Journey Day 2 Sightseeing

Time to do less thinking and do more enjoying the ride.

After leaving Parker, AZ, I followed Highway 62 to Highway 95 to Searchlight and then Highway 164 to I-15 to Primm. Those of you who have driven Highway 95 know it is like being on a roller coaster. It's much easier to drive when you aren't towing.

It has been awhile since I have driven in California and I was surprised to see an agricultural check station. Not sure why I was surprised but I was.

State Route 164 is known as the Joshua Tree Highway. Joshua Trees are a member of the Agave family and are a strange looking tree found in the Mohave Desert in California and along the highway in northwestern Arizona.

 

As I approached Primm, NV, I saw three really bright lights down in the valley. This was in broad daylight. Google to the rescue because I had no idea what I was seeing. It is the Ivanpah Solar Electir Generating System (ISEGS), one of the largest solar thermal farms in the world. (Another picture that shows I cannot drive and take pictures at the same time.)

My kind of road for driving.
 

I was on a mission. Bonnie and Clyde's car is supposed to be in Primm, NV - well it's maybe supposed to be there. Nobody seemed to have any idea where the car was or where I could find out anything about it. In fact, some people didn't even know what I was talking about. I guess there are five movie cars and one real car. Not one of them was anywhere around. However, there's a pretty neat looking roller coaster. No, I didn't take the time to ride it. I know Jim would have loved to ride.

The casinos are definitely ready for the influx of electric vehicles.

Time to move on and Jean, NV was my next destination.  I just found out that I blew it. I didn't do my research. Jean is home to the world's largest Chevron gas station with 96 pumps, a 50,000 square foot store, a White Castle restaurant and an electric vehicle charging station.  And I missed it. Next year.

However, the reason I wanted to go to Jean was to see the Seven Magic Mountains. I've wanted to do that for several years, but we just never made time to visit. This is a site-specific art installation created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. It was originally only supposed to stand for two years, but has been such a success with tourists, that the art world is trying to keep it there indefinitely.

There is a parking area at the installation and you can then walk down to the structures. I started down the gravel path, and my ankle immediately brought me up short. Walking on uneven ground or rocks is something I'm not ready for yet. Hopefully some day. So I stayed at the parking area and took the next picture. There really are seven towers but only six of them showed up in my picture. I have no idea where the seventh was hiding. 

 

I also saw this vehicle in the parking lot. It's some kind of prototype probably for a 2025 or 2026 vehicle. Have no idea what brand it is. 

Next stop - Las Vegas for the night.