Curvature of the Earth

Wendover, NV and UT

First of all, Jim wants me to clarify that his truck will definitely go more than 80 mph. But not with me applying “my brake” on my side of the truck. He insists I’ve put a dent in the floor from trying to step on a non-existent brake pedal.

We all know that the earth is round but it is hard to actually see the curvature of the earth. It can be seen best from airplanes or ships but there is at least one place on land where you can experience this phenomenon.

Remember how flat the salt flats were when we were driving on them? And this is what I-80 looks like when you’re driving it.

Just west of Wendover you drive up to the crest of Three Mile Mountain, turn around, park your vehicle and look out over the salt flats. In the picture below I-80 is on the left. The other road is a frontage road.

You can maybe use your imagination and see the curvature but what you need to do is go up there at night. Pictures cannot due it justice but it was an incredible experience to see the lights of those cars going up and disappearing over the “edge”.

For us this was an incredible experience. Sure glad we decided to stop in Wendover.

Speed Demon

Wendover, NV and UT 

Guess where we are.

Here’s a hint – that’s not snow.

       Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway

You all know how much Jim loves speed so we just had to check out the Salt Flats. This is the only thing to indicate you have arrived. There weren’t any time trials going on – guess most of them happen in August and November.

The first automobile speed record was set in 1914 at 114 mph by a guy driving a Blitzen Benz. Sir Malcolm Campbell set the first official land speed record at just over 300 mph with the Blue Bird in 1935. The jet cars arrived on the scene in the 60’s with Craig Breedlove’s Spirit of America and Art Arfrons Green Monster trading records at over 400 mph. Then in 1965 Breedlove brought a new Spirit of America – Sonic I and absolutely smashed the record with a run of 600+ mph. That record stood until 1970 when Gary Gabelich brought the rocket-powered Blue Flame to the salt flats and ran 622 mph.

We started out on the salt but it was really rough so we turned around. Couldn’t really figure out how they could race cars on it. But the little white note on the sign says – go about a mile out and enjoy the experience.

So we went back out and I’m sure glad we did. What a fantastic experience. You drive for miles and miles with nothing in front of you except more salt.

You really cannot judge how fast you are going because there are no telephone poles, or bushes, or trees or anything flashing by you. I glanced over at the speedometer (Jim is wishing he had hid it from me) and we were doing 80. Since this truck has got to last us many more years of RVing, I “suggested” he slow it down a little bit. Grudgingly he did so.

This is what your vehicle looks like afterwards.

And this is where you go after you finish playing.

There were about four other vehicles that were out on the Salt Flats when we were there. You can take any kind of a vehicle because once you get past the first rough part, it is just smooth.

I am so glad we had this adventure. We had another incredible experience while in Wendover but I’m going to make a separate post.

RAIN

Kemmerer, WY High 65  Low 41

What a beautiful sound. We haven’t heard the sound of rain for months. And even though it only lasted about two minutes it was wonderful. Especially since it wasn’t accompanied by a horrible storm. Just wind. Gotta love those beautiful clouds.

Seeing the Elephant

Elko, NV

Our next stop was Elko, NV.

We wanted a nice relaxing day and thought the California Trail Interpretive Center would be a good way to spend an hour or so.

However, when we drove up we saw a school bus and almost changed our mind. We lucked out because the children were quite a ways in front of us. Jim really does hate having to share all the fun hands-on exhibits with other kids.

Here he’s playing with the mileage counter.

This machine, called an odometer, was connected to a wagon wheel. As the wagon wheel turned, smaller wheels inside the machine moved and measured the distance the pioneers traveled each day.

The expression “Seeing the Elephant” seems to have many definitions. However, for those traveling the California Trail, the mythical elephant was an extremely popular way of expressing an overwhelming emotion. 

Pioneers talked of the excitement and anticipation of heading west to see the elephant. 

Elephant "sightings" often begin with excitement and high ideals only to be disappointing or disenchanting. The high excitement followed by the low frustrations are what epitomize the elephant as something most wanted to "see" but few would have wanted to "see" again.

Sidney really enjoyed himself looking down on what his ancestors would have seen as the pioneers and gold seekers made their way across this country of ours.

I really would not have survived the trek these pioneers took. I much prefer the modern day covered wagon (RV) that we travel in today. I truly admire their courage and determination. So many died along the way including children. Often they had to leave their belongings along the trail and trudge onward by foot when their oxen died.

This is the view from the plaza at the Center.

I had read the reviews that people had written about the Center and I have to disagree with several of them. I found the Center very well set up with wonderful exhibits, especially for children (and Jim). They had a well done presentation on the Donner-Reed party and why they ended up in the snowstorm. I would recommend this stop to anyone who wants to learn more about those who crossed and settled America.

Locking Love

+Lovelock, NV  High 90  Low 53

I’ve finally got my computer working again even though I have no idea how or why. I was also finally able to up my gigabyte limit and I’m trying to catch up.

We spent the night in Lovelock, NV. A small town with a rather expensive campground. $30 for a spot with hookups. You check yourself in, find your own spot, and feel the trains shake your rig. No pool, no laundry, no showers, no office. But we had hookups and air conditioning.

The Pershing County courthouse was built in 1920. Jim and I talked about the personality these older government buildings have as compared to some of the more “modern” architecture.

To the left of the courthouse is Lovelock Plaza where family, friends and lovers come to forever lock their love. In 2006 Lovelock adapted the ancient Chinese custom of symbolically locking one’s love on a never ending chain. It is said that love will endure as long as the lock remains on the chain. You fasten a lock on the chain and throw away the key, uniting your love for eternity.

Sidney didn’t have another bird to lock his love with.

We ate lunch at the Cowpoke Café. Everything is homemade including their fantastic french fries. We had to wait a bit for our food. Worth the wait.

Our furnace quit working so Jim is busy taking it apart. Found out it was a bad thermostat. We replaced it and we have heat again. The nights are chilly even though the days are beautiful.

I haven’t included pictures of the girls lately so here’s a couple to show you how well they are settling into their life in the Bungalow.

So Mom, do I get the TV clicker or the computer?

Scooter waiting patiently for Jim to come through the door to take her for a walk.

It really is a dog’s life at our house.

Pyramid Lake

Fernley, NV  High 88 Low 53

On our way home from Fly Geyser we drove along Guru Road, “a quarter-mile long dirt road that is lined with sculptures and stones inscribed with the quips and witticisms of its maker, Duane Williams, also known as "Doobie" (for obvious reasons, we are told), also known as The Guru.”

Interesting rock formations along the route and lots of open desert.

We also stopped by the Paiute Indian Tribe museum in Nixon. A small but beautiful museum on the way to Pyramid Lake.

Pyramid Lake is the biggest remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan, the colossal inland sea that once covered most of Nevada. 

Pyramid Lake is also surrounded by unusual rock formations, including the Stone Mother. Mankind has struck once again. The area with the rock formations is closed to the public because of graffiti. This picture is from the internet.

Today, Pyramid Lake is part of the National Scenic Byways Program and the only byway in the country located entirely within a tribal reservation.

We ate our picnic lunch and watched the pelicans.

Fly Geyser–For Todd

Fernley, NV  High 88  Low 53

We had a wonderful visit with our friends, Sharon and George, in Hawthorne. Sharon is going through Chemo and gets tired very easily, but she insisted on fixing us dinner one night. I tried to talk her out of it but she told me it made her feel normal. My heart aches for her.

This interesting RV was parked in Sharon’s neighbor’s yard.

After leaving Hawthorne we went to Fernley. The Fernley RV Park is a really nice place to stay. Fernley is where an Amazon Distribution Center is located and several work campers brave the cold weather to work there during the Christmas season.

Our son, Todd, is responsible for our stop in Fernley. Several months ago he sent me a message on FB about one of his bucket list items. After reading about Fly Geyser it got added to our bucket list also.

This was the picture on FB. Definitely photo-shopped by an expert.

Fly Geyser is almost 100 miles north of Fernley, 20 miles north of Gerlach. Talk about being out in the middle of no where.

Gerlach is the area of Black Rock Desert where Burning Man is held each August. If you aren’t familiar with Burning Man, check out their website at Burning Man.

Fly Geyser is man made, a result of an accident created by well drilling in 1964 while exploring for sources of geothermal energy.  The well may not have been capped correctly, or left unplugged, but either way dissolved minerals started rising and accumulating, creating the travertine mound on which the geyser sits and continues growing. It is about five feet in height at this time.

This picture is from Wikipedia.

The geyser is on private property and is fenced with barb wire and a gate warning trespassers to stay out. I understand at one time it was open to the public, but humans destroy beauty with their trash and graffiti. So the owner fenced it off. 

The geyser is about 1/4 of a mile from the road and if we were in better shape we might have braved a run up the road in hopes that we wouldn’t get caught. But that didn’t happen.

So we took pictures from the road. The geyser is definitely amazing but the colors are not near as bright as the above photos show. This is the picture we took.

I wish we could have gotten closer but what surprised me is that we were not the only people out looking for the geyser in the middle of no where. And they didn’t venture up the road either.

If they ever do open it to the public, we would definitely go back again to see it up close.