Onward Through Nevada

After a restful nights sleep next to a rushing creek. Why do you always sleep better next to water? Christie and I got up and started breaking camp. Dogs fed, watered, and walked. We have this breakdown down to a science now. Thank goodness we have an inverter for the air bed that removes the air in about 4 minutes. 

We got the car all packed and headed up to the gift shop to get stickers for our water bottles and the much-needed coffee. Christie wanted to get another set of stamps for our National Park Passport as we were entering into a new district.  We had to head off to headquarters which was at a different location to get the passport stamped and to get spring water for our water bottles and thermos. 

After getting all squared away we headed out toward Baker and highway 50. Baker is the kickoff town of the Loneliest Road in America and is barely a wide spot in the road. Yet here we were getting ready to embark upon our adventure for another day. Our first destination was to be Ely after gassing up. 

We pulled into a truck stop and topped off the tank and got a bite to eat and some more coffee. Good ole Joe!  Then we let the dogs stretch their legs and take the necessary pit stop ever mindful to clean up after them. Nothing I hate more than people who do not clean up after their dogs.

Once more we headed out on highway 50 toward Sand Mountain Recreation Area. One thing I didn't know about Nevada was that it is the most mountainous state in the Union. Again high desert. It takes a rugged person to live out here and make a living. I admire the American spirit and grit of these people who tackle this environment. True pioneers! 

We arrived at the town of Eureka around noon and stopped to take a bathroom break at a beautiful little city park that had facilities. WHAT!?!? Everything was locked up even the playground. What is the point of having this park if you are going to keep it locked up?  Christie walked the dogs and I found a friendly horse and a bull across from the park. Han got his first experience of meeting a horse.  The horse was extremely friendly and put his head down to let Han sniff him.  Han didn't know what to make of him. First, he growled at him, then approached with extreme caution and sniffed back then the tail wag was furious. Needless to say, Han made a friend. 

We went on into Eureka and found a gas station and made the necessary pit-stop.  Once again we were on the road and making good time.  We passed by one of the original pony express stations. It had fencing all around it. Interestingly enough it was a stone building.
  

The sun was starting to lower as it was getting to be around five in the afternoon. We had reached Sand Mountain Recreation Area and had planned to camp there, but upon inspection and the cost, we decided not to. Safety reasons...so after Christie took a hike we headed toward Fallon.  The landscape around Sand Mountain is very interesting and we noticed lots of messages formed out of rocks along the side of the road. I think the area may be a large salt bed. 

Fallon is home to a Naval Air Station. As we were rolling into town we could see fighter planes doing maneuvers in the distance. Fallon is really a pretty little town. It is not set in as stark an atmosphere as some of the other towns we passed through. Our campground was all the way through town and on the outskirts of town.  It was a large RV park and the only tent site was behind the store.  We picked the only grassy spot to set up the tent the rest of the area was hard weeds and stickers. They had a dog park for you to exercise your dog.  The laughable thing was you were not to let your dog pee or poop on the grass.  Chris and I look at it and then each other and both of us said "What grass?" The whole area was dirt.  Yet we noticed other people did not pick up after their animals. Sad. 

After we got the tent all set up, we went back into town to have dinner. We found a wonderful Mexican Restaurant open, La Fiesta.  Christie and I both got drinks and ordered a fantastic meal. Little did we know that each of our meals would feed a family! There was so much food, we ate what we could and had to leave the rest as there wasn't any room in the ice chest to save it.  We got back to the campsite and hit the rack after Christie walked the dogs. 

I guess we were tired as we slept really well.