Travelogue: Day 4, What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

And I’m a happening type of guy so I stayed in Vegas all day, and will spend another night here. My mind and my hands (and the rest of my body) needed a break from the car. I did drive around some today in Vegas, but here is a piece of trivia that might interest you, when it is 106° degrees out, a steering wheel can be scorching!

I leave tomorrow. I was thinking about going through Death Valley, but it is forecast to be 120°-125° there. Think about the name and then think about a damn-near senior driving through alone. You see the ugly picture.

So I’ll be winding north, hoping to find some relief from the heat!

Travelogue: Day 3, Vegas. Really?

I am as surprised as anyone that I am in Vegas. I don’t like Las Vegas, why would I spend days driving here in intense heat? I guess because it is there.

And the drive made the destination worth it.

First thing this morning, I made an unexpected visit to McGill, Nevada. You can imagine the shock on the locals faces as I drove through town, with my map open. I couldn’t find McGill on the map, but it didn’t alarm me at first. Those of you who know me, know I pour over a map before I move. And I was working with two maps of Nevada. As I was pulling out of the north end of McGill, it dawned on me that there was trouble. McGill was two big for both of my maps to have excluded it. I pulled over in the shade, dammit, I was on the wrong road.

Not to panic, I know how to do a U turn.

Quick as a wink and 15 minutes later, I am on the correct highway. Because of my unplanned detour, I almost decided not to go to Great Basin National Park, but it was one thing I really wanted to see. I wasn’t on a time schedule and what is three hours of my life.  

Ummm… It turns out the visitors center is not in the park but in the small town of Baker, 6 miles before the park. I missed it, but I knew to take the scenic highway to the top. (Ain’t the internet a miracle!!!)

What they didn’t mention on the internet is that the road is narrow (Karla, think of the road in England where the oncoming carload spewed obscenities at us. Just make the road a little narrower and with a rocky, steep uphill side and a sheer drop of 14,000 feet on the other side.) There were few turn outs and no viewpoints until you got to top. And then it was meh!

After the Great Basin National Park I was feeling a bit down, like going to Vegas was a bad idea and maybe I should change my plans, but I had hotel reservations that were too late to cancel. So I trudged on.

And am I glad I did. I found Cathedral Gorge. Wow! Amazing!

And the drive on Highway 93 from Caliente to I-15 was one of the most beautiful drives I have ever taken. (Sorry, no pics… take the drive yourself!)

Rewarding day!

Travelogue: Day 2, Part 2, Eureka, I made it!

Got up and out of bed late this morning, and I think considering my late arrival in Burns last night, that was fair. I still got up and left the hotel a few minutes before my scheduled departure, Yeah, I took some time exploring Burns, but I still left just a hair late.

Approximately 93.1257 miles SE of Burns, you reach Burns Junction. There are no services there. You are given the choice of going to Winnemucca or Rome. You know what I chose, don’t you?

Yeah, you’re right. I had no idea you could drive there from Burns, but it is a magical corner of Oregon. I’m not going to say I was disappointed, but when the clerk at the convenience store scowled at me when I asked how to get to the Vatican City, I was appalled. 

Okay, that is one city I can kick off my bucket list. 

Then there were miles and amazingly straight miles until Winnemucca. I have to say, that is the best name for a town in America. Okay, I didn't actually find Great-Uncle Forrests's grave, but I found the cemetery he is buried in. I was running late, I hadn't planned on seeing Rome. It's a nice cemetary.

And after a few more hours and hundreds of miles, I found myself in the cute town of Eureka, Nevada. I am bedded in for the night.

Travelogue: Day 2, Part 1, the Long anticipated pictures of Harney County.

I am posting these first, as I know you are all waiting on pins and needles to see what Harney County looks like.

First, beautiful downtown Burns, okay it isn't Paris, but it had a good vibe.

And Harney County is miles and miles of miles and miles. There is something awe-inspiring about its vastness,

Travelogue: Day 1, the Adventure has begun.

I left Hood River almost on schedule. Okay, what is 15 minutes among friends.

My first detour was as I reached the Warm Springs Reservation. It seems there were a number of fires burning along US26, so we went on BIA roads for a few dozen miles. I got to see this great church in Simnasho.

Okay, now I’m about an hour late, but I am past the blazing infernos. If was eerie for a while.

I wanted to avoid the traffic of Bend, so I cut over to Prineville and cut down on Highway 27. Highway 27 follows the Crooked River; it is narrow and windy for the first 22 miles. It is quite beautiful (the picture does it no justice, but it does show that California is not the only place facing a drought.) 

No one told me the last 22 miles of Highway 27 was really Gravel Road 27. I pulled over and checked my maps. I turned around thinking I had made a wrong turn. But alas, I was on the right road.

My 7:30PM estimated arrival in Burns turned in 9:50PM. I’m hungry, but the nearby restaurants are all closed. I will live off body fat until morning.

I have now been in all 36 of Oregon’s counties. I’d show you a picture of Harney County, but all I know so far is it is dark.

An adventure I enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Annie!

I see a road trip in your future!

I was wrong.

I typed too soon. It turns out yesterday’s high was 103°.

This heat is beating the tarnation out of me!

Today is only forecast to be 97°. Not to panic, I know exactly where my winter coat is.