Highway 50, Petroglyphs and HOT weather

 

My visit was wonderful, so it is time to move on.  My daughter told me about a couple of places to see and stay driving on Highway 50.  The first was Hickison Summit, it’s about ½ through 50 and it is a National Forest Campsite so free camping. What was cool was a self-guided tour trail of petroglyphs.  As soon as I got there, I took Priscilla for a walk and looked for petroglyphs.  Not much out there, but a good walk and a nice and safe area to camp.  The next day I drove the remaining of Highway 50 to Grimes Archaeological Area where they had several rocks with petroglyphs.  Also, a self-guided tour, but it was so hot, almost 100 degrees, I didn’t stay long. When I walked Priscilla, she almost (I said almost!) ran back to the RV! I fixed something to eat for all of us and I called a campsite just outside of Fernley about 30 minutes from Reno and got a campsite for the night. My pets were happy to have ac!  I did some wash, and took a nice long hot shower.  After I fixed dinner I watch a thunder and lightning storm roll in. It was extremely windy and I was glad I was at the campsite; it was a little scary!

The next morning, I received a text from my granddaughter and asked if we can meet in a couple of hours. No problem, I was about 40 minutes away, but I needed to do housekeeping, walk Priscilla, empty garbage, do the dump thing, fill fresh water, got it all done and was on the road.  I got to the Park before them, whew!  We had a wonderful visit, caught up on everything.  Just so proud of her, and my great granddaughter Kora, is just so cute, sweet, and so very smart. I am so blessed! Once our visit was over, I was looking for another campsite but they are full.  So I stopped at Donner Pass rest stop were it will top out at 85 degrees.  I stayed  the night because driving closer to Sacramento, then we are talking about over 100 degrees. Donner Pass was wonderful, I could smell the Pines trees, noisy because it right by interstate 80, but so much cooler.

I decided to leave early and just head out to my sister's in Castro Valley, I can used their electric for the ac and wait until it cools off before heading back home. I will drive down the 101 because it is cooler than the interstate 5 or 99!

Here's some pics of the petroglyphs and Donner pass:

Hickison Summit

Ely Part of the Pony Express

When I got to Wendover, I slowly drained my fresh water as it smelled mildew.  I drink bottled water but I didn’t want Mo or Priscilla to be drinking it.  This morning I went to heat water for my coffee, nothing, what I just filled the propane tank, what happened? It was fine yesterday driving here and this morning nothing. Oh my, so I put on a YouTube video on what I needed to do. After watching it, I thought I can do this. I went outside (watching the dealer's fill the propane tank scare the heck out of me, I didn’t want it to explode) and I opened up the box and looked at everything. The knob was on off and not on, when they filled it up yesterday, they did not turn the knob back on. I turned it on and went back inside to check the fridge, and stove top and yep they both worked.  Another challenge under my belt!  I’m not afraid of propane anymore!😁 I fixed breakfast, washed dishes, packed everything up, put fresh water in the tank and walked Priscilla.  Did the dump station thing and we were off to Ely.  A 2-hour drive. It’s seemed to go on forever, and I got a little nervous because I didn’t see anyone else on this highway!  So, I started counting trucks, and cars. What you do when you are bored.  FYI – until about 20 miles from Ely, I counted 43 trucks, and 72 cars and 1 FedEx van!  When I got to a rest stop, I learned that this was part of the Pony Express.  The rest stop had a great explanation of the roads, highway and the Pony Express. Also, in the 1913 Carl Fisher visionary proposed an highway route from New York to California and would called it the Lincoln Highway. The dream faded and the highways became 40 and 50!

So why am I coming to Ely?  My daughter Tara lives here and I wanted to visit her. We had an wonderful visit.  She is a smart, intelligent and a beautiful person. She's been a real estate Agent for 20 years and is so much a part of this community.  I am so proud of her and her accomplishments.  Just love her so much! My granddaughter lives in Reno so I am going to take Highway 50 (this is called the loneliest highway) and hopefully have a visit with her as well. 

Here's a few pics of Ely:

From Wyoming to Salt Lake City, Utah to Wendover, Nevada

 What a different a state makes! Crossing the state line into Utah was like stepping into a whole new world.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Green and lush, trees and mountains, damn the road were nicer.  Just before you get to Salt Lake City, there is a ski resort which includes several towns.  Beautiful to say the least, but it’s definitely for the rich and famous. All the places to stay were high end; nothing for the average working person could afford.  I read (on Wikipedia) that skiing in Utah is part of its economy. And when it’s not snowing, they use it for hiking, trekking, mountain climbing and biking. When I got to Salt Lake City, it was a maze, I’m so glad to have my GPS, because I would have never found Cracker Barrel. All the streets are numbers e.g. South 2700 E street, and they have a West Salt Lake City, North and a South Salt Lake City. I got to Cracker Barrel around 1 so I ordered their breakfast, bacon, grits, hash brown casserole and biscuits and gravy. Had it for 2 meals and Mo and Priscilla had some! Mo is liking my food more and more.  He is constantly eating; I wish Priscilla would have ½ the appetite as Mo has! We settle in and of course two class A bus motor-homes pull in right next to me.  No problem but it was 90 degrees and he had his ac on ALL night which meant his generator was on ALL night and it was loud right next to my window. Oh well, that’s the price you pay for a free place to park! Before I left for Wendover, I booked a KOA which is just a rip off (highest price campsite) but there wasn’t anywhere else to camp. Before I left Salt Lake, I needed to get water, propane and gas. So, with my trusty GPS, found a propane place and right next door was a Walmart that had water refill and a few groceries, and my gas buddy app to find the cheapest gas! And then we were off. This state is so diverse, the salt flats are the total opposite environment as the ski resorts.  They had a rest stop at Bonneville Salt Flats where they broke the world’s speed record. First time it was in 1935 Sir Macolm Gabelich speed was 301.13 mph and that record wasn’t broken until November 15, 1965 Craig Breedlove speed was 601 mph, and then in October 1970 Gary Gabelich broke the record with 622.40 mph.  And then that was broken in 1997 with the ThrustSSC driven by Andy Green at 760 mph.

Here's some pics from Utah:

Almost out of Wyoming.......

 I’ve driven over 3500 miles so far.  I have gone from Rawlins to Rock Springs to Evanston. Both Rock Springs and Evanston at Super Walmart’s. This Walmart has a train track right next to it. So, about every hour or so trains are coming through.  Gee, between the big rigs with their motors on all night and then the added effect of trains coming through, not very much sleep.  Oh yeah, then Mo playing time at 4 am😏!  Few mountains, mostly dry desert,  a really harsh environment. I notice a couple of things when crossing the interstate, one was a few signs stating if the lights are flashing you must get off the Interstate.  And they have gates that come down across the highway.  After reading these description and seeing signs for chains, I figure that during the winter, driving on Interstate 80 is much more difficult then now.  Wind is the killer, but I can’t image wind and snow!!!!  I also notice on both side of the highway a lot of barriers, fencing with slates that are horizontal.  They were all over, some in straight lines, others in odd lines.  I was at a rest stop when I overheard a father telling his son that those barriers were for the snow drifts.  Because of the high winds, these barriers allowed the snow to flow through these slates which keeps the vegetation or sage brush visible to the animals.  I read at one rest stop that most of this dry area is a habitat for wildlife.  From November through March these areas are off limits to humans to cut down on the stress of wildlife during the harsh winter.  There are over 150 species of wildlife including elk, and mule deer. In my travels, I have seen one deer cross the road, thankfully is wasn’t hit and a wolf in Yellowstone Park cross the road, pretty amazing.

My next stop Salt Lake City, Utah!  Here's more pictures of Deadwood!

Red Desert Rose RV Campsite and a Hot Shower!

I left Cheyenne on Interstate 80, got to the Walmart in Laramie.  I stayed the night and then found a really nice RV campsite in Rawlins about 125 miles from Laramie.  The 80 is extremely windy in this area, it was very difficult to drive the RV when it is so windy.  Especially when the Big trucks pass you at lightning speed! Right now it is fire season (as it is at home) but with the high winds (like our Santa Ana’s) it is extremely dangerous, lots of signs letting us know to be careful.  I got here around 12:30 and they told me they didn’t have internet, darn, okay I’ll just type it up in word and once I can get internet, I’ll post it to my blog. But wait,  I have my jet pack if there is Internet near my jet pack it will boost it.  But she also mentioned showers! I perk up, how great will it be to take a lonnnnnng hot shower without worrying that I will run out of water or it will get cold.  I don’t take a shower every day as when you dry camp you have limited water. When I do take a shower in the RV I turn the water off in between washing hair and shaving to conserve.  I had to do a few things before a shower.  Walk Priscilla, feed Mo, and wash my windows.  They were so dirty I almost couldn’t see out of them! You think with the rain they would be clean, but it's the opposite! I have my 2 step that barely reach the middle of the front windows, but I got soap and water and just scrub and I can actually see out now.  As the day wore on, the campsite started to fill up and most of them were the bus motor coaches. I better take my shower now before it fills up.  Just my luck I was the only one in there. My shower must have lasted ½ hour.  It felt so good, you really appreciate when you don’t have it. My next stop is another Walmart in Rock Springs and then it is Cracker Barrel in Salt Lake City! Not much happening pretty uneventful! Here's some pictures of the campsite.

Hot Springs, SD to Cheyenne, Wy, Crazy Weather & Cuteness

I left Hot Springs and took Hwy 18 to 85 which will connect me to Interstate 80 in Cheyenne. I wasn’t planning on travelling to Cheyenne, actually only ½ way but there were two rest stops and both were closed!  No turnouts or campsites either so I kept driving until I found a Walmart yeah! The signs here said no overnight camping, yikes, so I called the store and asked.  They said I could park in the lower parking lot where employees park. Whew OK, this is an industrial park of town just on the out skirts of Cheyenne, a lot of new housing and mini malls with Target, Petco, etc., so a lot of traffic. But the parking lot is well lighted so I felt safe. Since I drove a long way yesterday, I decided to stay an extra day here and just let Priscilla calm down, she is so stress when I drive, I like to give her a extra day just to hang out. Mo doesn’t care one way or the other, he is such a trooper!

I’m glad I stayed, it was supposed be in the 80’s not too bad, last night the wind blew hard for a while and then calm down.  I walked Priscilla for an hour this morning and she was happy, I did a little shopping early at Walmart, not too many people. This afternoon the clouds starting coming and within 15 minutes, it pour rain, wind, thunder and lightening as well.  Driving in here yesterday, you could see in a distance parts of Cheyenne were dark and raining and other parts the sun was shining! Crazy weather. My next stop is Laramie.

I wanted to post pictures of Mo and Priscilla.  Mo is a character, an escape artist, I now without fail before I leave the RV for ANYTHING, I put him in the bathroom and close the door!  Fortunately, as many times he has escape I have been able to catch him.  Once he is out, he is not sure what to do.  He will run like crazy and then just stop.  A couple times he would run under the RV and I had to coax him out, my biggest fear is that he will either get hit by a car or I won’t be able to catch him, so now he is in the bathroom! Hasn’t escape since!

I'm a good Kitty!

Why on earth would you get that cat!

I'm sleeping do not disturb!

Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Motorcycles and Thunder Storm

I finally made it to Mt. Rushmore, not packed but it was a Monday. Very organized and well managed.  In the visitor's center they had a short movie on how it came to be.  A little back story, the powers in charge had thought about putting faces of Lewis & Clark, and Sitting Bull, but finally the idea of Presidents came to mind, this was in 1927. The sculptor Gutzon Borglum created and over saw the project from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son.  Interesting he sculpted all four of the faces in his workshop and then his crew would measure and go up on that mountain and multiply it by 12 times and start craving.  Gutzon was so adapt at how much dynamite was needed for each section of the face and they would dynamite before lunch and then at the end of their shift. Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln were chosen to represent the nation’s birth, growth, development and preservation. The faces were completed between 1934 and 1939.  They had flags going in representing each state and when that state was entered in the Union. 

After leaving Mt. Rushmore, I went to see Crazy Horse Memorial. Unlike Mt. Rushmore, it is not organized or well managed.  The cost of going in was $12 not bad but you couldn’t walk up to the monument you had to pay an additional amount to ride the bus.  And you were so far away you had to take the bus to get to see him up close.  They said it would take another 20 years to finish him.  There is only about 14 crew members working.  On a good note I was allowed to bring Priscilla on the bus, so she was just happy to be out of the RV.  Crazy horse is much bigger than the faces of Mt. Rushmore, the back story on him was sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski from a family of Polish immigrants, worked on the face by himself for the first 5 years.  He built steps on the face of the mountain (over 1000) and carried what he needed every day to the top.  He had 10 children and when they were of age, they all helped with his endeavor!  To this day, some of his children and grandchildren still work on this project. Eventually they want to build an university campus under Crazy Horse monument where you can actually drive down!  Oh, they did socially distance on the bus and asked if you would wear a mask!

Which comes to motorcycles.  They have followed me to Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse I guess they wanted to get all the attractions done before the “Big” run in Sturgis!  If I see them in back of me, I just pull over and let them pass. I would say half of them are NOT wearing helmets, and that is terrifying to me considering the mountains winding roads! There are all kinds of caution signs to watch out in your blind spot for bikers, look twice!  There has just been 100 death on Montana roads alone this year.  I drove to Hot Springs at a campsite (finally found a Passport America ½ price) that I’m staying the night, not too many bikers here as I am 100 miles away!  But boy, did it thunder and lighting last night.  The lightening was scary, I had to google it to see if we were safe in a RV during a lightening storm!  It said yes, so I turned over and went to sleep. It didn't seem to bother Priscilla or Mo, he kept right on playing through it all!  It rained pretty hard and I hoping that the bugs are washed off my RV, it is pretty dirty.   I’m heading back to California via 80, and Nevada!

Here’s some pictures of Mt. Rushmore & Crazy Horse monuments: