique.
We made it back to camp about 8 hours later. It was a beautiful day to tour Death Valley. There is no way we would have rode on Amber in 100 degrees down South, but we ain't in the South.
Many more pictures, click here:
Friday, September 29, 2017
9-28-17 - (Day 59 - Ranching)
We took the truck to GMC in Pahrump for a check engine light repair. While waiting on the truck, we walked to Gold Town Casino, lost $5 between the two of us and decided it was too pretty of a day to stay inside. A couple hours later; happy the repair was under warranty; we were out of there. Great Service from the Pahrump Valley Auto Service.
Our camper neighbor, Harry, told Lauren about things to do in this area. One of them was to go to Sheri's Ranch. He said the food is good. He laughed and said this is where his wife takes his sons out to eat when they visit.
Sheri's was a few miles down the road from the campground. We have never been to a brothel and decided to eat lunch there. Right before we got there, we passed the Chicken Ranch, another brothel. Two legalized prostitution businesses in the middle of nowhere. Who would have thought it??
This is not quite your typical dining experience. We were greeted at the door by the hostess checking to see if we had an appointment. Then she asked what she could help us with. Lauren told her that we were here to eat, and she confirmed the grub was good. She also asked if we wanted to take a tour of the brothel, and we declined.
I was under dressed for this atmosphere. The ladies in there had on nice party dresses and stiletto heel shoes. I was in a tank top and tennis shoes. They didn't seem to mind.
After lunch, our waitress/bartender, asked if there was anything else we needed, and if we wanted to take the tour of the brothel. The answer was No and NO! I have to admit, Harry was right about the food being good.
We went back to camp for a bit, then headed 55 miles to China Ranch Date Farm. Harry had recommended that we go here to get a Date Shake. He had also recommended that we go in the truck and not on Amber. The last mile into the Ranch, was steep, down hill, loose gravel, wash board, one lane road. Another good recommendation from Harry.
It looked like we were riding right dab in the middle of the badlands, in the middle of nowhere, in the desert., and we were.
The Date Shake was more like an ice cream than a milk shake. It was so thick, we ate it with a spoon. We saw a bunch of Gamble's quail while eating our fantastic Date Shakes. Again, another great recommendation from Harry.
We got back to camp, and sat outside until after dark. Tomorrow we plan to go to Death Valley.
More pictures right here:
Our camper neighbor, Harry, told Lauren about things to do in this area. One of them was to go to Sheri's Ranch. He said the food is good. He laughed and said this is where his wife takes his sons out to eat when they visit.
Sheri's was a few miles down the road from the campground. We have never been to a brothel and decided to eat lunch there. Right before we got there, we passed the Chicken Ranch, another brothel. Two legalized prostitution businesses in the middle of nowhere. Who would have thought it??
This is not quite your typical dining experience. We were greeted at the door by the hostess checking to see if we had an appointment. Then she asked what she could help us with. Lauren told her that we were here to eat, and she confirmed the grub was good. She also asked if we wanted to take a tour of the brothel, and we declined.
I was under dressed for this atmosphere. The ladies in there had on nice party dresses and stiletto heel shoes. I was in a tank top and tennis shoes. They didn't seem to mind.
After lunch, our waitress/bartender, asked if there was anything else we needed, and if we wanted to take the tour of the brothel. The answer was No and NO! I have to admit, Harry was right about the food being good.
We went back to camp for a bit, then headed 55 miles to China Ranch Date Farm. Harry had recommended that we go here to get a Date Shake. He had also recommended that we go in the truck and not on Amber. The last mile into the Ranch, was steep, down hill, loose gravel, wash board, one lane road. Another good recommendation from Harry.
It looked like we were riding right dab in the middle of the badlands, in the middle of nowhere, in the desert., and we were.
The Date Shake was more like an ice cream than a milk shake. It was so thick, we ate it with a spoon. We saw a bunch of Gamble's quail while eating our fantastic Date Shakes. Again, another great recommendation from Harry.
We got back to camp, and sat outside until after dark. Tomorrow we plan to go to Death Valley.
More pictures right here:
Thursday, September 28, 2017
9-27-17 ( Day 58 - Do Nothing Day)
We lounged around the camper this morning then went to town. It was time for a hair cut. We went to Super Cuts, Teresa gave us both a great hair cut.
I cooked spaghetti sauce in the Instant Pot. Lauren cooked spaghetti squash on the grill. Ferny Kat came out and explored.
Another fabulous, do nothing kind of day!
not many pictures:
I cooked spaghetti sauce in the Instant Pot. Lauren cooked spaghetti squash on the grill. Ferny Kat came out and explored.
Another fabulous, do nothing kind of day!
not many pictures:
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
9-26-17 - (Day 57 - Pair-A-Dice RV Park, Pahrump, Nevada)
We were awaken at 11:20 pm by the donkeys. Luckily, they didn't stay around very long. I woke up at 6:25 am and saw an amazing sunrise. It's also amazing that I had the blinds open and saw the sunrise. I had to get up and get the picture.
As I was taking my pictures, I heard the burros, coming toward the camper. They were in about as much shock as Lauren and Ferny Kat, seeing me outside taking pictures at this time of the morning. After I took a bunch of pictures of them, they changed their path and went down in the wash. I bet there were coming to wake us up.
We had a nice morning, drinking our coffee, while Ferny Kat explored.
We traveled 113 miles West to an Escapees RV Park. We are camping for our first time at Pair-A-Dice RV Park, for $50 a week. A great deal.
We have full hookups. Ferny Kat and I love the sound of running water with no water pump roar, and no water restrictions. Our camper smells Fabuloso, after all the cleaning I did after we arrived.
Our camper neighbor had a good country music radio station on that we tuned into for a stereo sound. We watched the pretty sunset reflections in the clouds.
We are in for the night with numerous channels to watch on the TV. I can't say that I've missed a lot of TV watching or radio listening, but it's nice to be able to tune in.
We thought Ferny Kat would not give her approval of this campground, being there is no grass or trees. We thought wrong. The concrete patio must reminds her of her Crossroads garage. She may be just a little bit home sick. NOT!!
More pictures here:
As I was taking my pictures, I heard the burros, coming toward the camper. They were in about as much shock as Lauren and Ferny Kat, seeing me outside taking pictures at this time of the morning. After I took a bunch of pictures of them, they changed their path and went down in the wash. I bet there were coming to wake us up.
We had a nice morning, drinking our coffee, while Ferny Kat explored.
We traveled 113 miles West to an Escapees RV Park. We are camping for our first time at Pair-A-Dice RV Park, for $50 a week. A great deal.
We have full hookups. Ferny Kat and I love the sound of running water with no water pump roar, and no water restrictions. Our camper smells Fabuloso, after all the cleaning I did after we arrived.
Our camper neighbor had a good country music radio station on that we tuned into for a stereo sound. We watched the pretty sunset reflections in the clouds.
We are in for the night with numerous channels to watch on the TV. I can't say that I've missed a lot of TV watching or radio listening, but it's nice to be able to tune in.
We thought Ferny Kat would not give her approval of this campground, being there is no grass or trees. We thought wrong. The concrete patio must reminds her of her Crossroads garage. She may be just a little bit home sick. NOT!!
More pictures here:
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
9-25-17 - (Day 56 - Lake Mead and Hoover Dam)
Last night, we had the most restful, quiet night, until....Hee Haw, Hee Haw, Hee Haw, at 6:33 this morning. Our first, wild burro alarm clock. The wild burros were right outside our window making a fuss. My giggles woke up Lauren, then he got in high gear, getting the camera. Ferny Kat had a front row and center view looking out the window. I bet she was thinking, what the heck. They were gone before Lauren could get a picture.
Good Morning
We usually have to wait for it to warm up before taking off on Amber. Not this morning. We took off around 10ish with a light jacket on.
We went to Hoover Dam. What a mess of people there. We made a stop on the overlook at the top of the hill took some pictures. We walked on the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to Arizona then back to Nevada and took some pictures. Way too many people for us.
We had a great picnic spot overlooking Boulder Beach.
It was a gorgeous ride today. We must have hit every paved road in the Lake Mead Recreation Area, along with a few unpaved, not Amber approved gravel roads. Me and Amber are definitely asphalt queens.
We built a camp fire to cook our pork chops over tonight in our secluded campground.
It was a beautiful sunset and a great campfire tonight. We absolutely love this!!
You want more pics, Click here:
We usually have to wait for it to warm up before taking off on Amber. Not this morning. We took off around 10ish with a light jacket on.
We went to Hoover Dam. What a mess of people there. We made a stop on the overlook at the top of the hill took some pictures. We walked on the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge to Arizona then back to Nevada and took some pictures. Way too many people for us.
We had a great picnic spot overlooking Boulder Beach.
It was a gorgeous ride today. We must have hit every paved road in the Lake Mead Recreation Area, along with a few unpaved, not Amber approved gravel roads. Me and Amber are definitely asphalt queens.
We built a camp fire to cook our pork chops over tonight in our secluded campground.
It was a beautiful sunset and a great campfire tonight. We absolutely love this!!
You want more pics, Click here:
Monday, September 25, 2017
9-24-17 - (Day 55 - Moved to Echo Bay Campground, Lake Mead)
This morning, we were in a dilemma. Should we go to Alamo, NV. a few miles away and camp for a night and clean up, should we stay another day at this fantastic free campsite on the lake, or should we head south to Lake Mead????
gonna miss this view
The decision was made during our walk, with the temperature in the 60's and a cold wind. We headed South. It's amazing what a difference a hundred and two miles South makes.
We are at Echo Bay Campground in the lower section. There are very few other campers here. We are on the peninsula overlooking the lake with no other campers near us. The campground has a tropical look to it, with all the pretty flowers and date trees. The flower bushes are so large that they touch the sides of the camper when we rode through the campground.
the new view
We were greeted by the camp host, Jason. A very nice guy with a lot of information. While we were talking to him, a Road Runner strutted around our campsite. Jason told us how aggressive a Road Runner could be, killing rattle snakes and tarantulas. He also told us there are a lot of coyotes here. I haven't been able to get the theme song of Wile E Coyote and the Road Runner Cartoon out of my mind since then. LOL
We took a walk around the campground and saw the wild burrows in the valley. Jason said sometimes they come in the park, turn on the water faucets, and make a lot of noise. This may be our alarm clock in the morning.
We ate a late lunch/early dinner tonight then took a hike to the boat ramp. A very pretty lake at sunset. It must have been at least 2 miles each way. We have about 10 miles of hiking in today.
We came back and built a campfire. It looked like one star at a time popped out in the dark sky. Then all the sudden there was a bunch of them. Very pretty!
Ferny Kat gave another approval of the campground, as she sat on top of her rock by the campfire.
Click here for more pics:
The decision was made during our walk, with the temperature in the 60's and a cold wind. We headed South. It's amazing what a difference a hundred and two miles South makes.
We are at Echo Bay Campground in the lower section. There are very few other campers here. We are on the peninsula overlooking the lake with no other campers near us. The campground has a tropical look to it, with all the pretty flowers and date trees. The flower bushes are so large that they touch the sides of the camper when we rode through the campground.
We were greeted by the camp host, Jason. A very nice guy with a lot of information. While we were talking to him, a Road Runner strutted around our campsite. Jason told us how aggressive a Road Runner could be, killing rattle snakes and tarantulas. He also told us there are a lot of coyotes here. I haven't been able to get the theme song of Wile E Coyote and the Road Runner Cartoon out of my mind since then. LOL
We took a walk around the campground and saw the wild burrows in the valley. Jason said sometimes they come in the park, turn on the water faucets, and make a lot of noise. This may be our alarm clock in the morning.
We ate a late lunch/early dinner tonight then took a hike to the boat ramp. A very pretty lake at sunset. It must have been at least 2 miles each way. We have about 10 miles of hiking in today.
We came back and built a campfire. It looked like one star at a time popped out in the dark sky. Then all the sudden there was a bunch of them. Very pretty!
Ferny Kat gave another approval of the campground, as she sat on top of her rock by the campfire.
Click here for more pics:
Sunday, September 24, 2017
9-23-17 - (Day 54 - Riding)
We got up this morning, ate breakfast, and got dressed to go riding. We walked out and decided we better wait a little while. Another cold front has found us.
even the geese were cold
We took a couple mile walk in the campground, ate lunch, and decided it was time to go, with plenty of layers on.
We rode 70 miles on Highway 93 until we reached I 15 where we found a very busy Love's Truck Stop. The ride on Highway 93 was through the desert, with mountains in the horizon. It was pretty and a whole lot of nothing. I believe this is a lot lonelier road than Highway 50.
We checked out a boon docking spot close to Valley of Fire State Park. It looked pretty good.
We rode back on Highway 168 and connected back to 93. The last few miles of 168 was another brutal cross wind. We were glad to get back to 93 and head into the wind.
We were going to build a campfire tonight, but it was too cold. Lauren grilled while Ferny Kat led me through the brush. We had a pretty sunset while sitting inside typing tonight.
Click here for more pics:
We took a couple mile walk in the campground, ate lunch, and decided it was time to go, with plenty of layers on.
We rode 70 miles on Highway 93 until we reached I 15 where we found a very busy Love's Truck Stop. The ride on Highway 93 was through the desert, with mountains in the horizon. It was pretty and a whole lot of nothing. I believe this is a lot lonelier road than Highway 50.
We checked out a boon docking spot close to Valley of Fire State Park. It looked pretty good.
We rode back on Highway 168 and connected back to 93. The last few miles of 168 was another brutal cross wind. We were glad to get back to 93 and head into the wind.
We were going to build a campfire tonight, but it was too cold. Lauren grilled while Ferny Kat led me through the brush. We had a pretty sunset while sitting inside typing tonight.
Click here for more pics:
Saturday, September 23, 2017
9-22-17 (Day 53 - Enjoying the Lake Day)
Occasionally we need a do nothing day. Today was the day. We hiked over 7 miles in the campground. The first hike was The Upper Lake Trail. It was an easy 3 mile hike around the lake. We saw a bunch of blue herons, ducks, rabbits and a couple of road runners. The second hike was to the garbage dumpster, It was 1.6 miles one way, not so easy carrying a bag of garbage.
Of course, Ferny Kat came out, rolled around in the dust and lead me around. She definitely loves this campsite.
It was a nice, cool, evening with very little wind, which was perfect for our campfire.
It was nice to stay at camp and enjoy the lake kind of day.
Here are the pictures:
Of course, Ferny Kat came out, rolled around in the dust and lead me around. She definitely loves this campsite.
It was a nice, cool, evening with very little wind, which was perfect for our campfire.
It was nice to stay at camp and enjoy the lake kind of day.
Here are the pictures:
Friday, September 22, 2017
9-21-17 - (Day 52 - Extraterrestrial Highway)
The morning started off beautiful with a light wind. We unloaded Amber and checked out the Parhranagat National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center which was a few miles from the campground. The volunteer at the visitor center was very informative. He came to meet us last night when we posted on RVillage that we were camped here. A very nice guy.
View from Hwy 93
Visitor Center
We took a 40 mile drive on the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, Nevada. The cross wind was brutal riding across the flat desert. It was predicted to be 35 miles per hour. I believe it was every bit of it.
We drove to Little A'Le'Inn Bar and Motel near Area 51. They have spaceships and aliens on display. Earthlings Welcome signs are posted. It is a neat little place in the middle of nowhere.
On the way back to camp, we stopped at the Area 51 Research Center which is at the beginning of the ET road. The front of the building has a huge alien. They had a great selection of alien souvenirs.
We didn't see any real spaceships or aliens, but we did see 2 combat fighters appear suddenly over the mountains, then they were gone. It's hard to see much, when you are fighting to stay upright on a motorcycle.
When we got back to camp, we stayed inside, watching the water in the lake white capping. Ferny Kat didn't even have a desire to go outside.
At bedtime, the wind stopped, and the skies cleared revealing a beautiful star filled sky. The stars look like they are close enough to touch. It is so peaceful here when the wind is not howling.
See more pics here:
We took a 40 mile drive on the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, Nevada. The cross wind was brutal riding across the flat desert. It was predicted to be 35 miles per hour. I believe it was every bit of it.
We drove to Little A'Le'Inn Bar and Motel near Area 51. They have spaceships and aliens on display. Earthlings Welcome signs are posted. It is a neat little place in the middle of nowhere.
On the way back to camp, we stopped at the Area 51 Research Center which is at the beginning of the ET road. The front of the building has a huge alien. They had a great selection of alien souvenirs.
We didn't see any real spaceships or aliens, but we did see 2 combat fighters appear suddenly over the mountains, then they were gone. It's hard to see much, when you are fighting to stay upright on a motorcycle.
When we got back to camp, we stayed inside, watching the water in the lake white capping. Ferny Kat didn't even have a desire to go outside.
At bedtime, the wind stopped, and the skies cleared revealing a beautiful star filled sky. The stars look like they are close enough to touch. It is so peaceful here when the wind is not howling.
See more pics here:
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