It felt great to wake up once again in Colorado! The sun was out, the air felt great, and the pillow business was for the moment forgotten. In fact the only thing that bugged me that morning was eating breakfast at IHOP!
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with IHOP apart from overpriced meals. It was just that after 2 mornings of eating at locally unique establishments, IHOP is a letdown. Oh well, it was time to grab some gas (not IHOP-sourced!) and head to I-25.
In fact, the next exit gave us access to the Budweiser brewery. We parked in the lot, went inside, and learned with great joy that tours are free! While waiting for our 1pm tour to start, we looked around the gift shop and found quite a few neat things. I did end up getting some dry rub and a cold drink, and Natalie got a trinket or 2 as well. Soon our tour began. The first stop was the stables that hold the Clydesdales when they're in town...smelled like it, too!
After that we went into the main brewhouse and learned all about the process of making beer from start to finish. If you want to know, go to a brewery yourself, there's only so much detail this 44-year old brain can hold. I can say, though, that the process is quite meticulous and is very dependent on a particular crop strain remaining intact. The tasting part was fun. I had a sample of Shock Top, a thick citrusy brew for sure.
Leaving the brewery soon after, we hopped back on to I 25 and soon entered Wyoming. We were hungry, so we began looking for a place to eat in Cheyenne. Working on a local tip, we found the Down Home Diner. Once again we were dealing with local establishments. After a hearty lunch, we returned to 25 for several miles, then began a series of turns and long stretches on local highways.
This is when I fell in love with Wyoming. There is an openness to that state, particularly in the eastern part. Gentle turns, rolling hills, and just beautiful countryside made it onto my list of favorite states. It made me realize how much I miss the blend of green and golden earth, I've been around brown too long now.
At one point, we stopped at the Lusk rest area. We learned something interesting there, that President LBJ and his wife enacted the construction of highway rest areas around the nation. Highways had apparently been overrun with billboards and needed beautification. The Lusk one was the first to be built in Wyoming. We let Natalie play in the playground area for a few minutes. We needed a rest and she needed to move around. It was 6pm and we had many miles to go.
Returning to the highway, the beauty of Wyoming continued.At one point, I made a decision to take a shorter route to Spearfish. It was a mistake! We could have been in Spearfish by 9:30 at the latest. Instead, we entered South Dakota on U.S. 85 on a VERY windy road. Not only was it windy and dark, but it was also populated with deer on the road. I had to hit the brakes many times to avoid a disaster. Later, we took U.S. 14a to Spearfish, encountering the same hazards.
At long last, around 10:30, we got into Spearfish. As it was later on a Monday night, we settled for Taco Bell dinnerwise. Afterward, we found our KOA campground and had a slightly easier time than previous setting up the tent. We also had an easier time blowing up the air mattress. Our sleep came much easier that night!
I will say it again, I LOVE Wyoming! However, the best was yet to come!
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Summer 2017 Road Trip part 3: Rocky Mountain Highs and Lows
I have to admit that waking up in a motel room had provided me with a better rest than the previous night in the tent. Granted it was the first time since my Boy Scout days I had camped like that, but we needed a real rest. I got up and dressed, then headed to the office with Natalie to see what was for eats. As it was the first time I'd seen Parachute in the daytime, I was pleased to see it was in a beautiful setting. The morning had a mildly crisp coolness to it. In the office we found cereal and bagels and coffee and juice, great stuff to get started. Afterward, we packed up and headed out. Little did I know that something had gotten left behind.
A few miles down I 70, we came across a sign for the New Castle Diner, which had a 50s theme to it. Well, the Moore family is all about those! There's something about eating with oldies playing in the background that makes for a pleasant experience, and by golly this sure was! This was a morning for a Denver omelet, home fries, and English muffin for me. Inside the men's room was a large cardboard cutout of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. We have to return some day!
After filling up the car at $2.39/gallon and refilling the cooler with ice, we proceeded down I 70 and soon went through Glenwood Springs, an exquisite town situated in a narrow canyon. Vickie and I had once had dinner there on a previous trip. After the town had passed, we entered Glenwood Canyon, a 20-mile long stretch with the Colorado River rushing beside us. There were tight curves, several tunnels, and just everything a road enthusiast dreams of! Needless to say, this was a highlight of the day!
After the canyon, 70 goes through a long valley of small towns and then enters the resort area of the valley. We stopped in Vail for a bathroom and drink stop, then proceeded to climb to the highest point on the Interstate system!
Wait! Not so fast there, boy! Traffic began to slow and then eventually stopped. I'd read that 70 east backs up regularly on Sundays as people living around Denver often head to the mountains for biking, camping, fishing, whatever. Sunday is the day many head back, so slowdowns are expected. After some online searching, we discovered that there was a crash in the Eisenhower Tunnel! After roughly an hour during which I got out of the car to stretch my legs, traffic began to move. After a few minutes, we went through the massive tunnel. I've always been a tunnel person, so this day was a diamond ring to me, despite the delay!
Coming out of the tunnel, we needed a bathroom break and some food. We got off in Georgetown and entered Cooper's on the Creek. Natalie had some mac n cheese, Vickie had chicken skewers with a really good sweet chili sauce, and I had elk tartare. All were quite good and a needed respite from the road. Turns out, we needed it for what was to come!
My plan was to get off in Central City, find highway 119, then proceed toward Estes Park. Life is never that simple. Central City is not well marked with highway signs, and we ended up on a local road which turned into a dirt road all the while promising it would lead to 119. Ten miles later, it did. 119 wound around small peaks and foothills for several miles, then turned east toward Boulder. 72 picked up from there, and then finally route 7 took us on a very curvy, steep adventure until we finally reached Estes Park, a beautiful town just to the east of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Estes Park is a fun town to park in and just walk up and down the main thoroughfare. We got some chocolate from one shop, and world famous taffy from the Estes Park Taffy Shop. We also ate pizza at Bob and Tony's. The pizza was very good with a thick layer of cheese. After some more light shop-scouting for Natalie to spend money, we headed down U.S. 34. 34 is a pleasantly curvy road with the smell of fireplaces burning wood all the way down the road even in June. I had to roll down the window and take it all in.
34 took us into Loveland, a really sweet little town in a long string of Front Range cities. Vickie lived there for a while so she commented on what had stayed and what had changed. We turned on to U.S. 287 and headed north 10 miles to Fort Collins where we found our Budget Host Inn. A little pricey but hey, it's Colorado! It was there that we discovered that, to our horror, that I'd accidentally left Vickie's pillow in Parachute and took one of theirs! Yep, it was doghouse time for the husband! I am amazed it did not happen earlier because, well, I'm good at being a bumbling hubby at times. I had a dream that night that Vickie forced us at gunpoint to return to Parachute to get the pillow! That's what a pizza dinner does for my dreams.
In the end, it was a good day. The traffic jam, endless twisty roads to Estes Park, and the pillow loss were unfortunate incidents, but everything else made up for it! Colorado has always been a source of fun for us and I want to come back.
A few miles down I 70, we came across a sign for the New Castle Diner, which had a 50s theme to it. Well, the Moore family is all about those! There's something about eating with oldies playing in the background that makes for a pleasant experience, and by golly this sure was! This was a morning for a Denver omelet, home fries, and English muffin for me. Inside the men's room was a large cardboard cutout of the Lone Ranger and Tonto. We have to return some day!
After filling up the car at $2.39/gallon and refilling the cooler with ice, we proceeded down I 70 and soon went through Glenwood Springs, an exquisite town situated in a narrow canyon. Vickie and I had once had dinner there on a previous trip. After the town had passed, we entered Glenwood Canyon, a 20-mile long stretch with the Colorado River rushing beside us. There were tight curves, several tunnels, and just everything a road enthusiast dreams of! Needless to say, this was a highlight of the day!
After the canyon, 70 goes through a long valley of small towns and then enters the resort area of the valley. We stopped in Vail for a bathroom and drink stop, then proceeded to climb to the highest point on the Interstate system!
Wait! Not so fast there, boy! Traffic began to slow and then eventually stopped. I'd read that 70 east backs up regularly on Sundays as people living around Denver often head to the mountains for biking, camping, fishing, whatever. Sunday is the day many head back, so slowdowns are expected. After some online searching, we discovered that there was a crash in the Eisenhower Tunnel! After roughly an hour during which I got out of the car to stretch my legs, traffic began to move. After a few minutes, we went through the massive tunnel. I've always been a tunnel person, so this day was a diamond ring to me, despite the delay!
Coming out of the tunnel, we needed a bathroom break and some food. We got off in Georgetown and entered Cooper's on the Creek. Natalie had some mac n cheese, Vickie had chicken skewers with a really good sweet chili sauce, and I had elk tartare. All were quite good and a needed respite from the road. Turns out, we needed it for what was to come!
My plan was to get off in Central City, find highway 119, then proceed toward Estes Park. Life is never that simple. Central City is not well marked with highway signs, and we ended up on a local road which turned into a dirt road all the while promising it would lead to 119. Ten miles later, it did. 119 wound around small peaks and foothills for several miles, then turned east toward Boulder. 72 picked up from there, and then finally route 7 took us on a very curvy, steep adventure until we finally reached Estes Park, a beautiful town just to the east of Rocky Mountain National Park.
Estes Park is a fun town to park in and just walk up and down the main thoroughfare. We got some chocolate from one shop, and world famous taffy from the Estes Park Taffy Shop. We also ate pizza at Bob and Tony's. The pizza was very good with a thick layer of cheese. After some more light shop-scouting for Natalie to spend money, we headed down U.S. 34. 34 is a pleasantly curvy road with the smell of fireplaces burning wood all the way down the road even in June. I had to roll down the window and take it all in.
34 took us into Loveland, a really sweet little town in a long string of Front Range cities. Vickie lived there for a while so she commented on what had stayed and what had changed. We turned on to U.S. 287 and headed north 10 miles to Fort Collins where we found our Budget Host Inn. A little pricey but hey, it's Colorado! It was there that we discovered that, to our horror, that I'd accidentally left Vickie's pillow in Parachute and took one of theirs! Yep, it was doghouse time for the husband! I am amazed it did not happen earlier because, well, I'm good at being a bumbling hubby at times. I had a dream that night that Vickie forced us at gunpoint to return to Parachute to get the pillow! That's what a pizza dinner does for my dreams.
In the end, it was a good day. The traffic jam, endless twisty roads to Estes Park, and the pillow loss were unfortunate incidents, but everything else made up for it! Colorado has always been a source of fun for us and I want to come back.
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Summer 2017 Road Trip part 2: Golden Arches
Nothing like an early morning after a nearly sleepless night to start one's day! Our first night of camping was not exactly a success, and not precisely a disaster, either. We'd proven ourselves to be a great team in putting up the tent and setting our makeshift sleeping surface up. The one big problem was our air mattress, which had not been fully sealed up. Therefore, we'd struggled to sleep on a pretty flat surface. I'd woken up several times during the night and finally gave up on sleep at about 6:30. My philosophy was, if I'm up, everyone's up!
The KOA site was pretty nice. Bathrooms were easily accessible. We were one of the few tenting families while the rest were RV campers. Resigned to our fate of sleep deprivation, we packed up and rolled out by 7:15. Down the road, we stopped at a diner for breakfast and gassed up. The nice thing about fueling a rental car is that you don't give a rat's ass what you put in as long as its the cheapest. $2.39 worked well for me, little knowing it would get cheaper later!
On to I 70 east, we soon came to Salina, the last source of gas and food and lodging for 105 miles. We stopped, but only to get the music synced in the car. We could have easily waited until this town to eat breakfast at Mom's Diner, but the restless night had increased the need for immediate coffee!
After Salina, I 70 is quite curvy and hilly for several miles within the Wasatch Plateau, then opens up into the vast San Rafael Swell. This large area gives spectacular views of sharp rocky cliffs for miles around. It really does feel like a completely different Utah, which makes the state so unique and beautiful. One almost forgets that they've traveled 60 miles already with no motorist services. There are, however, some exits for scenic views and natives hawking rugs and jewelry. Hey, everyone needs to make a living!
Finally coming to Green River, we stopped for a snack and bathroom break, then returned to the freeway and exited onto U.S. 191. 191 is fairly empty for a while, then enters a region full of gorgeous red rock canyons. We had arrived at Arches National Park! In one word, WOW! The vast array of cliffs, rock formations, and natural rock arches and windows made for quite a viewing experience. We stopped at several spots to take pictures and finally stopped to make sandwiches for a quick lunch. The gift shop was our final stop, and we bought a few trinkets, notably a keychain and magnet, Vickie's mementos of most trips we've taken together. Arches is by far, in my opinion, greater than the Grand Canyon! Quite frankly, most national parks I've visited are better than that!
Leaving Arches, we crossed the Colorado River and turned on to Utah route 28. This road followed the river for many miles and would be the first in a running theme of our week-long trip: sharp, curvy roads requiring the utmost driver attention! After about 40 miles, the road opened up into the desert again. Access to I 70 via 28 came up, but due to my Google Earth research, I took a different road which saved backtracking and still ended up on 70!
Twenty miles later, we entered Colorado. I always enjoy this state, as there is so much to see and do no matter where you are. Soon after entering the state, we rolled through the Grand Junction area and stopped for a quick bite and leg stretch at Taco John's, one of Vickie's favorite places to eat. It is a shame we don't have one here because their food is quite good.
We got back on to 70 and exhaustion was hitting me fast due to lack of sleep and heavy concentration on the curvy route 28. Vickie had made reservations in Parachute for a motel. We had tried to find a campsite, but nothing was available spacewise. I was grateful, for a real bed was what I needed. At exit 75, we entered Parachute, checked in to the Parachute Inn, and quickly got comfy. After being sent out for water for the Waterpik, I was asleep in quick order. I never even bothered to check what was in the office crockpot for free dinner.
Despite the lack of sleep, this was a great day and I have the pics to show for it!
The KOA site was pretty nice. Bathrooms were easily accessible. We were one of the few tenting families while the rest were RV campers. Resigned to our fate of sleep deprivation, we packed up and rolled out by 7:15. Down the road, we stopped at a diner for breakfast and gassed up. The nice thing about fueling a rental car is that you don't give a rat's ass what you put in as long as its the cheapest. $2.39 worked well for me, little knowing it would get cheaper later!
On to I 70 east, we soon came to Salina, the last source of gas and food and lodging for 105 miles. We stopped, but only to get the music synced in the car. We could have easily waited until this town to eat breakfast at Mom's Diner, but the restless night had increased the need for immediate coffee!
After Salina, I 70 is quite curvy and hilly for several miles within the Wasatch Plateau, then opens up into the vast San Rafael Swell. This large area gives spectacular views of sharp rocky cliffs for miles around. It really does feel like a completely different Utah, which makes the state so unique and beautiful. One almost forgets that they've traveled 60 miles already with no motorist services. There are, however, some exits for scenic views and natives hawking rugs and jewelry. Hey, everyone needs to make a living!
Finally coming to Green River, we stopped for a snack and bathroom break, then returned to the freeway and exited onto U.S. 191. 191 is fairly empty for a while, then enters a region full of gorgeous red rock canyons. We had arrived at Arches National Park! In one word, WOW! The vast array of cliffs, rock formations, and natural rock arches and windows made for quite a viewing experience. We stopped at several spots to take pictures and finally stopped to make sandwiches for a quick lunch. The gift shop was our final stop, and we bought a few trinkets, notably a keychain and magnet, Vickie's mementos of most trips we've taken together. Arches is by far, in my opinion, greater than the Grand Canyon! Quite frankly, most national parks I've visited are better than that!
Leaving Arches, we crossed the Colorado River and turned on to Utah route 28. This road followed the river for many miles and would be the first in a running theme of our week-long trip: sharp, curvy roads requiring the utmost driver attention! After about 40 miles, the road opened up into the desert again. Access to I 70 via 28 came up, but due to my Google Earth research, I took a different road which saved backtracking and still ended up on 70!
Twenty miles later, we entered Colorado. I always enjoy this state, as there is so much to see and do no matter where you are. Soon after entering the state, we rolled through the Grand Junction area and stopped for a quick bite and leg stretch at Taco John's, one of Vickie's favorite places to eat. It is a shame we don't have one here because their food is quite good.
We got back on to 70 and exhaustion was hitting me fast due to lack of sleep and heavy concentration on the curvy route 28. Vickie had made reservations in Parachute for a motel. We had tried to find a campsite, but nothing was available spacewise. I was grateful, for a real bed was what I needed. At exit 75, we entered Parachute, checked in to the Parachute Inn, and quickly got comfy. After being sent out for water for the Waterpik, I was asleep in quick order. I never even bothered to check what was in the office crockpot for free dinner.
Despite the lack of sleep, this was a great day and I have the pics to show for it!
Friday, June 30, 2017
Summer 2017 Road trip part 1: To Utah or Bust!
Today I begin a 7 part series on a quite anticipated family vacation. We've been flying here and there for 5 straight summers and I thought it would be fun to go on a family road trip. I actually thought this back in January. Vickie and I agreed that a circular trip to South Dakota and back in a week would be just the right thing. When we received our tax refund in late January, we put half of it on a rental car. Vickie ordered us a Chevy Impala.
After a few days of packing and dealing with pesky HOA issues (which made us want to leave even more), my friend Marla drove me to the rental car compound (in reality an unused corner in a GMC dealership). Expecting the Impala all shined and ready for me to destroy, I was informed that it would take at least an hour to get an Impala from the airport rental warehouse, but if I wanted there was a modern Ford Mustang just about ready to go.
This was to become one of a few mistakes on my end. Instead of doing the SMART thing and waiting for what we ordered, the impatient me did the ME thing and said yes. It drove well and had Sirius aboard, as well as a nuclear plant's control panel to decode. It also had a fairly small trunk in stark contrast to its large engine. As we had luggage and camping gear to pack as well as 3 passengers, it became a tight squeeze.
We technically left for our adventure at 1:30ish. However, there is this strange galactic-league magnetic pull that prevents you from leaving Vegas without applied herculean effort. We first had to get a few food supplies, ice, gas, and a quick snack before leaving. Even then, making our way to 215 and then 15 to leave the state of Nevada proved difficult. It was 5:00 when we crossed the Nevada line.
The 29 miles of Arizona that I 15 traverses are quite unique in that they are not connected to the rest of the state in any way. Old U.S. 91 services Littlefield and Beaver Dam before heading in a roundabout way to St. George Utah. 15 opened in Arizona in 1973 to wind through the Virgin River Gorge after Littlefield, making the journey to St. George about 20 miles shorter. It is a beautiful canyon both treasured and feared by drivers. Indeed, if a lane is closed, it can be a slow, treacherous trek among all the truck traffic.
When 15 emerges from the canyon, the landscape changes dramatically. Instead of a bleak brown desert, a series of high majestic cliffs in Zion National Park in the distance shows that Utah will be a different experience, although desert is a big part of it, just in a different way. Red rock cliffs in St. George make that town a pleasant place to drive through. Afterward, 15 begins a steep climb in the mountains with several exits that were once labeled as "RANCH EXIT", now with names like "SNOWFIELD" even though no such towns exist.
After the climb, 15 emerges in a lush green valley and enters Cedar City. We stopped for a little pick-me-up there, at which point it was almost 8pm. After a stop at a store, we continued down the road watching the sun go down. After a series of summits and valleys, we turned at the exit for I 70 east. After a sharp rise into the mountains and subsequent altitude drop, 70 entered the Sevier River valley through a series of small towns. We turned off at one of these towns, Richfield, to find our stop for the night: a KOA campsite!
We had never done this before. My colleague Christine had lent us her family's tent, 2 sleeping bags, and a lantern. We did a practice tent setup in our living room a few days before just to get it right. What we should have done is turn the lights out because we ended up pitching the tent at 10:30! We'd bought a queen-sized air mattress and a pump, but had not tested them, so most of the air we'd put into it was gone quickly. It was a tough night to sleep indeed!
I will say this, though. In all of my travels through various states, Utah remains number 2 in my list! Number 1 will come later!
After a few days of packing and dealing with pesky HOA issues (which made us want to leave even more), my friend Marla drove me to the rental car compound (in reality an unused corner in a GMC dealership). Expecting the Impala all shined and ready for me to destroy, I was informed that it would take at least an hour to get an Impala from the airport rental warehouse, but if I wanted there was a modern Ford Mustang just about ready to go.
This was to become one of a few mistakes on my end. Instead of doing the SMART thing and waiting for what we ordered, the impatient me did the ME thing and said yes. It drove well and had Sirius aboard, as well as a nuclear plant's control panel to decode. It also had a fairly small trunk in stark contrast to its large engine. As we had luggage and camping gear to pack as well as 3 passengers, it became a tight squeeze.
We technically left for our adventure at 1:30ish. However, there is this strange galactic-league magnetic pull that prevents you from leaving Vegas without applied herculean effort. We first had to get a few food supplies, ice, gas, and a quick snack before leaving. Even then, making our way to 215 and then 15 to leave the state of Nevada proved difficult. It was 5:00 when we crossed the Nevada line.
The 29 miles of Arizona that I 15 traverses are quite unique in that they are not connected to the rest of the state in any way. Old U.S. 91 services Littlefield and Beaver Dam before heading in a roundabout way to St. George Utah. 15 opened in Arizona in 1973 to wind through the Virgin River Gorge after Littlefield, making the journey to St. George about 20 miles shorter. It is a beautiful canyon both treasured and feared by drivers. Indeed, if a lane is closed, it can be a slow, treacherous trek among all the truck traffic.
When 15 emerges from the canyon, the landscape changes dramatically. Instead of a bleak brown desert, a series of high majestic cliffs in Zion National Park in the distance shows that Utah will be a different experience, although desert is a big part of it, just in a different way. Red rock cliffs in St. George make that town a pleasant place to drive through. Afterward, 15 begins a steep climb in the mountains with several exits that were once labeled as "RANCH EXIT", now with names like "SNOWFIELD" even though no such towns exist.
After the climb, 15 emerges in a lush green valley and enters Cedar City. We stopped for a little pick-me-up there, at which point it was almost 8pm. After a stop at a store, we continued down the road watching the sun go down. After a series of summits and valleys, we turned at the exit for I 70 east. After a sharp rise into the mountains and subsequent altitude drop, 70 entered the Sevier River valley through a series of small towns. We turned off at one of these towns, Richfield, to find our stop for the night: a KOA campsite!
We had never done this before. My colleague Christine had lent us her family's tent, 2 sleeping bags, and a lantern. We did a practice tent setup in our living room a few days before just to get it right. What we should have done is turn the lights out because we ended up pitching the tent at 10:30! We'd bought a queen-sized air mattress and a pump, but had not tested them, so most of the air we'd put into it was gone quickly. It was a tough night to sleep indeed!
I will say this, though. In all of my travels through various states, Utah remains number 2 in my list! Number 1 will come later!
Sunday, May 28, 2017
End of year Boogie
As I draw my 15th year as a teacher to a close next week, all I can say is BLAHH! I enjoy being a teacher and introducing my students to new concepts such as being quiet when I ask for it, doing homework when I assign it, and not rubbing their pencils against their desks trying to start Indian style fire pits. However, this has probably been my most trying year as a 2nd grade teacher, and teaching 2nd grade has been my greatest 5 years of my career.
Oh, I've had more trying than this year! In my 3rd year of teaching, I was teaching 5th grade in a portable that had trouble remembering there was an AC unit on the roof, making us all psychotic before Halloween. My 9th year was in a 4th grade room after a stressful 2 weeks of emergency moving to a new apartment and therefore having no prep time in my new classroom at a new school. By November, I was beat and I was used to having Novembers off in a year-round school. By January it was hell and by May I was ready to quit teaching to be an accountant.
Those 2 years were horrific by any means, and certainly make this year look like a 6oz filet mignon!However, even this year was a challenge by 2nd grade standards. In the past, the formula was easy. I told kids to do something, and after repeating my directions 40-50 times, they got it. This year, it took at least 100 times and that was on a good day.
I'd love to blame the lack of attention on solar flares, the plight of the Chargers, Wayne Newton, anything external. However, the problem goes deeper than that. With a few exceptions, the parenting has really declined. Getting my kids' parents to force them do homework at gunpoint is no longer easy. Parents also seem to have a highly exaggerated sense of their children's abilities, thinking that a child in 2nd grade reading at a Kindergarten level will be Mensa next year.
However, all will be once again coming to an end. We are getting ready to stage our annual end-of-year play. It contains a song that always brings a tear to my eye called "Things Change". That is truer this year than any before this because my own daughter is in the play. She is getting bigger all the time as well as smarter and sassier.
After the play, its one more day then it's all over. I say goodbye to another set of kids I will see occasionally in the halls in the next few years, lucky if half of them are left by the time they reach 5th grade. For some legal reason, I have to keep my daughter.
I do have to say that all of my 2nd graders through the years have been the best kids I have taught. During my years of teaching 5th, maybe 1 or 2 were memorable in a good way. 1st grade is a blur, though I keep in touch with one of the kids fairly regularly. 4th grade seems like a twilight zone 2-year period, though the second year wasn't too bad.
Now what? Oh yes, another blur in the year called summer. My first real summer vacay as a teacher came in 2011 when I ended my year early to become an accountant (yeah, that would have involved more schooling, no thank you). From 2003-10, I enjoyed sporadic 3-4 week periods of break in the year-round system ( no more of that!). From 2012-16 we took a plane trip each summer. Florida, Colorado Springs, Rapid City, Tennessee, and Michigan were our respective destinations. This year, however, we decided to sacrifice pressurized air in favor of the open road for a week-long road trip in late June. After that, we have July and a week in August and then it's back to the grind.
As we are starting early to end early, we lose 2 weeks of break. Some feel gipped by that, but I just shrug. At the 2 month mark I'm ready for action...time to rub some pencils together!
Oh, I've had more trying than this year! In my 3rd year of teaching, I was teaching 5th grade in a portable that had trouble remembering there was an AC unit on the roof, making us all psychotic before Halloween. My 9th year was in a 4th grade room after a stressful 2 weeks of emergency moving to a new apartment and therefore having no prep time in my new classroom at a new school. By November, I was beat and I was used to having Novembers off in a year-round school. By January it was hell and by May I was ready to quit teaching to be an accountant.
Those 2 years were horrific by any means, and certainly make this year look like a 6oz filet mignon!However, even this year was a challenge by 2nd grade standards. In the past, the formula was easy. I told kids to do something, and after repeating my directions 40-50 times, they got it. This year, it took at least 100 times and that was on a good day.
I'd love to blame the lack of attention on solar flares, the plight of the Chargers, Wayne Newton, anything external. However, the problem goes deeper than that. With a few exceptions, the parenting has really declined. Getting my kids' parents to force them do homework at gunpoint is no longer easy. Parents also seem to have a highly exaggerated sense of their children's abilities, thinking that a child in 2nd grade reading at a Kindergarten level will be Mensa next year.
However, all will be once again coming to an end. We are getting ready to stage our annual end-of-year play. It contains a song that always brings a tear to my eye called "Things Change". That is truer this year than any before this because my own daughter is in the play. She is getting bigger all the time as well as smarter and sassier.
After the play, its one more day then it's all over. I say goodbye to another set of kids I will see occasionally in the halls in the next few years, lucky if half of them are left by the time they reach 5th grade. For some legal reason, I have to keep my daughter.
I do have to say that all of my 2nd graders through the years have been the best kids I have taught. During my years of teaching 5th, maybe 1 or 2 were memorable in a good way. 1st grade is a blur, though I keep in touch with one of the kids fairly regularly. 4th grade seems like a twilight zone 2-year period, though the second year wasn't too bad.
Now what? Oh yes, another blur in the year called summer. My first real summer vacay as a teacher came in 2011 when I ended my year early to become an accountant (yeah, that would have involved more schooling, no thank you). From 2003-10, I enjoyed sporadic 3-4 week periods of break in the year-round system ( no more of that!). From 2012-16 we took a plane trip each summer. Florida, Colorado Springs, Rapid City, Tennessee, and Michigan were our respective destinations. This year, however, we decided to sacrifice pressurized air in favor of the open road for a week-long road trip in late June. After that, we have July and a week in August and then it's back to the grind.
As we are starting early to end early, we lose 2 weeks of break. Some feel gipped by that, but I just shrug. At the 2 month mark I'm ready for action...time to rub some pencils together!
Monday, April 17, 2017
Jedi Grievance Meeting
Ok, it's time to clean out the trash. There comes a time every so often when my head needs to get all the bad ideas cleared out and by golly writing them down is the best I know how to do it. So, here goes.
If anyone has ever seen a Star Wars movie, particularly the evil prequel trilogy that is so full of CGI you have trouble believing Obi Wan is played by a real actor, you might notice the term "Republic credits" being bandied about. Now, your average Star Wars character probably has this currency in some part of their clothing. However, it is noticeable that our mighty and "pure" Jedi have these credits, too.
Jedi? Money? Is it possible that our heroes (if you like the good guys) get paid? Qui Gonn had money to wager for Anakin's freedom and Obi Wan always seemed to have space saloon funds.
My question is, how exactly does the pay thing work? The only way I can see it is through the eyes of a Nevada teacher. Try to imagine a meeting of Jedi, call it a grievance meeting, with the head of payroll led by Master Jedi Jamuel M. Saxon (hey I don't want to get sued here!)
Master Saxon: All right you mother&*%$ing Jedi, this meeting-
Master Note-taker, 2nd degree: Master, this is Star Wars, not Pulp Fiction
Master Saxon: Oh, right. Sorry. All right you weasly Jedi, this meeting is called to order.
Master Yoda: Mmmmmm, get this crap over with we should. Fight separatists we should, mmmmm.
Master Note-taker: Must I write every single mmmm? This transcript will be the length of War & Peace if I do.
Master Saxon: Don't mess with the Yoda. Write everything. Who's up first?
Jedi Fred: I don't know, who's up first?
Master Saxon: You f#$%in with me?
Master Notetaker: Master-
Master Saxon: Sorry, I forgot. Get on with it, Fred
Jedi Fred: That's my issue. All of us regular Jedi never get called by our title, just our first names. We're no longer padawans.
Master Yoda: A bug up your ass you have,mmmmm.
Master Saxon: You have a motion, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Yes, I move that us working stiffs get called Jedi before our official names.
Master Saxon: Noted. Do we have a second for that motion?
Jedi Sylvester: I second.
Master Saxon (waving his hand): You don't need to second, you're fine with how things are.
Jedi Sylvester: I don't need to second, I'm fine with how things are!
Jedi Fred: Hey! I saw that hand-waving bit!
Master Saxon: What? I was swatting a fly, mother fu-oops, strike that. Fine, from now on, all Jedi will be called Jedi before their names.
Master Yoda: Boring this is, mmmm.
Master Saxon: Anything else before we get to the matter of pay? No? Good. The working stiff Jedi union rep is complaining about the pay scale. He's been complaining for 14 parsecs.
Master Note-taker: Master, a parsec is a unit of distance.
Master Saxon: Yeah and he was griping for that distance on a shuttle flight! There were no Master-class seats left so I had to sit with him in coach.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: I have legitimate issues!
Master Saxon: No longer! Master Yoda and I drafted a new contract.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Really? I can't wait to just sign it without getting all working stiffs' input and approval.
Master Saxon: Let me describe it anyway. This contract maps out the pay and requirements for pay raises according to Jedi development. The current pay for Master Jedi will be raised from 400 to 500 credits per month, as provided by Republic graft and bribery and Trade Federation heists. Working stiff Jedi will receive 300 credits instead of 200 per month. Your pay is guaranteed by fixed pod races on Tatooine.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: How can we bring that up?
Master Saxon: You follow our script well. Working stiff pay can be brought up within 2 years by participating in any of the following: lectures in broken English by Yoda, assisting in missions led by Master Jedi but not receiving the glory, being duel dummies for the younglings, trying to outdrink Master Kenobi twice a day for a month, and listening to Jedi Skywalker whine. Actually, I'll double the credit on that one because I don't want to listen to him anymore.
Jedi Fred: In addition to this so-called raise, do we get a cost-of-living increase as well?
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, barrel of laughs you are!
Jedi Fred: I don't think so. On the last two missions, I had to run like a wuss because I couldn't afford new power cells for my 12-inch saber.
Master Jedi Butthead: Yeah, he said 12-inch saber!
Master Jedi Beavis: Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!
Jedi Fred: Yeah, you laugh when it goes limp....oh forget it! Speaking of which, how did these 2 become masters?
Master Saxon: Palpatine seems to like them, so you know, whatever he says goes.
Jedi Fred: So what about the cost-of-living?
Master Saxon: Comes out of your tunic.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Ready to sign!
Jedi Fred: Don't we get a say in this?
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: You just said something. 'Nuff said (signs document)
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, adjourned this meeting is.
Jedi Fred: Now wait a minute!
Master Saxon: You read the Jedi manual, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Not regularly.
Master Saxon: There's a quote I have memorized from the Qui Gonn section: "The path of the Jedi is surrounded by the evil of the Sith. Strong with the Force is the one who in the name of the Light Side kicks the Dark Side's ass for he is truly the boss. And I will strike upon any with my lightsaber those who attempt to poison and destroy the Jedi Order. And you know my name is Qui Gonn when I lay my vengeance-er, Force upon you!"
Jedi Fred: You going to quote from Snakes on a Plane now?
I truly feel better now. I can't come up with a "Basement Generation" post every time, after all!
If anyone has ever seen a Star Wars movie, particularly the evil prequel trilogy that is so full of CGI you have trouble believing Obi Wan is played by a real actor, you might notice the term "Republic credits" being bandied about. Now, your average Star Wars character probably has this currency in some part of their clothing. However, it is noticeable that our mighty and "pure" Jedi have these credits, too.
Jedi? Money? Is it possible that our heroes (if you like the good guys) get paid? Qui Gonn had money to wager for Anakin's freedom and Obi Wan always seemed to have space saloon funds.
My question is, how exactly does the pay thing work? The only way I can see it is through the eyes of a Nevada teacher. Try to imagine a meeting of Jedi, call it a grievance meeting, with the head of payroll led by Master Jedi Jamuel M. Saxon (hey I don't want to get sued here!)
Master Saxon: All right you mother&*%$ing Jedi, this meeting-
Master Note-taker, 2nd degree: Master, this is Star Wars, not Pulp Fiction
Master Saxon: Oh, right. Sorry. All right you weasly Jedi, this meeting is called to order.
Master Yoda: Mmmmmm, get this crap over with we should. Fight separatists we should, mmmmm.
Master Note-taker: Must I write every single mmmm? This transcript will be the length of War & Peace if I do.
Master Saxon: Don't mess with the Yoda. Write everything. Who's up first?
Jedi Fred: I don't know, who's up first?
Master Saxon: You f#$%in with me?
Master Notetaker: Master-
Master Saxon: Sorry, I forgot. Get on with it, Fred
Jedi Fred: That's my issue. All of us regular Jedi never get called by our title, just our first names. We're no longer padawans.
Master Yoda: A bug up your ass you have,mmmmm.
Master Saxon: You have a motion, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Yes, I move that us working stiffs get called Jedi before our official names.
Master Saxon: Noted. Do we have a second for that motion?
Jedi Sylvester: I second.
Master Saxon (waving his hand): You don't need to second, you're fine with how things are.
Jedi Sylvester: I don't need to second, I'm fine with how things are!
Jedi Fred: Hey! I saw that hand-waving bit!
Master Saxon: What? I was swatting a fly, mother fu-oops, strike that. Fine, from now on, all Jedi will be called Jedi before their names.
Master Yoda: Boring this is, mmmm.
Master Saxon: Anything else before we get to the matter of pay? No? Good. The working stiff Jedi union rep is complaining about the pay scale. He's been complaining for 14 parsecs.
Master Note-taker: Master, a parsec is a unit of distance.
Master Saxon: Yeah and he was griping for that distance on a shuttle flight! There were no Master-class seats left so I had to sit with him in coach.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: I have legitimate issues!
Master Saxon: No longer! Master Yoda and I drafted a new contract.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Really? I can't wait to just sign it without getting all working stiffs' input and approval.
Master Saxon: Let me describe it anyway. This contract maps out the pay and requirements for pay raises according to Jedi development. The current pay for Master Jedi will be raised from 400 to 500 credits per month, as provided by Republic graft and bribery and Trade Federation heists. Working stiff Jedi will receive 300 credits instead of 200 per month. Your pay is guaranteed by fixed pod races on Tatooine.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: How can we bring that up?
Master Saxon: You follow our script well. Working stiff pay can be brought up within 2 years by participating in any of the following: lectures in broken English by Yoda, assisting in missions led by Master Jedi but not receiving the glory, being duel dummies for the younglings, trying to outdrink Master Kenobi twice a day for a month, and listening to Jedi Skywalker whine. Actually, I'll double the credit on that one because I don't want to listen to him anymore.
Jedi Fred: In addition to this so-called raise, do we get a cost-of-living increase as well?
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, barrel of laughs you are!
Jedi Fred: I don't think so. On the last two missions, I had to run like a wuss because I couldn't afford new power cells for my 12-inch saber.
Master Jedi Butthead: Yeah, he said 12-inch saber!
Master Jedi Beavis: Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!
Jedi Fred: Yeah, you laugh when it goes limp....oh forget it! Speaking of which, how did these 2 become masters?
Master Saxon: Palpatine seems to like them, so you know, whatever he says goes.
Jedi Fred: So what about the cost-of-living?
Master Saxon: Comes out of your tunic.
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: Ready to sign!
Jedi Fred: Don't we get a say in this?
Jedi Working Stiff Rep: You just said something. 'Nuff said (signs document)
Master Yoda: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, adjourned this meeting is.
Jedi Fred: Now wait a minute!
Master Saxon: You read the Jedi manual, JEDI Fred?
Jedi Fred: Not regularly.
Master Saxon: There's a quote I have memorized from the Qui Gonn section: "The path of the Jedi is surrounded by the evil of the Sith. Strong with the Force is the one who in the name of the Light Side kicks the Dark Side's ass for he is truly the boss. And I will strike upon any with my lightsaber those who attempt to poison and destroy the Jedi Order. And you know my name is Qui Gonn when I lay my vengeance-er, Force upon you!"
Jedi Fred: You going to quote from Snakes on a Plane now?
I truly feel better now. I can't come up with a "Basement Generation" post every time, after all!
Saturday, April 15, 2017
Ely
There comes a time for everyone when, if on vacation, cabin fever sets in. Spring Break always sounds really great, and the first few days are mostly delightful and restful bliss. Soon after, you look around to see the family, furniture, even neighbors have grown vampire fangs the length of a Slim Jim jerky-wannabe. That's when it is time for a getaway.
For us, the getaway was Ely, a pleasant Old West town just 300 miles from home and 60 miles from the Utah state line. The drive itself is quite pleasant although long. After leaving town on I-15 north in late morning, we took U.S. 93 north, but first grabbed a little needed Subway grub since we'd neglected breakfast (common for us on vacay). 93 goes through miles of desert valley surrounded by various mountain ranges. After a while we crossed into Lincoln County. One thing people should know about Nevada counties is that they are HUGE! As the state is so sparsely populated, there is no need for much regional government. 93 is in Lincoln County for 172 miles.
After 38 of those miles, we stopped in Alamo for, you guessed it, a rental car! No, just a bathroom break. After Alamo and later on Ash Springs, there is a decision making point: the long way or short way to Ely, a difference of 45 miles. We chose the long way, meaning we stayed on 93, which veered east for over 40 miles before heading north through Caliente (bathroom and snack stop), Panaca, and Pioche. There is a warning in Pioche: LAST SERVICES FOR 113 MILES! They aren't kidding. While there is now more greenery among the mountain peaks and valleys, there is a definite shortage of people...and traffic. We were lucky to have the road to ourselves for the most part. The one bit of excitement was the crossing into White Pine County. 26 miles later, we hit a cool place. Well, it's cool for a road nerd like myself, anyone else is saying, "ARE WE THERE YET?!" This cool place is where 93 meets the duplex of U.S. 6 and U.S. 50, making a highway triplex for the last 26 miles to Ely. I love these shared roads because eventually they split for their own destinations.
Ely is the place for that split. The first to abandon the trio is 6, which heads southwest toward Tonopah and eventually ending in Bishop, California. 50 and 93 share another mile before splitting. 93 heads north to cross I 80 in Wells and continue to Idaho, Montana, and the Canadian border. I want to explore 93 further one day north of Twin Falls, Idaho.
We'd made reservations at the White Pine Motel. This means that we made sure we had a place to sleep in a pleasant yet aging motel. Nothing special, but not bad, either. Dinner was at the Silver State Restaurant across the street. Once again, not great but not bad, they just need to season the food more. After that it was time to retire for the evening. A nice end to the night was occasional snow flurries. Ely can get this all year!
The next morning, we got up (no kidding), dressed, packed, and headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. They did slightly better at this. Afterward, we went to our reason for the trip: the Railroad Museum. This place is quite a marvel, a wonderful blend of railroad nerd artifacts and history nerd artifacts. The engine house is the jewel of the place, and anyone who is not impressed by the engine collection just has no soul. The smell of oily maintenance just adds to the charm...as well as lung gunk buildup.
We had a special treat there. When we paid for our admission, we were asked if we wanted to be on the train to act as extras in a movie. With nothing else to do, we agreed and boarded the train. The seats were a bit cramped, but it was fun sitting there. After a little while of nothing, the crew started to get things going, and we figured out that the movie was a Bollywood production. The train got hooked up to the engine and we began heading west for 7 miles. The track runs pretty much along 50 into the canyons west of Ely. After a point near a bridge, the train went back to Ely. All along the way, we were listening to the same scene in Hindi being shot over and over again. Some of the actors were amused at the repetitiveness of it all. As for me, the thrill of a train ride and going through 2 tunnels made my day!
After getting back to the station, a lot of nothing happened so we got off. We could have reboarded as they were doing another run, but I was tired of the entertainment biz by then and wanted to see more of the museum. The extras had been promised lunch, but we weren't in the mood for Indian food. We checked everything in the museum out, bought some baubles, and left.
Hungry, we went to the Jailhouse Café downtown. Nothing fancy. You walked up, ordered, paid, and waited for food and drink. Quite the amateur effort. After the lackluster lunch, we drove on U.S. 50 along where the train had run for 6 miles.
Let me diverge a bit here for U.S. 50. It was once a transcontinental highway, running from Ocean Beach, Maryland to San Francisco. As the Interstate system grew, the new routes and pavement negated the need for the old roads and their route numbers. 50 suffered a few casualties, the biggest one in California where it was cut back to end in West Sacramento. It also had a big route change in Utah after I 70 was completed. Instead of following 6 from Green River to Ely, it followed 70 to Salina, where it traversed north to Scipio, then west to meet 6 near Delta. 50 was also duplexed with other Interstate highways in other states and was, occasionally, poorly signed.
U.S. 50 in Nevada is a treasure I want to explore one day. It is nicknamed "The Loneliest Road in America" in this state and rightly so. Interstate 80 made life a whole lot easier for traffic, particularly trucks, when it was completed in the 1980s, making 50 a deserted piece of pavement from Carson City to Ely. A tourism-boosting group devised a challenge for travelers to drive across Nevada on 50, with a book to be stamped in each town. There aren't many. After Carson City there is Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and finally Ely. I don't count the potion of 50 between Lake Tahoe and Carson City as it is heavily traveled and is a divided highway.
As I wipe a wistful tear away, let's return to our trip. Returning to Ely, we refueled (interesting to note that gas stations in Ely use the 85 octane as their "regular" fuel as the area is of higher elevation), then headed to U.S. 6 west...I never go back the exact same way unless necessary. 6 ascends a summit, then heads into a desert valley. It continues this pattern of summits and valleys all the way to California, and could be considered the true loneliest road west of Lund Junction. At Lund Junction, we headed south on Nevada Route 318. This is the short route to Ely. It is more of a straight shot and goes through White Pine, Nye, and Lincoln Counties. It passes through pleasant Lund, then 90 miles later Hiko, along with beautiful mountain scenery and a few passes before rejoining with 93 just north of Ash Springs. After that it was backtracking home.
I love 2 day jaunts like this! Truly the highlight of Spring Break!
For us, the getaway was Ely, a pleasant Old West town just 300 miles from home and 60 miles from the Utah state line. The drive itself is quite pleasant although long. After leaving town on I-15 north in late morning, we took U.S. 93 north, but first grabbed a little needed Subway grub since we'd neglected breakfast (common for us on vacay). 93 goes through miles of desert valley surrounded by various mountain ranges. After a while we crossed into Lincoln County. One thing people should know about Nevada counties is that they are HUGE! As the state is so sparsely populated, there is no need for much regional government. 93 is in Lincoln County for 172 miles.
After 38 of those miles, we stopped in Alamo for, you guessed it, a rental car! No, just a bathroom break. After Alamo and later on Ash Springs, there is a decision making point: the long way or short way to Ely, a difference of 45 miles. We chose the long way, meaning we stayed on 93, which veered east for over 40 miles before heading north through Caliente (bathroom and snack stop), Panaca, and Pioche. There is a warning in Pioche: LAST SERVICES FOR 113 MILES! They aren't kidding. While there is now more greenery among the mountain peaks and valleys, there is a definite shortage of people...and traffic. We were lucky to have the road to ourselves for the most part. The one bit of excitement was the crossing into White Pine County. 26 miles later, we hit a cool place. Well, it's cool for a road nerd like myself, anyone else is saying, "ARE WE THERE YET?!" This cool place is where 93 meets the duplex of U.S. 6 and U.S. 50, making a highway triplex for the last 26 miles to Ely. I love these shared roads because eventually they split for their own destinations.
Ely is the place for that split. The first to abandon the trio is 6, which heads southwest toward Tonopah and eventually ending in Bishop, California. 50 and 93 share another mile before splitting. 93 heads north to cross I 80 in Wells and continue to Idaho, Montana, and the Canadian border. I want to explore 93 further one day north of Twin Falls, Idaho.
We'd made reservations at the White Pine Motel. This means that we made sure we had a place to sleep in a pleasant yet aging motel. Nothing special, but not bad, either. Dinner was at the Silver State Restaurant across the street. Once again, not great but not bad, they just need to season the food more. After that it was time to retire for the evening. A nice end to the night was occasional snow flurries. Ely can get this all year!
The next morning, we got up (no kidding), dressed, packed, and headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. They did slightly better at this. Afterward, we went to our reason for the trip: the Railroad Museum. This place is quite a marvel, a wonderful blend of railroad nerd artifacts and history nerd artifacts. The engine house is the jewel of the place, and anyone who is not impressed by the engine collection just has no soul. The smell of oily maintenance just adds to the charm...as well as lung gunk buildup.
We had a special treat there. When we paid for our admission, we were asked if we wanted to be on the train to act as extras in a movie. With nothing else to do, we agreed and boarded the train. The seats were a bit cramped, but it was fun sitting there. After a little while of nothing, the crew started to get things going, and we figured out that the movie was a Bollywood production. The train got hooked up to the engine and we began heading west for 7 miles. The track runs pretty much along 50 into the canyons west of Ely. After a point near a bridge, the train went back to Ely. All along the way, we were listening to the same scene in Hindi being shot over and over again. Some of the actors were amused at the repetitiveness of it all. As for me, the thrill of a train ride and going through 2 tunnels made my day!
After getting back to the station, a lot of nothing happened so we got off. We could have reboarded as they were doing another run, but I was tired of the entertainment biz by then and wanted to see more of the museum. The extras had been promised lunch, but we weren't in the mood for Indian food. We checked everything in the museum out, bought some baubles, and left.
Hungry, we went to the Jailhouse Café downtown. Nothing fancy. You walked up, ordered, paid, and waited for food and drink. Quite the amateur effort. After the lackluster lunch, we drove on U.S. 50 along where the train had run for 6 miles.
Let me diverge a bit here for U.S. 50. It was once a transcontinental highway, running from Ocean Beach, Maryland to San Francisco. As the Interstate system grew, the new routes and pavement negated the need for the old roads and their route numbers. 50 suffered a few casualties, the biggest one in California where it was cut back to end in West Sacramento. It also had a big route change in Utah after I 70 was completed. Instead of following 6 from Green River to Ely, it followed 70 to Salina, where it traversed north to Scipio, then west to meet 6 near Delta. 50 was also duplexed with other Interstate highways in other states and was, occasionally, poorly signed.
U.S. 50 in Nevada is a treasure I want to explore one day. It is nicknamed "The Loneliest Road in America" in this state and rightly so. Interstate 80 made life a whole lot easier for traffic, particularly trucks, when it was completed in the 1980s, making 50 a deserted piece of pavement from Carson City to Ely. A tourism-boosting group devised a challenge for travelers to drive across Nevada on 50, with a book to be stamped in each town. There aren't many. After Carson City there is Fallon, Austin, Eureka, and finally Ely. I don't count the potion of 50 between Lake Tahoe and Carson City as it is heavily traveled and is a divided highway.
As I wipe a wistful tear away, let's return to our trip. Returning to Ely, we refueled (interesting to note that gas stations in Ely use the 85 octane as their "regular" fuel as the area is of higher elevation), then headed to U.S. 6 west...I never go back the exact same way unless necessary. 6 ascends a summit, then heads into a desert valley. It continues this pattern of summits and valleys all the way to California, and could be considered the true loneliest road west of Lund Junction. At Lund Junction, we headed south on Nevada Route 318. This is the short route to Ely. It is more of a straight shot and goes through White Pine, Nye, and Lincoln Counties. It passes through pleasant Lund, then 90 miles later Hiko, along with beautiful mountain scenery and a few passes before rejoining with 93 just north of Ash Springs. After that it was backtracking home.
I love 2 day jaunts like this! Truly the highlight of Spring Break!
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