What can I say? I love a good story, particularly when it's a mystery. It's so hard to find the source of any these days. I think James Patterson and David Baldacci have done so much that their stories have become predictable. I don't mean that I know what will come next, just that the anticipation of a plot point or twist have made their books readable, but forgettable after the first reading or audio book listening. My favorite author Robert B. Parker passed away 2 years ago and I am ambivalent about reading his successor's Spenser novels. Luckily, though, I have found a source for my original love of mysteries available to me.
In early 1986 I found USA was running the old mystery/thriller soap "The Edge of Night". I was immediately hooked on this show. The mysteries were engaging (most of the time), with a master writer named Henry Slesar at the helm. Unfortunately, my dad ddn't like the idea of his son watching a soap (he never even tried to watch at least 1 with me), and every so often my tapings were sabotaged not through malice, but he didn't realize I was recording so he left the cable box on a different channel. However, these instances were only occasional.
As I said, most of the stories were engaging. When I started watching, the Gunther Wagner murder story was in high gear. in late 1981. After that, the return of the real Sky Whitney and his trying to reclaim his fortune, the CEA (CIA clone) accusing Sky of treason because of his imposter's doings, the Ted Loomis story, the Nora Fulton murder, Louis Van Dine trying to take over Monticello (the show's setting, not Thomas Jefferson's home) with mass hypnosis, and the Logan Swift murder trial.
However, other stories were not as engaging: Smiley Wilson's (Frank Gorshin) scam to rob Raven Whitney of her millions (only partially interesting due to the real Sky trying to reclaim that money at the same time), Jody Travis (Lori Loughlin) being duped into playing the martyr of Eden, and most of 1984 with the exception of the Logan Swift mystery. However, I was a loyal viewer and stayed with it right to the end. In its last year, I began writing stories in its vein (and I was still 16 at the time!).
There was a good amount of humor sprinkled throughout the show as well as superb dialogue between the characters, especially in Mr. Slesar's era. in the last year and a half Lee Sheldon succeeded Slesar and the writing got more humorous in a corny way and less witty (I'll take the wit any day). The humor counterbalanced the crime drama well. As the theme song said, "The Edge of Night: half dark, half light)
Well, lately I came upon some EDGE episodes from months before I began watching 27 years ago. I am floored once again by the writing and good acting! Larkin Malloy and David Froman as the fake Sky (Jefferson Brown} and Gunther Wagner respectively made everything worthwhile. I fast forward through the soapy elements, as they're really not my thing. I am hoping that by the end of this year I'll have all the available episodes that I want. from the years I watched.
The fake Sky/Gunther storyline goes as follows (basic plot points only):
1. Sky Whitney arrives in town and begins a relationship with Raven Swift soon after.
2. After much reluctance, Sky proposes to Raven and marries her 8 months later.
3. Raven finds a picture of Sky with some people, including a man named Jefferson Brown. Brown has a peculiar scar on his back that Sky has as well.
4. Raven begins asking questions and Sky panics and hires thug Romeo Slade to kill Raven while everyone is away from the mansion except Raven.
5. Just as Slade is about of kill Raven, Sky, having a change of heart, returns and blows Slade away with a shotgun.
6. Sky reveals that he is Jefferson Brown and how he came to be Sky and Raven is just happy to know the truth.
7. Sky's evil servant/henchman Gunther Wagner, who has contempt for his boss, figures out Sky's murder plot and blackmails him.
8. Sky's plans to open his dance show are foiled when his star dancer Jody quits, and Sky blames her boyfriend Gavin Wylie for the loss and plans to kill him (he now seems to have a taste for murder)
9. After Gavin reveals that he has a gun in case Gunther bothers him again (Gunther broke his leg previously), Sky concocts a plan to make Gavin shoot Gunther with blanks and send Gunther away from town with a huge payoff.
10. Gunther puts the blanks in the gun, playfully assaults Jody, and Gavin confronts Gunther. They end up struggling for the gun and Gunther is "shot".
11. Gavin runs for help and Sky arrives, changes the gun's ammo to real and blows Gunther away for real, ending the blackmail and framing Gavin for the murder for the next 5 months.
Plot points 3 through 11 all happen in 2 months time! This is why I love the show!
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Meet the Security Risk
The funniest thing happened to us. We were on an airplane to Colorado Springs and they showed an in-flight movie (I'd LOVE to see an out-flight movie example, though). The movie had some scenes of violence that my daughter didn't really need to see. I asked the stewardess/flight attendant/ air deity/ beverage commissioner, whatever they want to be called this week, if they could raise, not the monitor in front of us. She looked at the wrestling unsupervised 7-year olds behind us and knew they wouldn't mind. She then smiled and said she would be right back. It was quite a long wait, because the next thing we knew, we were getting off the plane in Salt Lake City. When asked why, we were told we were a security risk! Now, at first I was flattered that they'd think this of me, a guy who thoroughly rinses his nail clippers after violent nose hair removal! However, I then realized that our flying future was in serious jeopardy!
Of course, I then came to my senses and continued bowling on the WII. This didn't happen to us, but it did happen to an unlucky family flying from Denver to Baltimore. Although personally I would have stayed in Denver for aesthetic reasons, this family was rerouted to Chicago because of the movie thing. The two parents and their 4-year old and 8-year old were considered security risks for asking that the movie monitor be turned off or raised or whatever because the movie being shown was not ok for the child to watch!
Is this what it has come down to? Not only can we not bring our own food and beverages until we get past the security rape and into the overpriced airport food court, not only are we not supposed to ask for Diet Coke because it takes too long to pour at that altitude, we are apparently not allowed to make simple requests! I would personally like to see a list of what are considered security risks besides nail files and nail clippers and fingers in noses and Justin Bieber key chains (oh I HOPE that last one is added!).
I suspect that the truth is scarier, that there is no real list of things, apart from the security scanner alerts. No, the decision in the Denver-to-Baltimore situation was all the pilot's! He had the authority to reroute the flight to Chicago and delay the other passengers and thoroughly inconvenience the family in question here! I have a pretty good idea what pilots have to do to get to their status in life and that it takes some good money to get your pilot's license. However, flying a large group of people from one place to another several times during a day doesn't empower you to make life-changing decisions for other people, especially if they make simple requests! Think of that family. They may now be on a "security risk" list. If they're not forbidden from flying, they may be strip-search requirements!
Well, by golly, we are indeed going to Colorado Springs in early June and we have a 3 1/2 year old with us. Just last summer, she was a security risk by not wearing her shoes when going to the bathroom solitary confinement chamber and just wearing a pull-up a lot of the flight time as well. I was a HUGE security threat by demanding to know why the airline wouldn't take cash for their snack box! Coming back from Orlando, the young man next to us was a security risk because he, too, at 13, only had cash and no card for a snack!
Ladies and gentlemen, all 6 of you who read my stuff, please understand that we as a nation are crumbling due to paranoia. No enemy needs to bomb us, we are bombing ourselves! We need to take action and tell the FAA to chill out! We need to demand good-natured pilots! We need discreet onboard snack generals! We need...oh, yeah, I want the Oreo snack box, do you need my debit card?
Of course, I then came to my senses and continued bowling on the WII. This didn't happen to us, but it did happen to an unlucky family flying from Denver to Baltimore. Although personally I would have stayed in Denver for aesthetic reasons, this family was rerouted to Chicago because of the movie thing. The two parents and their 4-year old and 8-year old were considered security risks for asking that the movie monitor be turned off or raised or whatever because the movie being shown was not ok for the child to watch!
Is this what it has come down to? Not only can we not bring our own food and beverages until we get past the security rape and into the overpriced airport food court, not only are we not supposed to ask for Diet Coke because it takes too long to pour at that altitude, we are apparently not allowed to make simple requests! I would personally like to see a list of what are considered security risks besides nail files and nail clippers and fingers in noses and Justin Bieber key chains (oh I HOPE that last one is added!).
I suspect that the truth is scarier, that there is no real list of things, apart from the security scanner alerts. No, the decision in the Denver-to-Baltimore situation was all the pilot's! He had the authority to reroute the flight to Chicago and delay the other passengers and thoroughly inconvenience the family in question here! I have a pretty good idea what pilots have to do to get to their status in life and that it takes some good money to get your pilot's license. However, flying a large group of people from one place to another several times during a day doesn't empower you to make life-changing decisions for other people, especially if they make simple requests! Think of that family. They may now be on a "security risk" list. If they're not forbidden from flying, they may be strip-search requirements!
Well, by golly, we are indeed going to Colorado Springs in early June and we have a 3 1/2 year old with us. Just last summer, she was a security risk by not wearing her shoes when going to the bathroom solitary confinement chamber and just wearing a pull-up a lot of the flight time as well. I was a HUGE security threat by demanding to know why the airline wouldn't take cash for their snack box! Coming back from Orlando, the young man next to us was a security risk because he, too, at 13, only had cash and no card for a snack!
Ladies and gentlemen, all 6 of you who read my stuff, please understand that we as a nation are crumbling due to paranoia. No enemy needs to bomb us, we are bombing ourselves! We need to take action and tell the FAA to chill out! We need to demand good-natured pilots! We need discreet onboard snack generals! We need...oh, yeah, I want the Oreo snack box, do you need my debit card?
Sunday, February 3, 2013
A great trip to Colorado
When you've lived in the desert for a while, any change is good if for just a week. In early 2008, Vickie and I depserately needed a break from home. In early January, she'd undergone a heavy dose of radiation to deaden a small brain tumor. She was still recovering a month later with a constant headache (to give you an idea, imagine having a large, heavy metal helmet SCREWED into your head with a small amount of numbness injected, then having it on you for hours while heavy gamma rays hit one small area several times).
Well, in early March I was on my track break. That means, in the world of year-round-school, I had a few periods of 3-4 weeks off. These came in November, March, and late June/early July. It was an interesting system and it worked while I was in it...but when the year-round system came to an end for budgetary reasons, I had to adjust big-time. I will probably never blog about that year of adjustment because it also involved an emergency move, my grandma passing away, and just being in a bad year of teaching all-around.
ANYHOW, the master digressor will now get back on track. Vickie had been wanting to show me where she grew up in Colorado for some time. As track break was approaching, it seemed a good time to do it.
I've already blogged about the trip to Salt Lake City, so I'll sum up the Nevada part of the drive: boring! Once we hit Utah, things really changed. In fact, once we got into Cedar City, we were hit with some pretty impressive snow. Occasional flurries and heavier flakes hit us here and there for another hour or so. Just north of Beaver, we got onto I-70. I was familiar with this stretch of road already, but it had been 10 years. As we climbed in elevation, we got hit with more snow. We stopped in Salina for a quick gas-up and snack, then got back onto the road...and entered a snowy, long stretch with no services at all...110 miles! I was trying to stay behind trucks that made good tracks in many areas. Suffice to say, it was fairly stressful. At least I had a good copilot. Finally, we hit Green River, the first service in several hours. We stayed there for probably an hour. Bathroom was a necessity, and a few snacks and drinks were also in order...a little refueling was also needed.
Back on the road we went, and even though it was still snowing in areas, the stress was off. Before we knew it, we were in Grand Junction, Colorado. This was a good place to stop for the night. We'd made reservations, but when I learned what the cost really was, we opted for a lesser, but cheaper, inn...after some dinner at Red Robin.
The next day, we got up, had some good breakfast, and got back onto 70 on a bright sunny morning. Just outside Grand Junction, the scenery is beautiful with red rock cliffs and tight turns through canyons. My favorite stretch, of course, was Glenwood Canyon. My dad and I had first hit this 16 years earlier when the road was still being built to environmentally-happy code. After Glenrood Canyon, 70 goes through a valley sprinkled with some mountain towns, then hits Vail...and begins a steep climb to the Eisenhower Tunnel. This is the point of the continental divide and the highest section of any Interstate highway. We also hit more snow after Vail, so I once again stayed behind trucks. After the tunnel, we started a VERY long downhill (about 60 miles) toward Denver. After a lot of stressful braking, we finally got a rest in Georgetown. Vickie thought there was a good bakery there, but it had closed down. We got back on the road and made it to Denver. It was a welcome sight.
We stayed with Vickie's friend Marilyn for about a week. While there, we saw some good sights. We visited the Children's Hospital (I know that doesn't sound fun, but Vickie's childhood had a lot of connections there). Actually, the hospital was quite nice and child-friendly....and got a lot of sunlight. We also saw Loveland, Fort Collins, downtown Denver (including the capitol), ate a few times at Gunther Toody's diner, as well as Old Spaghetti Factory, and Boulder (no hint of Mork and Mindy). All in all, it was a pleasant week. At that time I really thought about moving there (and I still do). It's just a beautiful blend of plains and mountains.
We headed home on a Saturday and made a goal of Grand Junction again. We stopped in Glenwood Springs and had a good dinner, and then drove the 100 miles to Grand Junction and stayed at another cheap place. The drive home after that was uneventful but safe and, as always, the Nevada part was the worst.
We would like to take a part 2 of this trip soon with Natalie, but we'd fly and rent a car. This is one of my favorites in terms of trips.
Well, in early March I was on my track break. That means, in the world of year-round-school, I had a few periods of 3-4 weeks off. These came in November, March, and late June/early July. It was an interesting system and it worked while I was in it...but when the year-round system came to an end for budgetary reasons, I had to adjust big-time. I will probably never blog about that year of adjustment because it also involved an emergency move, my grandma passing away, and just being in a bad year of teaching all-around.
ANYHOW, the master digressor will now get back on track. Vickie had been wanting to show me where she grew up in Colorado for some time. As track break was approaching, it seemed a good time to do it.
I've already blogged about the trip to Salt Lake City, so I'll sum up the Nevada part of the drive: boring! Once we hit Utah, things really changed. In fact, once we got into Cedar City, we were hit with some pretty impressive snow. Occasional flurries and heavier flakes hit us here and there for another hour or so. Just north of Beaver, we got onto I-70. I was familiar with this stretch of road already, but it had been 10 years. As we climbed in elevation, we got hit with more snow. We stopped in Salina for a quick gas-up and snack, then got back onto the road...and entered a snowy, long stretch with no services at all...110 miles! I was trying to stay behind trucks that made good tracks in many areas. Suffice to say, it was fairly stressful. At least I had a good copilot. Finally, we hit Green River, the first service in several hours. We stayed there for probably an hour. Bathroom was a necessity, and a few snacks and drinks were also in order...a little refueling was also needed.
Back on the road we went, and even though it was still snowing in areas, the stress was off. Before we knew it, we were in Grand Junction, Colorado. This was a good place to stop for the night. We'd made reservations, but when I learned what the cost really was, we opted for a lesser, but cheaper, inn...after some dinner at Red Robin.
The next day, we got up, had some good breakfast, and got back onto 70 on a bright sunny morning. Just outside Grand Junction, the scenery is beautiful with red rock cliffs and tight turns through canyons. My favorite stretch, of course, was Glenwood Canyon. My dad and I had first hit this 16 years earlier when the road was still being built to environmentally-happy code. After Glenrood Canyon, 70 goes through a valley sprinkled with some mountain towns, then hits Vail...and begins a steep climb to the Eisenhower Tunnel. This is the point of the continental divide and the highest section of any Interstate highway. We also hit more snow after Vail, so I once again stayed behind trucks. After the tunnel, we started a VERY long downhill (about 60 miles) toward Denver. After a lot of stressful braking, we finally got a rest in Georgetown. Vickie thought there was a good bakery there, but it had closed down. We got back on the road and made it to Denver. It was a welcome sight.
We stayed with Vickie's friend Marilyn for about a week. While there, we saw some good sights. We visited the Children's Hospital (I know that doesn't sound fun, but Vickie's childhood had a lot of connections there). Actually, the hospital was quite nice and child-friendly....and got a lot of sunlight. We also saw Loveland, Fort Collins, downtown Denver (including the capitol), ate a few times at Gunther Toody's diner, as well as Old Spaghetti Factory, and Boulder (no hint of Mork and Mindy). All in all, it was a pleasant week. At that time I really thought about moving there (and I still do). It's just a beautiful blend of plains and mountains.
We headed home on a Saturday and made a goal of Grand Junction again. We stopped in Glenwood Springs and had a good dinner, and then drove the 100 miles to Grand Junction and stayed at another cheap place. The drive home after that was uneventful but safe and, as always, the Nevada part was the worst.
We would like to take a part 2 of this trip soon with Natalie, but we'd fly and rent a car. This is one of my favorites in terms of trips.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The U.S. Death Star
I was recently checking Yahoo! headlines, hoping for some nice gossipy tidbit about Ms. Lohan, a new celebrity death, or a food research breakthrough....and got what was possibly the best idea I've read in some time. There were a few thousand people petitioning the White House to approve the construction of a Death Star.
Ok, ok, I know what you are all thinking: THIS IS A GREAT IDEA! Of course it is, just thinkof the economic boom to the country. Lots of jobs would be created, and as a result, more money would be pumped back into the economy. A project of this magnitude could really unite this country. It would finally bring patriotism back just like World War 2 and...oh, who am I kidding? The Empire had what it needed, we don't. Let's break this down:
The Empire taxed and terrorized any planet it wanted at any time. They had all the money AND the materials, and all they needed was a Sith choke hold or burst of lightning to convince their minions to fork over the goods. The Emperor just had to make his wishes known and his will was done....I suspect the Imperial chefs were pretty nervous whenever he got hungry.
OK, let's see what we have....nothing. Really. The congressional bickering over every tiny detail of construction would last forever. Would our taxes be raised? Oh no, those Bush-era tax cuts are now forever, apparently. So, revenue is not a guarantee. Obama has no Force choke hold, lightning, or even mind trick to enforce his bidding....if he utilized Bill Clinton for the mind trick, maybe, just maybe.
All right, let's move to labor: the Empire got everything built pretty quickly and efficiently....well, almost. Toward the end with the first Death Star, they were in such a hurry to finish that they forgot to connect the exhaust port to the ventilation system as opposed to the reactor! Naturally, this voided any homeowner's policy. And of course the second Death Star was REALLY rushed because they left an opening to fit several fighter ships in! All they needed then was Mike Holmes to "make it right", not that the construction crew were Canadian.
Anyway, Imperial labor was efficient, and I suspect their payment was the privelege to live a bit more. They had Vader saying, "Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them!" to threaten the few slackers.
Let's look at the highly-motivated U.S. labor force....excuse me while I laugh as I look at a photo of a Ford Pinto! How much will people really want to work on this "project"? It will be a boon to the many temp agencies, I'm sure! The medical benefits will be nill, I'm sure, so that motivation is out. I mentioned the Pinto because, well, if the United Auto Workers were in charge of the Death Star's construction, the elevator to the command tower would never work, the massive planet-vaporizing gun would backfire....and I suspect the cell towers on it would get bad to no reception. The order to destroy an oncoming enemy ship would never be heard!
Finally, let's look at the space aspect. The Empire had star destroyers, TIE fighters, shuttles, pretty stellar-oriented organization, actually. And they had no trouble sacrificing their own in the name of the Emperor.
OK, let's look at our space savvy. Now, back in the 1960s, this was possible. We WANTED to conquer the universe, but the farthest we got was the moon. After that, we just sent satellites, probes, Hubbles, and shuttles for the next few decades. I sense that the 1986 Challenger debacle killed the spirit. We as Americans don't like it when people from our country die, so it was determined, apparently, that there'd be no further risk to American lives fro space reasons. This doesn't meet with Imperial casualness toward its work forces. They have CLONES with the same brain. Yes, I know, we can think of congress in that way, but I don't want to think of them trying to fly a star destroyer!
So, I think a Death Star is not in our lifetime. The money isn't there, our labor force isn't properly motivated for quality work, and our astronauts get shaky once out of orbit. And...wait...I gotta go, the Emperor wants a BLT!
Ok, ok, I know what you are all thinking: THIS IS A GREAT IDEA! Of course it is, just thinkof the economic boom to the country. Lots of jobs would be created, and as a result, more money would be pumped back into the economy. A project of this magnitude could really unite this country. It would finally bring patriotism back just like World War 2 and...oh, who am I kidding? The Empire had what it needed, we don't. Let's break this down:
The Empire taxed and terrorized any planet it wanted at any time. They had all the money AND the materials, and all they needed was a Sith choke hold or burst of lightning to convince their minions to fork over the goods. The Emperor just had to make his wishes known and his will was done....I suspect the Imperial chefs were pretty nervous whenever he got hungry.
OK, let's see what we have....nothing. Really. The congressional bickering over every tiny detail of construction would last forever. Would our taxes be raised? Oh no, those Bush-era tax cuts are now forever, apparently. So, revenue is not a guarantee. Obama has no Force choke hold, lightning, or even mind trick to enforce his bidding....if he utilized Bill Clinton for the mind trick, maybe, just maybe.
All right, let's move to labor: the Empire got everything built pretty quickly and efficiently....well, almost. Toward the end with the first Death Star, they were in such a hurry to finish that they forgot to connect the exhaust port to the ventilation system as opposed to the reactor! Naturally, this voided any homeowner's policy. And of course the second Death Star was REALLY rushed because they left an opening to fit several fighter ships in! All they needed then was Mike Holmes to "make it right", not that the construction crew were Canadian.
Anyway, Imperial labor was efficient, and I suspect their payment was the privelege to live a bit more. They had Vader saying, "Perhaps I can find new ways to motivate them!" to threaten the few slackers.
Let's look at the highly-motivated U.S. labor force....excuse me while I laugh as I look at a photo of a Ford Pinto! How much will people really want to work on this "project"? It will be a boon to the many temp agencies, I'm sure! The medical benefits will be nill, I'm sure, so that motivation is out. I mentioned the Pinto because, well, if the United Auto Workers were in charge of the Death Star's construction, the elevator to the command tower would never work, the massive planet-vaporizing gun would backfire....and I suspect the cell towers on it would get bad to no reception. The order to destroy an oncoming enemy ship would never be heard!
Finally, let's look at the space aspect. The Empire had star destroyers, TIE fighters, shuttles, pretty stellar-oriented organization, actually. And they had no trouble sacrificing their own in the name of the Emperor.
OK, let's look at our space savvy. Now, back in the 1960s, this was possible. We WANTED to conquer the universe, but the farthest we got was the moon. After that, we just sent satellites, probes, Hubbles, and shuttles for the next few decades. I sense that the 1986 Challenger debacle killed the spirit. We as Americans don't like it when people from our country die, so it was determined, apparently, that there'd be no further risk to American lives fro space reasons. This doesn't meet with Imperial casualness toward its work forces. They have CLONES with the same brain. Yes, I know, we can think of congress in that way, but I don't want to think of them trying to fly a star destroyer!
So, I think a Death Star is not in our lifetime. The money isn't there, our labor force isn't properly motivated for quality work, and our astronauts get shaky once out of orbit. And...wait...I gotta go, the Emperor wants a BLT!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Another great trip!
OK, it has been a while since I've posted about a great road trip so here we go. Today's adventure is......car revs instead of drum rolls.....LAS VEGAS TO SALT LAKE CITY!
Huh? I hear a confused rumble in the crowd, mixed with groans of despair. After all, this sounds like a big desert drive, right? Well, some of it is...the biggest desert drive, actually, was the drive to Reno in November....there was 450 miles of it! This drive, however is absolutely BEAUTIFUL...most of it.
The boring desert part is actually right in the beginning. From Las Vegas to the first 10 miles in Arizona, it is scrub, brown, and needing of good music. It can be nice, I suppose, in early morning or at sundown. After over 10 years, however, I am sick of the Nevada desert.
Interstate 15 at least raises the speed limit to 75 once it leaves Las Vegas. We go up a long rise out of the Vegas Valley and then meet the northern end of Las Vegas Blvd. Soon after, U.S. 93 breaks off to head into deeper desert (I've taken it, it is truly desert all the way up to Idaho!), 15 moves to give access to the beautiful Valley of Fire, more desert, then access to Glendale and Logandale. Then comes a 20 mile stretch of straight flat freeway! This is the part I hate the most. Once that's done, we go down a long steep grade and then enter Mesquite, a state border town with a lot of golf courses and spas. I like this town a lot, actually, not to live in, but because it foretells of change.
15 then enters Arizona. The first 10 miles are just desert, but then we enter the gorgeous gorge...really! 15 winds through a huge narrow canyon made by the Virgin River. It's almost 20 miles of pure bliss, and when we emerge from it, the Utah line is straight ahead. What makes it so special is that the scenery has drastically changed. Ahead are red-rock cliffs and mesas...I believe Zion Canyon is behind one of them. From there, 15 enters St. George, a favorite town to stop and eat. I recommend Cracker Barrel, but NOT Chuck-a-Rama! There used to be a Shoney's here, but no more.
From there, 15 begins a fairly steep climb in a short time through some mountains and before we know it, we're entering Cedar City, a sprawling small town that is much cooler in temperature than St. George. 15 sort of goes back into the desert, but there is green growth in this one and it goes by fast. There is even an 80mph stretch in rural Utah! Before long, we go through Beaver and then a little after that is the turnoff for I-70. If we go to Colorado, we turn off here, and that drive has its own treasures, including a 110-mile stretch with scenery but no gas,food, or other touch-ups.
From here, 15 begins a long pattern of summit rises and long valleys between them. These valleys tend to have small towns with services, like Filllmore, Holden, Scipio, and Nephi. Nephi is a favorite gas stop for us. Soon after Nephi, we hit Santaquin, the first town in a long line of towns in the Salt Lake area. This string goes almost all the way to Idaho, in fact! We go through Spanish Fork, Orem, Provo, American Frok, and Lehi. We then go over a ridge to see the sprawling Sal Lake City metro area! It's quite a sight. We don't actually go all the way to Salt Lake, we head into Midvale, just south of the city limits, so we can see Vickie's dad. One day we will head to Clearfield near Ogden (30 miles further up 15) to see her Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary.
The trip back is good as well, with the Nevada desert as the LAST part. We are never really happy to come back, since Utah has given us rain, snow, a lack of slots in every store, and just plain good times. It has also given Vickie access to her father after many years, and that is what makes it so special.
Huh? I hear a confused rumble in the crowd, mixed with groans of despair. After all, this sounds like a big desert drive, right? Well, some of it is...the biggest desert drive, actually, was the drive to Reno in November....there was 450 miles of it! This drive, however is absolutely BEAUTIFUL...most of it.
The boring desert part is actually right in the beginning. From Las Vegas to the first 10 miles in Arizona, it is scrub, brown, and needing of good music. It can be nice, I suppose, in early morning or at sundown. After over 10 years, however, I am sick of the Nevada desert.
Interstate 15 at least raises the speed limit to 75 once it leaves Las Vegas. We go up a long rise out of the Vegas Valley and then meet the northern end of Las Vegas Blvd. Soon after, U.S. 93 breaks off to head into deeper desert (I've taken it, it is truly desert all the way up to Idaho!), 15 moves to give access to the beautiful Valley of Fire, more desert, then access to Glendale and Logandale. Then comes a 20 mile stretch of straight flat freeway! This is the part I hate the most. Once that's done, we go down a long steep grade and then enter Mesquite, a state border town with a lot of golf courses and spas. I like this town a lot, actually, not to live in, but because it foretells of change.
15 then enters Arizona. The first 10 miles are just desert, but then we enter the gorgeous gorge...really! 15 winds through a huge narrow canyon made by the Virgin River. It's almost 20 miles of pure bliss, and when we emerge from it, the Utah line is straight ahead. What makes it so special is that the scenery has drastically changed. Ahead are red-rock cliffs and mesas...I believe Zion Canyon is behind one of them. From there, 15 enters St. George, a favorite town to stop and eat. I recommend Cracker Barrel, but NOT Chuck-a-Rama! There used to be a Shoney's here, but no more.
From there, 15 begins a fairly steep climb in a short time through some mountains and before we know it, we're entering Cedar City, a sprawling small town that is much cooler in temperature than St. George. 15 sort of goes back into the desert, but there is green growth in this one and it goes by fast. There is even an 80mph stretch in rural Utah! Before long, we go through Beaver and then a little after that is the turnoff for I-70. If we go to Colorado, we turn off here, and that drive has its own treasures, including a 110-mile stretch with scenery but no gas,food, or other touch-ups.
From here, 15 begins a long pattern of summit rises and long valleys between them. These valleys tend to have small towns with services, like Filllmore, Holden, Scipio, and Nephi. Nephi is a favorite gas stop for us. Soon after Nephi, we hit Santaquin, the first town in a long line of towns in the Salt Lake area. This string goes almost all the way to Idaho, in fact! We go through Spanish Fork, Orem, Provo, American Frok, and Lehi. We then go over a ridge to see the sprawling Sal Lake City metro area! It's quite a sight. We don't actually go all the way to Salt Lake, we head into Midvale, just south of the city limits, so we can see Vickie's dad. One day we will head to Clearfield near Ogden (30 miles further up 15) to see her Uncle Bob and Aunt Mary.
The trip back is good as well, with the Nevada desert as the LAST part. We are never really happy to come back, since Utah has given us rain, snow, a lack of slots in every store, and just plain good times. It has also given Vickie access to her father after many years, and that is what makes it so special.
Monday, December 31, 2012
2012- me and death
Well, armageddon did not happen...at least not this year. The Mayans either made a mistake...or someone just wanted to generate hype. Gee, which could it be? Hmm... When I think of that whole Mayan calendar doomsday thing, I am reminded of the movie "Mars Attacks", where there is a character played by Remington Steele who convices Jack Nicholson (who somehow got into the White House) to be friendly to the Martians. This character has no background with aliens, he just speaks with a British accent and smokes a pipe, which, as we all know, makes any twerp an expert to the average American eye, especially in a documentary.
Apart from that, on a personal level, 2012 was an ok year. Yes, just ok. However, it was worlds better than 2011, which ranks among my worst years (2001, 2005, and 2010 qualify in that aspect). Now, when I qualify these rankings, I am referring to my professional life in the American public elementary school. It has been a rollercoaster ride for about 3 years now, since I have worked at 3 schools in that time. I am happy to say that things seem to be finally settling down. I will cross my fingers, though.
At home, things are going really well. I have been with Vickie for almost 7 years now come February. She and I have loved watching our little Natalie grow for 3 1/2 years now. She is our treasure in life, no 2 ways about it!
Writing-wise, things have been, well, ssssllllloooooowwwwwwww. I have spent much time trying to be a good 2nd grade teacher curriculum and style-wise that my writing time and endurance have gone down. I hope 2013 proves to be more prolific.
Okay, enough about little ol-40 years old me, let's get to death. Every year, we lose a good number of celebrities that we assumed would live forever. Let's look at some highlights.
Charles Durning- recent Christmas day death, actually. I will always remember him playing a stubborn cop in a few movies, as well as a lovable old guy on "Evening Shade". He will be missed.
Jack Klugman- TV's Oscar Madison and medical examiner Quincy. Rest in Peace!
Larry Hagman- seriously, I am split as to whether I think of him more as Major Nelson or J.R. Ewing. He was talented in both roles.
Alex Karras- Mongo, that's what I'll always see Karras as. I know he did a lot of other stuff, but I really don't care about his asshole sheriff in Porky's or kind dad in "Webster".
Andy Williams- not everyone's favorite singer (who is?), but "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is a regular staple of our Christmas song lineup.
Neil Armstrong- 1969 made this man famous world-wide, and I like to think that he was what all aspiring astronauts wanted to be, the first person to officially step in new territory.
Phyllis Diller- the cackle and the wild hair will be watching over us forever after 95 years. That's a good life!
Ron Palillo and Robert Hegyes- Horshack and Epstein, respectively. The nose and the laugh.... and notes from Epstein's mother. Nuff said.
Marvin Hamlisch- great movie pianist!
Sherman Hemsley- At last, he has joined Weezie in Heaven! Like Carroll O'Connor, he hit fame at a time that will probably never come again. Reruns will keep Mr. Jefferson alive forever.
Sally Ride- She was probably what all aspiring female astronauts wanted to be, and that's ok. RIP!
Rodney King- Unfortunately, he is more remembered as a cause to a bigger, tragic event and not as a person in his own right. He was savagely beaten over 20 years ago, and died at the bottom of a pool this year. A tragic life where something tragic might have turned positive for him in the future. FOr it, it seems, it did not.
Ray Bradbury- great sci-fi writer! RIP!
Richard Dawson- Once again, is he more famous for playing British POW Newkirk or for kissing contestants on "Family Feud"? Either way, we have lost a great talent.
Robin Gibb- Another BeeGee gone, and now we just have Barry. Sad really, these talented Gibbs have left far too early.
Donna Summer- talented singer whose disco hits are cherished, mostly by late 70s enthusiasts. Digital 70s radiuo stations will keep her spirit alive, and I do believe she worked hard for her money.
Maurice Sendak- beloved children's author and illustrator. I hope his stories remain a staple of libraries and schools forever!
George Lindsey- Goober is gone, but so is a good character actor on many shows as well as a lovable coot on Hee Haw. RIP!
Junior Seau- Now, football has never been my passion, but having lived in San Diego for a short time, he was visible to me in the early 90s. His age and cause of death would lead me to think (without knowing ALL the facts mind you) he didn't feel he had a good life after the football career ended. Whatever it was, though, he was (and hopefully still is) a beloved San Diego figure.
Dick Clark- If there was a word for him while I was growing up, it was VISIBLE. He was on game shows both as a panelist and host, he did "Bandstand", as well as various TV specials and commercials. Above all, he seemed ageless. New Year's will never be the same. Vicious postscript: Ryan Seacrest, you will never replace this man, you don't have the charisma.
Jonathan Frid- Barnabas Collins will forever lie in his coffin. If you've never seen a Dark Shadows episode from 1967 onward, you are probably saying, who?
Mike Wallace- hard-hitting jounralist. 60 Minutes has large shoes to fill.
Davy Jones- Monkees singer (and not the one with a locker). RIP!
Whitney Houston- great singer who succumbed to bad marriage and drugs (one I suspect greatly influenced the other). I prefer to remember her in the 80s before the drama began.
Ben Gazzara- a great tough-guy actor! RIP!
Don Cornelius- the don of Soul Train and R&B. That deep voice, need I go on?. RIP!
Joe Paterno- He WAS Penn State football, I don't care about the controversy that surrounded him when he died. I wasn't a Penn State fan, but I respected his work.
Bob Anderson- who? Ah yes, he created the lightsaber duel style in the original Star Wars trilogy, and the duel scenes to me are the best parts of all the movies (and since Attack of the Clones's duel was so lame, that should say enough about the whole movie)
Looking at that long list, I can't imagine who else could go next year. All in all, I hope everyone goes into 2013 with a positive attitude. Tough, I know, with the political and economic climate so bleak. However, what else can we go into the new year with? A bleak outlook could make the whole year terrible, and that's not what life is all about.
Happy New Year everybody!
Apart from that, on a personal level, 2012 was an ok year. Yes, just ok. However, it was worlds better than 2011, which ranks among my worst years (2001, 2005, and 2010 qualify in that aspect). Now, when I qualify these rankings, I am referring to my professional life in the American public elementary school. It has been a rollercoaster ride for about 3 years now, since I have worked at 3 schools in that time. I am happy to say that things seem to be finally settling down. I will cross my fingers, though.
At home, things are going really well. I have been with Vickie for almost 7 years now come February. She and I have loved watching our little Natalie grow for 3 1/2 years now. She is our treasure in life, no 2 ways about it!
Writing-wise, things have been, well, ssssllllloooooowwwwwwww. I have spent much time trying to be a good 2nd grade teacher curriculum and style-wise that my writing time and endurance have gone down. I hope 2013 proves to be more prolific.
Okay, enough about little ol-40 years old me, let's get to death. Every year, we lose a good number of celebrities that we assumed would live forever. Let's look at some highlights.
Charles Durning- recent Christmas day death, actually. I will always remember him playing a stubborn cop in a few movies, as well as a lovable old guy on "Evening Shade". He will be missed.
Jack Klugman- TV's Oscar Madison and medical examiner Quincy. Rest in Peace!
Larry Hagman- seriously, I am split as to whether I think of him more as Major Nelson or J.R. Ewing. He was talented in both roles.
Alex Karras- Mongo, that's what I'll always see Karras as. I know he did a lot of other stuff, but I really don't care about his asshole sheriff in Porky's or kind dad in "Webster".
Andy Williams- not everyone's favorite singer (who is?), but "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is a regular staple of our Christmas song lineup.
Neil Armstrong- 1969 made this man famous world-wide, and I like to think that he was what all aspiring astronauts wanted to be, the first person to officially step in new territory.
Phyllis Diller- the cackle and the wild hair will be watching over us forever after 95 years. That's a good life!
Ron Palillo and Robert Hegyes- Horshack and Epstein, respectively. The nose and the laugh.... and notes from Epstein's mother. Nuff said.
Marvin Hamlisch- great movie pianist!
Sherman Hemsley- At last, he has joined Weezie in Heaven! Like Carroll O'Connor, he hit fame at a time that will probably never come again. Reruns will keep Mr. Jefferson alive forever.
Sally Ride- She was probably what all aspiring female astronauts wanted to be, and that's ok. RIP!
Rodney King- Unfortunately, he is more remembered as a cause to a bigger, tragic event and not as a person in his own right. He was savagely beaten over 20 years ago, and died at the bottom of a pool this year. A tragic life where something tragic might have turned positive for him in the future. FOr it, it seems, it did not.
Ray Bradbury- great sci-fi writer! RIP!
Richard Dawson- Once again, is he more famous for playing British POW Newkirk or for kissing contestants on "Family Feud"? Either way, we have lost a great talent.
Robin Gibb- Another BeeGee gone, and now we just have Barry. Sad really, these talented Gibbs have left far too early.
Donna Summer- talented singer whose disco hits are cherished, mostly by late 70s enthusiasts. Digital 70s radiuo stations will keep her spirit alive, and I do believe she worked hard for her money.
Maurice Sendak- beloved children's author and illustrator. I hope his stories remain a staple of libraries and schools forever!
George Lindsey- Goober is gone, but so is a good character actor on many shows as well as a lovable coot on Hee Haw. RIP!
Junior Seau- Now, football has never been my passion, but having lived in San Diego for a short time, he was visible to me in the early 90s. His age and cause of death would lead me to think (without knowing ALL the facts mind you) he didn't feel he had a good life after the football career ended. Whatever it was, though, he was (and hopefully still is) a beloved San Diego figure.
Dick Clark- If there was a word for him while I was growing up, it was VISIBLE. He was on game shows both as a panelist and host, he did "Bandstand", as well as various TV specials and commercials. Above all, he seemed ageless. New Year's will never be the same. Vicious postscript: Ryan Seacrest, you will never replace this man, you don't have the charisma.
Jonathan Frid- Barnabas Collins will forever lie in his coffin. If you've never seen a Dark Shadows episode from 1967 onward, you are probably saying, who?
Mike Wallace- hard-hitting jounralist. 60 Minutes has large shoes to fill.
Davy Jones- Monkees singer (and not the one with a locker). RIP!
Whitney Houston- great singer who succumbed to bad marriage and drugs (one I suspect greatly influenced the other). I prefer to remember her in the 80s before the drama began.
Ben Gazzara- a great tough-guy actor! RIP!
Don Cornelius- the don of Soul Train and R&B. That deep voice, need I go on?. RIP!
Joe Paterno- He WAS Penn State football, I don't care about the controversy that surrounded him when he died. I wasn't a Penn State fan, but I respected his work.
Bob Anderson- who? Ah yes, he created the lightsaber duel style in the original Star Wars trilogy, and the duel scenes to me are the best parts of all the movies (and since Attack of the Clones's duel was so lame, that should say enough about the whole movie)
Looking at that long list, I can't imagine who else could go next year. All in all, I hope everyone goes into 2013 with a positive attitude. Tough, I know, with the political and economic climate so bleak. However, what else can we go into the new year with? A bleak outlook could make the whole year terrible, and that's not what life is all about.
Happy New Year everybody!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Desert, anyone?
Having lived in southern Nevada for a while now, I would guess that a lot of people I know/knew in Pennsylvania don't really get what desert driving is like, especially on a long drive. It does take planning. Unlike Pennsylvania (and I guess California to a good extent), where you can gas up and get food every few miles, Nevada is a different story.
There was a movement about 20 years ago to boost tourism in Nevada, labeling U.S. 50 as the "Loneliest Road in America", and it was for good reason. U.S. 50 is not heavily traveled, since it does not connect any major cities in the majority of its trek across the barren desert. It does hit Carson City and southern Lake Tahoe, but those areas also have nearby connections to bigger roads like U.S. 395 and Interstate 80 (which IS heavily traveled). 50's last major town heading east is Fallon (not far from 80) before it goes into the barren landscape of valleys and mountain summits in Nevada and Utah. Well, U.S. 95 is similar, although it does provide the ONLY direct route between Las Vegas and Reno.
My wife and I like cooler temperatures in the fall and winter. It's how we grew up, and a cold winter, in my opinion, wakes up the soul a bit. Other people in Las Vegas do not feel that way. People who were born in Vegas cannot imagine living anywhere else (we can all dig that home spirit, can't we?) and people who moved here to escape any real winter ( like my mother-in-law) avoid any scrapes with winter unless Vegas is hit with it once in a blue moon. Well, not too long ago, Vickie and I took a road trip to Reno. One reason was a couple's getaway and the other was for a short foray into cooler climes.
Like I said, planning is essential, so we got road food and a gas fill-up in NW Vegas before escaping into the desert. It doesn't take long. After the turnoff for Mt. Charleston (many Vegasans' will go there for 15 minutes of real winter), U.S. 95 goes into the empty desert. A mileage sign after the mountain turnoff says it all: "Indian Springs: 26, Beatty: 99, Tonopah: 193". This is how desert driving is: you plan for a hundred miles at a time, then reassess your needs. Indian Springs isn't a real stop for anything but a quick snack if you didn't eat before...and the gas prices are atrocious there!
OK, back to the wilderness, not that Indian Springs was a respite. About 20 miles later, we enter the LARGEST county by land size in Nevada:Nye. Nye County is not only huge, but it plays into the national legend of Las Vegas and legalized prostitution. For the record, nowhere in Clark County (where Vegas is located) is prostitution legal. One must venture into Nye or another rural county to find that luxury. Spread out in Nye are a collection of brothels where one may shell out $200+ for a cheap thrill. Having never the eagerness or spare money for it, I'll leave it at that.
U.S. 95 turns into a 2-lane road shortly after entering Nye County, and will stay that way for most of our voyage. We pass by a junction for NV 160 which heads to Pahrump (brothel center), then 17 miles down the road is the Amargosa Valley oasis, providing a link to Death Valley, and good for gas at a decent rate, a diner, convenience store and the Bunny Ranch (all owned by the same guy). We don't stop yet, and continue to Beatty, which provides another junction to Death Valley. Beatty is also one of many 25mph speed traps on 95 (the first was Indian Springs). Moving along, we see more desert, encounter another access to Death Valley, and then enter Esmeralda County. It's nothing special, just another desert county. However, its county seat, which we pass through, is Goldfield (where we hit some snow flurries)...a fascinating collection of old buildings with a small population. We figure if someone wanted to truly restore this town to prior glory, tourism may build. However, since 95 is in the middle of nowhere at this point, it's an iffy proposition. Thirty miles later, we hit Tonopah (speed trap), 94 miles from Beatty, where we re-enter Nye County briefly. Here, we do our first pit stop, grab some snack food, then move on. Tonopah is like Goldfield, but with more business to support it, since 95 and U.S. 6 meet up here for a 41-mile fling.
Once Tonopah is past, we re-enter Esmeralda County where 6 and 95 are a series of long straightaways. The sunset is beautiful on this stretch with a small bit of sunlight hitting the many clouds with a kaleidoscope of pinks, purples, and reds. 95 turns north later and after a bit, enters Mineral County, even though we didn't feel quite fortified. Nighttime truly hits us here, and far down the road is Hawthorne (speed trap), roughly 100 miles from Tonopah. Here, we need to touch up on gas, and it comes at a cost. The cheapest was $3.93/gallon, and the most expensive was a Shell at $4.37/gallon. No major junctions here, that's why, just an Army depot. Moving on, we traverse Walker Lake, invisible to us in the dark.
After the lake-hugging is done, we hit a major junction for U.S. 95 Alt(ernate), which heads west to Yerington, then north to meet I-80 in Fernley. This is actually considered a link to Reno and Carson City, albeit a longer one, since it also provides access to U.S. 395 WAY down the road in the Sierras via other highways. We continue on 95 for 39 miles more, hitting Lyon County briefly, then Churchill County where we reach Fallon (about 70 miles from Hawthorne) and U.S. 50. We hit more snow flurries approaching Fallon, which in the dark makes it look like you're in hyperdrive in space (pretty cool if you think of it that way)! We take 50 west to Alt 50, taking us to Fernley and I-80, which we take for the last 33 miles to Reno, hitting industrial and older-looking Sparks on the way.
Let's review: we drove almost 450 miles hitting just a few towns: Beatty, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Fallon, Fernley, Sparks, Reno). If you live in the East, 450 miles could mean several states passing MANY towns. Even a turnpike would provide gas and food on an average of every 20-30 miles there. The desert is a land of planning to survive or get stranded a long ways from any people.
Coming back, we stopped at Jerry's cafe in Fallon for breakfast, a true locals' diner NOT IN A CASINO with decent food, something Vegas lacks. I decided I could live in a town like that...if I really want the desert, I can just go east a few miles. If I want to see the Sierras, they're a mere hour away, as is Lake Tahoe (superior in every way to Lake Mead). Also coming back, we saw Walker Lake, which is pretty in its remote setting. We stopped in Hawthorne again for gas, Tonopah for bathroom and coffee, and then in Amargosa Valley for a bite to eat at that diner next to a brothel.
The places we see and stop at have never ceased to amaze me. We're not a Denny's family if we can help it, we want to see the living and the beautiful...and sometimes they come together but not often. If you come to Nevada and really want to see the state, leave Vegas for a bit and head north. Otherwise, stay, spend your money, wear your goofy touristy t-shirt and oversized drink and go home. As for me, I'll take true desert life for a bit. I've lived in Vegas for over 10 years and it's easy to weary of the fakeness here. A slice of desert ala mode with coffee, please!
There was a movement about 20 years ago to boost tourism in Nevada, labeling U.S. 50 as the "Loneliest Road in America", and it was for good reason. U.S. 50 is not heavily traveled, since it does not connect any major cities in the majority of its trek across the barren desert. It does hit Carson City and southern Lake Tahoe, but those areas also have nearby connections to bigger roads like U.S. 395 and Interstate 80 (which IS heavily traveled). 50's last major town heading east is Fallon (not far from 80) before it goes into the barren landscape of valleys and mountain summits in Nevada and Utah. Well, U.S. 95 is similar, although it does provide the ONLY direct route between Las Vegas and Reno.
My wife and I like cooler temperatures in the fall and winter. It's how we grew up, and a cold winter, in my opinion, wakes up the soul a bit. Other people in Las Vegas do not feel that way. People who were born in Vegas cannot imagine living anywhere else (we can all dig that home spirit, can't we?) and people who moved here to escape any real winter ( like my mother-in-law) avoid any scrapes with winter unless Vegas is hit with it once in a blue moon. Well, not too long ago, Vickie and I took a road trip to Reno. One reason was a couple's getaway and the other was for a short foray into cooler climes.
Like I said, planning is essential, so we got road food and a gas fill-up in NW Vegas before escaping into the desert. It doesn't take long. After the turnoff for Mt. Charleston (many Vegasans' will go there for 15 minutes of real winter), U.S. 95 goes into the empty desert. A mileage sign after the mountain turnoff says it all: "Indian Springs: 26, Beatty: 99, Tonopah: 193". This is how desert driving is: you plan for a hundred miles at a time, then reassess your needs. Indian Springs isn't a real stop for anything but a quick snack if you didn't eat before...and the gas prices are atrocious there!
OK, back to the wilderness, not that Indian Springs was a respite. About 20 miles later, we enter the LARGEST county by land size in Nevada:Nye. Nye County is not only huge, but it plays into the national legend of Las Vegas and legalized prostitution. For the record, nowhere in Clark County (where Vegas is located) is prostitution legal. One must venture into Nye or another rural county to find that luxury. Spread out in Nye are a collection of brothels where one may shell out $200+ for a cheap thrill. Having never the eagerness or spare money for it, I'll leave it at that.
U.S. 95 turns into a 2-lane road shortly after entering Nye County, and will stay that way for most of our voyage. We pass by a junction for NV 160 which heads to Pahrump (brothel center), then 17 miles down the road is the Amargosa Valley oasis, providing a link to Death Valley, and good for gas at a decent rate, a diner, convenience store and the Bunny Ranch (all owned by the same guy). We don't stop yet, and continue to Beatty, which provides another junction to Death Valley. Beatty is also one of many 25mph speed traps on 95 (the first was Indian Springs). Moving along, we see more desert, encounter another access to Death Valley, and then enter Esmeralda County. It's nothing special, just another desert county. However, its county seat, which we pass through, is Goldfield (where we hit some snow flurries)...a fascinating collection of old buildings with a small population. We figure if someone wanted to truly restore this town to prior glory, tourism may build. However, since 95 is in the middle of nowhere at this point, it's an iffy proposition. Thirty miles later, we hit Tonopah (speed trap), 94 miles from Beatty, where we re-enter Nye County briefly. Here, we do our first pit stop, grab some snack food, then move on. Tonopah is like Goldfield, but with more business to support it, since 95 and U.S. 6 meet up here for a 41-mile fling.
Once Tonopah is past, we re-enter Esmeralda County where 6 and 95 are a series of long straightaways. The sunset is beautiful on this stretch with a small bit of sunlight hitting the many clouds with a kaleidoscope of pinks, purples, and reds. 95 turns north later and after a bit, enters Mineral County, even though we didn't feel quite fortified. Nighttime truly hits us here, and far down the road is Hawthorne (speed trap), roughly 100 miles from Tonopah. Here, we need to touch up on gas, and it comes at a cost. The cheapest was $3.93/gallon, and the most expensive was a Shell at $4.37/gallon. No major junctions here, that's why, just an Army depot. Moving on, we traverse Walker Lake, invisible to us in the dark.
After the lake-hugging is done, we hit a major junction for U.S. 95 Alt(ernate), which heads west to Yerington, then north to meet I-80 in Fernley. This is actually considered a link to Reno and Carson City, albeit a longer one, since it also provides access to U.S. 395 WAY down the road in the Sierras via other highways. We continue on 95 for 39 miles more, hitting Lyon County briefly, then Churchill County where we reach Fallon (about 70 miles from Hawthorne) and U.S. 50. We hit more snow flurries approaching Fallon, which in the dark makes it look like you're in hyperdrive in space (pretty cool if you think of it that way)! We take 50 west to Alt 50, taking us to Fernley and I-80, which we take for the last 33 miles to Reno, hitting industrial and older-looking Sparks on the way.
Let's review: we drove almost 450 miles hitting just a few towns: Beatty, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Fallon, Fernley, Sparks, Reno). If you live in the East, 450 miles could mean several states passing MANY towns. Even a turnpike would provide gas and food on an average of every 20-30 miles there. The desert is a land of planning to survive or get stranded a long ways from any people.
Coming back, we stopped at Jerry's cafe in Fallon for breakfast, a true locals' diner NOT IN A CASINO with decent food, something Vegas lacks. I decided I could live in a town like that...if I really want the desert, I can just go east a few miles. If I want to see the Sierras, they're a mere hour away, as is Lake Tahoe (superior in every way to Lake Mead). Also coming back, we saw Walker Lake, which is pretty in its remote setting. We stopped in Hawthorne again for gas, Tonopah for bathroom and coffee, and then in Amargosa Valley for a bite to eat at that diner next to a brothel.
The places we see and stop at have never ceased to amaze me. We're not a Denny's family if we can help it, we want to see the living and the beautiful...and sometimes they come together but not often. If you come to Nevada and really want to see the state, leave Vegas for a bit and head north. Otherwise, stay, spend your money, wear your goofy touristy t-shirt and oversized drink and go home. As for me, I'll take true desert life for a bit. I've lived in Vegas for over 10 years and it's easy to weary of the fakeness here. A slice of desert ala mode with coffee, please!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)