Translate

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Jackpot, NV to Ely, NV and the Pony Express

Monday night it sounded like it was raining as the drops pounded down on the top of the RV and then it just stopped dead….odd.  When we went outside in the morning it was wet all around the rig and it would appear that a rogue sprinkler head was shooting water up into the air like a geyser.  Unfortunately Nevada water leaves mineral marks all over everything it lands on…like your windows! 

Again not far to go and so….no early start. 

IMG_1778

On the road and heading down the highway.

IMG_1779

First stop Wells, where we’ll get fuel.  

IMG_1780

The only trees you see are where there is a house or a farm.  Planted and watered so they will survive. 

IMG_1785

The deer migrate here and we go under while they go over.  The kill rate during migration has apparently dropped about 80% since the overpasses were created but we still see dead deer at the edge of the road. 

IMG_1786

Not sure what these are.  It almost looks like there is a tunnel under the road but probably not.

IMG_1787

We’re high as we travel along around 6000ft. and now the junipers start to appear. 

IMG_1788

Next stop Wells where Donna’s Ranch, America’s oldest operating brothel is located. It’s been there since 1867.   No…we’ve never gone to have a look.  

IMG_1789

Coming into Wells. 

IMG_1790

There must be an amusement park down the road somewhere.  

IMG_1791

Trees!

IMG_1792

The hills were alive with color unlike last year when they were covered in snow. 

IMG_1793

Very green this time through.

IMG_1794


IMG_1795

All along the edge of the road there was a desert plant in full bloom. 

IMG_1798

At first I thought the pink plant  was some sort of a cactus but I think it’s some sort of a low growing mullein.  Soft and grey with pink flowers.

IMG_1799

The road has been newly paved.

IMG_1801

The altimeter on the phone says we’re climbing. 

IMG_1802

The yellow plants were only growing at the edge of the road.  I wonder if there is something spread on the highway in winter that they like. 

IMG_1803

Very beautiful and looks like it’s been planted.

IMG_1806

As we get closer to Ely there is a large ranch that is growing a huge amount of hay.  Eric wondered if it might be agribusiness.

IMG_1807

We’ll turn right up ahead and head south to Ely.

IMG_1808

Left for West Wendover and right for Ely.

IMG_1809

Lots of alfalfa and grain growing out there.  If you’ve got water, you’ve got hay.  It looked like it must come from deep wells.

IMG_1810

We stopped for lunch just north of McGill and I got some desert plant photos.

IMG_1811

Pretty.

IMG_1812

They look really soft.

IMG_1813

The rest stop is located on the pony express trail and has a huge amount of information.  So if you are interested….here it is.

IMG_1814

Pony express rider.

IMG_1815


IMG_1816


IMG_1817


IMG_1818


IMG_1819

Eric really liked this.  They wanted young skinny riders, not over 18, willing to risk death daily….orphans preferred!

IMG_1820

I’m not sure if you can read all of this but if you come this way, stop and have a look.  We have stopped here a few times but it’s usually so cold we don’t hardly get out of the truck.

IMG_1821


IMG_1822


IMG_1823


IMG_1824


IMG_1825

Can’t you just see the speedy, wiry little riders flying by.

IMG_1826

This motel across the highway is derelict.  I guess they thought this would be such a big tourist attraction people would stop and stay. 

IMG_1827

As we pulled out after lunch we had to pass a tractor with a giant rake that was sharing the road with us.

IMG_1828

Coming into McGill.

IMG_1831

The town with the slanted street.  I always think that the people on the low side must get flooded.

IMG_1832

Coming into Ely.

IMG_1835

We are at the Valley View RV park for two nights.  The weather iswarm and sunny which is always a hit or miss thing in Ely so we don’t stay here very often.  I’d wanted to ride the steam train again (see my May 2015 blog about it) but it doesn’t run until the end of the week and we’ll be gone by then. Drat.

IMG_1833

We were in, unhooked, set up (even the satellite dish) by 3pm.  I am almost over the cold and now Eric is getting it…darn there is nothing worse than a “ man cold.”

IMG_1834

It’s Wednesday morning and we had cantaloupe for breakfast.  This is the one that I bought in Catfish Junction and the first home grown one I’ve ever eaten….delicious!

The park really filled up last night and today we figured out why.  The Prospector Hotel and Casino’s RV park is no more.  They are building something else there so there is no where to park an RV. 

Eric isn’t feeling great so it was a quiet day and tomorrow we are off to Alamo. 

1 comment:

  1. We are going to miss The Prospector! Two free margaritas with a night's payment. Norma was always lucky there and we usually came out ahead after paying for the night and buying breakfast.

    ReplyDelete