Windshield Adventuring

From Monument Valley to Navajo Bridge

admin — Sat, 29 May 2010 20:22:12 +0000

On our final morning at Goulding’s RV Park we “unplugged” and set about continuing our explorations of seeing new places and meeting new people. This day’s journey took us back down Utah Highway 163 to Kayenta where we rejoined Utah 160 and we headed south to Utah 98, where we turned northwest as we crossed the Kaibito Plateau on our way northwestward, towards Page, Arizona.

Just southeast of Page, we passed by Antelope Canyon which is the source of some of the most beautiful pictures ever taken. We had not made reservations for a tour and the parking area was full of people waiting to go into the canyon so we continued on to Page, Arizona.

Page, Arizona (elevation 4118’), is located on the southern shore of Lake Powell at the junction of Highways 98 and 89. Page contains most of the retail outlets found in major cities. Page also gives access to Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. From Page, we headed southward on Highway 89.

Four miles south of Page is the parking area for Horseshoe Bend. After a ½ mile hike from the parking area; the visitor is given a picturesque view of the Colorado River as it makes a 180 degree turn over 1000’ below the lookout point.

South of Horseshoe Bend, Highway 89 begins an extensive climb. Eventually, the two-way roadway crosses the summit at Antelope Pass (6533’). From the summit, it is quite a down!

At the base of Antelope Pass is the community of Bitter Springs (5112’) and the junction of Highway 89A north–our next highway. After a right turn at the stop sign onto Highway 89A, we headed north through the area known as Marble Canyon, and on towards Navajo Bridge, 14 miles ahead.

Until when the Navajo Bridge was completed in earlier 1928, crossing the Colorado River for a distance of over several hundred miles was done only at Lee’s Ferry. Later, when the newer bridge was completed, just south of the older bridge, the historic Navajo Bridge was left standing. Travelers can now walk across the old bridge 500 feet above the Colorado River. A visitor center is located on the west side of the bridge.

Rafts on the Colorado far below Navajo Bridge

A day spent in Monument Valley

admin — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:18:51 +0000

There is so much more to Monument Valley than the the area seen by most tourists. Yes the scenery is magnificent–almost beyond description. But that’s only part of what’s there. The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is the “major” attraction that you can tour (by bus, car/jeep or hike but make sure to get proper permits to hike and/or camp. Also, NOTE: no rock climbing is allowed on the various pinnacles in the Park.)

When we inquired into the kinds of vehicle tours offered, there are two types of tours: a half day tour of the main Park area or a full day tour that, in addition to the tourist area, includes portions of the Navajo nation lands that are not available to tourists not on guided tours. We choose the full day tour offered by Goulding’s.

Navajo rider at John Ford Point

We were picked up at our RV Park in the morning by a lady guide, driving a 4 wheel drive enlarged pick-up truck with leather seats for the passengers.

After entered the locked reservation, we were stunned by the beauty and variety of rock formations and ruins tucked in on cliff ledges. The day was spent taking photographs of incredibly formed rock arches and eyes , Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs.

Cliff ruins in Monument Valley Park

Our guide had lived in the Navajo lands all of her life. Her insights into the life of the Navajo (Diné in their language) their history, culture and song (one of which –a travelling song — she sang for us as we headed back to our campground) made our day one almost too magical for words. The 89 year-old Lady (seen with our guide in the picture ) gave a demonstration of traditional weaving techniques. Kathy (who was taught how to crochet by her grandmother) would have been perfectly happy to have sat with and learned from the Lady all day but our guide had more to show us that day so we had to take our leave. Imagine our surprise when what looked like that same Lady Weaver appeared in a 2010 TV Census commercial!

A weaving demonstration

Our last stop was at the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley Park Visitor Center which has an incredible view of the Valley’s most famous geologic features. Then it was back to Gouldings for a dinner and a good night’s sleep after such a wonderful day.

On our last day in the area, we unhooked and unplugged in order to take a 31-mile side trip to Goosenecks State Park, (elevation 5000’). This park is located 30 miles north of Monument Valley. Access is via Utah 160 north to Utah 261 north to Utah 316 and west to the viewpoint. On the way to Gooseneck Park, after passing the community of Mexican Hat there is a curious formation of rocks which resemble a sombrero perched on a small head which gave the Mexican Hat name to the formation and the town.

One thousand feet below the parking area, Goosenecks State Park offers a view of the San Juan River as it snakes back and forth, four times on its way to Lake Powell.

On to Monument Valley

admin — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:56:34 +0000

Heading eastward on I-40 we transitioned to State Highway 89 (Exit #201) just east of Flagstaff, Arizona (elevation 6905’). For much of the balance our trip, we would be traveling on various 2 lane state highways. 52 miles north of Flagstaff we turn northeast onto Highway 160.

We took one truly remarkable side trip. Some 50 miles east of Tuba City, and located on Highway 160, is the access road to Navaho National Monument (elevation 7300’), located some 9 miles north of the highway. This is the location of three ancient and historic Anasazi Village sites and a visitor center.

Betatakin Ruins

The site of Betatakin is the most easily viewed. Beginning behind the visitor center, a ½ mile trail, leads to a viewpoint across the canyon from this historic site. There is a telescope at the view site; however, there are no restroom or water facilities there. Betatakin was inhabited between 1250 and 1300 AD. Access to the actual village sites is only by arrangement with the park rangers; (928) 672-2700.

Continuing on Highway 160, it is 80 miles from Highway 89 to the town of Kayenta and the junction of Highway 163. It is 22 miles on Highway 163 to the turnoff to Goulding’s on the west side of the highway, across from Monument Valley Navaho Tribal Park and reached our destination: Gouldings Monument Valley Trading Post & Lodge (a 227 mile drive from Williams, Arizona).

In the 1920’s, Harry Goulding and his wife had opened a trading post on land across the highway from Monument Valley. By 1938 the Depression really hit the area hard, so Harry Goulding took an idea, his last $60.00 and went to Hollywood. While there, he was able to convince John Ford, the movie producer, that Monument Valley would be an excellent location to shoot a film that Mr. Ford was preparing to make. That movie, “Stagecoach”, started an industry of not only movies being filmed in the area but of tourists coming to see the locale in which the films had been shot. Today, the museum houses the old Goulding residence upstairs and the building behind it which was used as “Colonel Nathan Brittle’s Quarters” in the film “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.”

The rv sites at Gouldings are truly incredible — you drive up a canyon to a campground surrounded by beautiful red rock cliffs that overlook the breathtaking sweep of Monument Valley. We had planned it so we had a day to rest before we started exploring the valley so we curled up with our cats and watched the Indianapolis 500.

Our RV site at Gouldings

Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon

admin — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:33:05 +0000

In addition to the RV spot, we had booked a package for a one-day round trip from the Grand Canyon RV Park to the south rim of the canyon in a dome car on the Grand Canyon Railroad. There are six classes of seating options for the train ride, which vary from coach to dome to luxury parlor car. We also included a bus tour of the south rim of the canyon, through the railroad. The train trip can be made round trip in one day or one can lodge at the canyon and return on a different day.

Music on the Grand Canyon train

The train trip was a joy. We were serenaded by professional singers, offered a “snack” buffet and pampered by stewardesses as we watched the changing terrain from our seats in the dome. Our guitarist/singer was Larry “Desert” Dean — a really great entertainer who made the trip seem to go by in a flash! Near the end of our return train ride, a group of horsemen stopped the train and staged a “hold-up,” for “donations.” (These were the same men who had staged a western “shootout” show, for the train passengers, prior to leaving Williams.)

Grand Canyon view

There really isn’t much more that can be said about just how spectacular the Grand Canyon is; walking around the various trails, turnouts and watching the play of light and shadow along the formations is a truly transforming experience. Grand Canyon is something that not even pictures can really tell the story of but this is one of our favorites.

The next day was spent touring the downtown area of Williams. There is lots of history to be found in the entire Williams area. The town of Williams dates back into the 19th century and is also a jumping off point for numerous mountain resorts, which surround it. The multi-agency visitor center, located just across the railroad tracks from the train station, has a great deal of information for the traveler. The center has an excellent walking tour map of Williams available.: 200 West Railroad Ave., Williams, AZ 86046, (920) 635-0546.

Williams Visitor Center

A trip to 3 of America’s most dramatic places

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:10:05 +0000

Since that Saturday afternoon in 1949, when I first saw the western movie, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” the longing to go and see where the movie had been filmed had never left me.

American flag flies in the rain at Gouldings

On a rainy Thursday afternoon fifty years later, I walked into Gouldings Historical Museum at Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and saw that “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” was being shown in the museum’s main exhibit room. Here was the movie and the place–it was a very emotional moment for me.

In planning our journey we were faced with some limitations: 1. The wife’s position required that she have on-line computer access at specific times. 2. Our cat-sitter had surgery scheduled at the same time that our trip was scheduled. 3. We had not gone through the procedures of adding a dingy to our rig.

These challenges were met by: making reservations at RV parks which offered WIFI, or Verizon Wireless, at the times we needed it, bringing the cats with us and taking periodic “cat breaks.” We also planned our trip and destinations based upon having access to shuttles, tour buses or on rare occasions car rental. (We had predetermined that we could rent a lot of cars for the cost of installing the required dingy towing materials.)

Part One: Into Arizona

Our initial plan was to spend the first night in Needles. After stopping every hour and a half or so: for “kitty & driver breaks” and listening to radio reports of 110 degrees in Needles, (elevation 488’), we decided to go past Needles on I-40 and “up the long hill” to cooler Kingman, Arizona (elevation 3325’).

This historic Route 66 town offers a variety of attractions for the visitor. One of our favorites is the Powerhouse Visitor Center located at 120 West Route 66. This “one stop” center offers a museum featuring “Route 66” among it’s many attractions.

Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona

Route 66 takes a loop from Kingman to Seligman, Arizona. Having driven Route 66 from Barstow, California to Oklahoma City in 1963, I gave some serious thought the next morning of taking “the scenic route” along that historic loop to Seligman. However, we agreed that we would be giving enough money to gasoline people so we elected to continue east on I-40 towards our next destination, Williams, Arizona (elevation 6670).

We did stop in historic Seligman, (Exit #121 off of I-40), to purchase some of the usual “Route 66 souvenirs.” We have often wondered how many of these old towns along “historic” Route 66 would be in existence today without the “lure” of the old roadway.

Travelling with our cats

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:00:19 +0000

Harley in HIS Closet

I was never a cat person, until I met my wife some 22 years ago. Yes, it took some time but here I am; not only living with them, but now, I have a CAT OF MY OWN!

Traveling in the past, prior to our “RV” days, meant that we paid someone to come to our home and feed the cats a couple of times a day. When we purchased the RV we took a new look at the cat situation. Now, on virtually all of our RV travels, we bring the “critters” with us. Sometimes they make their humans crazy as they find the most unheard of places to hide — Harley’s favorite spot turned out to be the closets over our bed! Turns out the humans had forgotten to close up one of the doors after a laundry day and that was just too cool a spot not to investigate. It takes a leap of a little over four or five feet to get there but Harley was up to it! Now we make sure to close those and he sits in the middle of the bed and fusses at us. We do let him get into the longer closet by the side of the bed as a compromise.

We have a 31’ Class “C” rig. There is a shower stall in the unit, which we have never used. When we travel, we convert it to a litter box “station.” Kathy does extensive cleaning of the area and uses deodorizers to keep the smell gone. She’s also developed a system of rugs to a) cover the shower stall and shower door track to keep cat litter from getting caught in it as well as keeping litter from tracking throughout the coach; and b) that same system makes sure the cats don’t hurt themselves by getting their feet caught in the shower door track as they jump in and out of the stall. We have a dignified older female tortiseshell cat that we take special care of to make sure that hazards like that are eliminated.

Harley singing while we travel

The cats travel in large wire cages with carpeting, blankets and toys hung from the top of the kennels for them to play with while we drive. We put a large blanket over the sofa in the front of the rig and secure the kennels to keep them from moving around. Some have asked why we confine them while we drive — the reason is a simple one: we don’t want to take any chances with their getting hurt. Should we have to make an emergency stop while moving at a high speed (which is possible travelling on a freeway or interstate), if they were loose, there’s a very good chance they’d get hurt as they “flew” into the back of the seat or an internal wall of the coach or — heaven help us all — into the windshield! And that’s just a chance we’re not willing to take for our furry kids. Hence the kennel setup. They are where we can see them; they get lots of fresh air and don’t get overheated or chilled; they can see us and sometimes Harley wiles away the time by “singing” to us.

We stop every hour to hour and a half (or so) to let the cats out and so the driver can take a break. Throwing treats the length of the rig gives the cats exercise.

Both cats have collars that contain our home phone number and the word “reward.” We also carry current immunization records for the cats and any medications they might need. Additionally, both our cats have identification microchips.

We have never regretted having our furry companions, Harley and the Bear with us on our travels. It is also a lot cheaper than paying someone else to feed them.

Our Cats Set up for Travel

RV Trip to Mission Bay & San Diego

admin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:44:57 +0000

Our plan was to travel from our home in Ventura County, California to the San Diego area for “a few days,” visit Sea World and to see some of the area’s other attractions. We left home in our 31’ class C around 10.00 AM. Due to an accident on Highway 1, the “Coast Route,” we headed southward on the 101 Freeway. In Los Angeles we joined the I-5 Freeway on our way southward towards San Diego.

Gorgeous wildflowers at San Clemente Beach

For lunch we stopped at San Clemente State Beach (Exit #73). This State Beach Park (just a few blocks off of the freeway) is located on a bluff overlooking the ocean. This park is a fee area. It offers both day and camping use, with RV sites. Kathy made up a couple of sandwiches and we enjoyed an ocean view from one of their picnic tables. A paved trail heads from picnic area to the beach, which is frequented by both bathers and surfers. From our lunch stop, it was just about an hour down the I-5 to our destination at an RV Park located on the north shore of Mission Bay, (Exit #23).

Kathy at our Mission Bay Camp Site

We had selected this RV Park partially due to the parks “on-line” capabilities. At this time my wife was involved in teaching on-line college classes and was also designing and building an extensive website. That afternoon my wife sat at her computer watching the swarms of birds on Mission Bay, as she worked on creating a website and prepared information for her on-line class. With some planning, she has even been able to do her on-line work in several areas where we have “boonedocked.” In order to facilitate her on-line work Kathy uses an Internet card, or USB connector, and service with a major Internet provider that covers the areas in which we intend to travel.

We had made our trip during “off season” when no shuttle from the RV Park to Sea World was available. We also wanted to see the USS Midway and other attractions on the San Diego Waterfront. So we used the direct line phone at the RV Park office to have a rental car delivered to us. (As a note: our RV “rig” came with a harness and towing hitch. After a lot of examination we determined that we could rent a lot of cars, ride a lot of shuttles and busses and still be money, and driving “convenience” ahead, by not towing a “dinghy.”)

Kathy with Dolphin

Our day at Sea World was an exceptional one, which was highlighted by Kathy swimming with and “training” dolphins in an additional program which the park offers to its visitors. Another instant favorite of ours were the polar bears — they have an enclosure with glass walls that allow you to see these magnificent bears dive, swim and play — they are huge, graceful and incredibly beautiful animals.

The next morning, after taking the approximate 9-mile trip south along Mission Bay Drive, and Pacific Coast Highway we arrived at the San Diego Naval Pier. There, we boarded the “retired” aircraft carrier, USS Midway. This adventure was highlighted by both guided and “headphone” tours which included the ships “Island.” This historic ship (which saw service from 1945 through 1992) is filled with evidence of her impact on history. Additionally, virtually every type of aircraft ever flown off of her 4+-acre flight deck is found on either her flight or hanger decks.

Flight Deck of the USS Midway

After our tour, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the outdoor café on the fantail of the carrier. The ship’s fantail backs right up and practically into the western portion of downtown San Diego!

Russian Sub at Dock, San Diego CA

Along the waterfront, just north of the USS Midway, is the Maritime Museum of San Diego. In addition to the “floating” museum on board the 1898 ferry Berkley, other historic ships are found here and are open to visitors. Among the museum’s “water displays” is the 1863 Star of India, a replica of the 18th Century Frigate, HMS Surprise, which was used in the filming of “Master and Commander.” The floating museum even includes a Russian submarine!

There are several excellent restaurants located along the waterfront in the area of the Maritime Museum.

Our last night at Mission Bay included our first experience with a hailstorm on our RV’s roof. No damage, but lots of noise!

Our Sunday morning trip back home: the I-5 north, to the 405 north/west to the I-10 west continuing onto Highway 1 up the coast to Oxnard was virtually the same distance as our route was going south via the “inland” route. Travel time in both directions was about 3 ½ hours.

Some things we found helpful in planning our trip:

California State Parks Reservations:
www.parks.ca.gov
San Clemente State Beach
(949) 492-3156

Campland on the Bay (Mission Bay)
2211 Pacific Beach Dr.
San Diego, CA 92109
(800) 422-9386
www.campland.com

Sea World
(Mission Bay)
500 Sea World Dr.
San Diego, CA 92109
(800) 25SHAMU
www.seaworld.com

USS Midway
910 N. Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 544-9600
www.midway.org

1492 North Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 234-9153
www.sdmaritime.org

RESOURCES
Trailer Life Directory”
“The Next Exit”
Internet
L. A. Radio Station 1070 (Highway information)

Heading South from Yellowstone, Part 4

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:41:25 +0000

Our RV at the Goldfield Hotel

If the Mizpah Hotel was the “queen” of Tonopah, then the Goldfield Hotel was surely the queen of Goldfield. Built in 1909, this four-story beauty still stands as a sentinel in “downtown” Goldfield. We had spent a great deal of time in Goldfield in the late 1990’s and even participated in a Goldfield Days celebration which was aimed at generating interest in and reviving this faded beauty of a city. The “re-population” attempt apparently did not work. On this trip to Goldfield we noted even more vacant and abandoned buildings in this town which once boasted a population of over 8,000 hearty souls.

What ghost plays the piano at the Goldfield Hotel?

Today the Goldfield Hotel can be seen on “haunted” TV shows and once starred in the movie “Vanishing Point” as the radio studio of the soul musician who “directs” the errant driver. We were fortunate enough to have a guided tour of the grand old hotel’s interior several years ago and fell in love with this stately Queen of Goldfield.

There are other places in Goldfield – some older, some newer– all empty or closed now.

Santa Fe Saloon opened 1905, now closed

Goldfield School House

As we drove through Goldfield we were pleased to see that there were no signs of the vandalism, which is quite often found in similar “towns on the downslide.” You see, Goldfield is the County Seat for Esmeralda County, with the County Sheriff’s office and the County Jail both being located there.

After leaving Goldfield; we headed our rig southward on Highway 95. We spent the balance of that day and that night “headquartered” at the “Space Station RV Park in Beatty, Nevada.

Old Houses in Goldfield, NV

It had been our “plan” to continue from Beatty straight through to our home located in California’s Central Coast. It was a Sunday afternoon and as soon as we entered the I-15, headed towards home, and joined the heavy traffic from Las Vegas we decided that Barstow was far enough to travel that day. We spent the final night of our trip, relaxing, at the Shady Lane RV Park in Barstow. The next day found us back at home and brought the end of this “adventurous” journey.

ROUTES & MILEAGE

Yellowstone National Park to Goldfield, Nevada
(Note: Mileage here can be different than that shown on an odometer)

Idaho

From	To	Highway	Distance
West Yellowstone	Idaho Falls	20	107 Miles **
Idaho Fall	Pocatello	I-15	52 Miles
Pocatello	Twin Falls	I-86 & I-84 & 93	121 Miles

Nevada

From	To	Highway	Distance
Twin Falls (Idaho)	Wells	93	108 miles
Wells	West Wendover	I-80	75 miles**
West Wendover	Ely	93 (alt) & 93	119 miles**
Ely	Tonopah	6	168 miles**
Tonopah	Goldfield	95 (Nevad)	37 miles

Miles** = “Mountain” roadways

SOME “EN ROUTE” RV ACCOMMODATIONS

The RV Parks and attractions listed BELOW are for information only and in no way constitute any endorsement by the authors . (If we had not enjoyed our stays in ‘em – we wouldn’t list ‘em!)

Yellowstone National Park: Xanterra Reservations: (866) 439-7375 – TravelYellowstone.com

Snake River RV Park www.snakerivervpark.net 1440 Linsay Blvd. Idaho Falls, Idaho. (208) 523-3362

Twin Falls 93 RV Park, www.twinfalls93rvpark, 2404 Jorden Ln, Filer, Idaho, (208) 326-5092

Prospector Hotel, RV Park & Casino, prospectorhotelandcasino.com 1501 Aultman St., Ely, NV (775) 289-8900

Tonopah Station – Ramada Inn, tonopahstation.com Hwy 95 south. of Hwy 6, Tonopah, NV (866) 611-9777

Shady Lane RV Park – ½ mile West of I-15 on Highway 58 So, on Soapstone Rd, Barstow, CA (760) 256-5322

SOME ATTRACTIONS

Yellowstone National Park: Park Reservations: reservations@travelyellowstone.com. Or (866) 439-7375 Park Information: (307) 344-7381

Historic Wendover Airfield: 1940 East 10980 South (East of “Downtown” Wendover) (801) 571-2907 The Museum/gift shop, located in the building below the original control tower offers visitors a “self-guided Driving Tour Map and Brochure” as a guide to this interesting and historic attraction.

Hotel Nevada & Casino: East Altman Street (Hwy 93) Downtown Ely, Nevada. hotelnev@mwpower.net (888) 406-3055. This historic hotel is a virtual museum of historic items.

Tonopah Historic Mining Park: 529 McCulloch Ave. Tonopah, Nevada 89049 www.tonopahnevada.com (775) 482-9274 Hours vary from summer to winter. These historic mines produced, what would be valued at today in excess of $1,200,000,000.00 worth of silver ore.

Central Nevada Museum: 1900 Logan Field Rd.(Highway 95), cnmuseum@citling.net (775)482-9676 Open Tuesday through Saturday; 9AM to 5PM

Heading South from Yellowstone, Part 3

admin — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:24:34 +0000

Historic Nevada Club, Ely, Nevada

The 120 mile drive to Ely, Nevada from West Wendover on Highway 93 alt & Highway 93 was a scenic trip through rolling hills, without the extensive ups and downs which we had experienced on the prior travel day’s driving.The Nevada Hotel and Gambling Hall, located on East Altman Street (Highway 93) was worth the trip to Ely. Filled with untold items of history the hotel, opened in 1929, is history and worth the trip to town.

Another fun and enjoyable stop in Ely is the Nevada Northern Railway Museum which is located on “A” Street at 11^th, five blocks north of the Nevada Hotel.

Kathy on a different kind of computer, Ely, NV

After an enjoyable afternoon in Ely’s historic downtown, we hooked our rig up at the Prospector’s Hotel RV Park at the south end of Ely and spend a relaxing night, surrounded by numerous historic items from the past. The historic items found on display, both inside the hotel/casino and on the grounds make this an interesting and worthwhile stopping place.

Highway 6 from Ely to Tonopah, Nevada presented a series of ups and downs beautiful scenery and even some wild burros during the 160+ mile trip! (Known as “The Grand Army of the Republic Highway,” Highway 6 used to be the longest highway in the country, originally stretching from Long Beach California to Massachusetts. Today, with its western terminus shortened to Bishop, California, Highway 6 is the second longest highway in the country.)

Wild Burros on Hwy 6, Nv

Bunkers at the closed Tonopah Air base

Just east of Tonopah we passed by the site of Tonopah Air Base. During WW II this was a bombing training base, but more recently it had a different usage. Until they were “discovered” this base was the first home base for the F-117A Stealth Fighters! Once the location of these “secret weapons” was discovered, the planes were moved to another location, Area 51 maybe?

It had been 10 or 11 years since we had last visited Tonopah. At that time Kathy and I were writing a travel book on that area. The book which we were working on at the time of our last visit to Tonopah was “Windshield Adventuring in Southern & Central Nevada.” We published that book in 1998 and it is now out of print.

When we walked into the dining room of the Tonopah Station, Ramada Inn in Tonopah, it was almost as if we had never left. Our rig was parked in the Inn’s RV Park located behind the hotel.

On our last trip to Tonopah in the ‘90’s we had been given a tour of the recently refurbished and even more recently closed Mizpah Hotel. Built in 1907 a bar and grill were rebuilt as the Mizpah Hotel. The hotel was named for one of the more productive mines located in the mining park, located on the hill just above it. The first thing we noticed upon our arrival in town was that the historic, and HAUNTED, hotel was still closed. Yes there are numerous tales of “hauntings” regarding this classic beauty. One our favorite “haunting” stories was from the numerous people who reported the Keno board lights flashing on and off in the dining room located next door to the hotel/casino. Flashing on and off AFTER to hotel/casino had been closed and the power to the Keno system had been TURNED OFF!

One of the attractions we had looked forward to as we planned our trip was the Tonopah Historical Mining Park. We were not disappointed with the afternoon that we spent there.

Tonopah Mining Museum RS

The museum is comprised of 100+ acres containing various mines, implements and materials spread across hillsides above the downtown area of Tonopah. The mining park is located on the site of several of the historic mines and offers not only self-guided tours of mines but also the ability to look hundreds of feet down into mine a shaft. Heather, who greeted us at the visitor center, gave a brief explanation of the park just prior to showing a motion picture about the park before beginning our self guided tour of the facility. Virtually everything to do with historic mining, including an old mine is open for the visitor’s inspection.

From many spots in the mining park, one is able to look down the hill to “downtown” Tonopah and to the rear of the now vacant Mizpah Hotel.

While we were at the Central Nevada Museum, also located in Tonopah, we met Alan Metscher who, among other things is the President of the Central Nevada Historical Society and a director of the Tonopah museum. Alan’s tour of the items located BEHIND the museum was quite interesting. Many of these items were from the WW II Tonopah Air Base. Included was wreckage from planes that had crashed at the air base. One of the items located there was a tower, which had been used to observe practice bombing on the base, but had been moved to the local high school for use as an announcer’s stand! Eventually the tower ended in its present location, behind the museum. We later learned that Mr. Metscher is the author of a book and a CD on the history of the Tonopah Air Base.

We will always remember Viola at the Ramada Inn. Viola was one of those people who helped make our visit to Tonopah complete. THANK YOU VIOLA!

We were in “familiar” territory since our arrival in Tonopah and the rest of the journey back to Southern California would be on familiar roads, back roads when possible. But, we had one more “old friend” of a town to visit before heading for home.

Heading South from Yellowstone, Part 2

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:07:42 +0000

One of the very few disappointments we encountered during our entire trip was the next day when we went to Wells, Nevada. For years we have been reading articles and brochures regarding Well’s historic district.

Earthquake Devastation in Wells, NV

On the morning we turned our RV onto Wells Nevada’s historic 7^th (Front) Street we almost went into shock. The entire “historic” side of the street was behind a wire fence and had been destroyed. All of the buildings were vacant with walls and roofs littering the street. Later we learned that on February 21, 2008 a 6.0 earthquake had struck just outside of town and had left not only the damaged “historic district” but had done extensive damage to the town. We also noticed that most of the town’s businesses were closed. It appeared that the town was dying.

Before leaving the Twin Falls 93 RV Park that morning, we had made reservations for the 2^nd night ahead at “an RV Park” in West Wendover, Nevada. We had planned on spending a night in Wells but had not made reservations there, so we decided to proceed to West Wendover a day early. The highway to the Wendover area, I-80, is basically a “mountain freeway” with lots of ups and downs and several summits in the 6,000’ range.

Enola Gay Hanger, Wendover Air Force Base

Arriving at the RV Park in West Wendover we checked in for that night in addition to the next night, which we had previously reserved and paid for. Subsequently, we drove the RV a couple of miles over to the site of the World War II Wendover Air Force Base. Quite a bit of the historic bomber training base is still around. This was the base where many World War II bomber crews were trained. The most famous of these bombers were the “Enola Gay” and “Box Car,” the B-29s that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan.

Replica of Big Boy Atomic Bomb

The base’s museum contains a history of the base and includes a model of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in World War II.Tone of the high points of the base, is the original control tower which is open to the sure footed as it looms over the base museum. The museum also has a small gift shop.

One of the things, which we had hoped to do while in Wendover, was to watch the speed runs on the Bonneville Salt Flats that were scheduled to begin the next day. So, in order to get “a lay of the land” we took a short drive on the road leading out onto the salt flats to the area where the speed runs were to be held. There is flat and then there is flat!

Bonneville Salt Flats

Since nothing was scheduled until the next day, we headed back to West Wendover. Shortly after returning to the RV Park, we decided that it might be a good idea to rent a car to take out onto the salt flats the next day. Upon checking, we discovered that due to the fact that the salt at the Booneville flats did extensive damage to the automobiles, there were no car rental agencies in the area. And here we are already to take our “baby”, our “home away from home” out onto the vehicle eating salt flats – I think not. We skipped our day on the salt.