Not a whole to talk about this day. Woke up in Las Vegas, made a couple of stops to get a new fuel filter as the one on the car was looking a little too orange for my taste. Grabbed some water and some gasoline, and headed north on US 95 out of Las Vegas.
Sand dunes along US 95 north of Las Vegas
A very exciting dry lake bed
Dust devils dancing in the distance
Last year when I drove this route, there was a lot of traffic heading north. It made things difficult then due to many folks like to drive 10 - 15 mph below the speed limit and I can't stand being in a line. However, I was also trailering the Mustang, so it made passing quite an adventure. This year it's just me and the Mustang, and not many vehicles headed north. Lots of cars and trucks headed south though. I just set my cruise control (my foot on the accelerator pedal) to about 5 mph above the posted speed limit and just took it easy. It's approximately 200 miles between Las Vegas and Tonopah, so I just kicked back, roasted my left arm in the sunshine, and pushed on northwards.
I made it to Tonopah, NV without any problems. Stopped for gas and lunch, and made some phone calls to my wife, my Mom, and my high school track coach who I wanted to see the following weekend. However, due to his wife recently passing away, he had other family members coming over for the weekend and would not be free. I was upset to hear of the passing of his wife as she was a very classy lady, and always a pleasure to be around. They were married for 54 years, and I could hear how upset he was. We talked about other people we know, and then we ended our phone call. RIP Elaine...you are missed.
I continued onward towards Hawthorne, NV, home of the Hawthorne Army Depot with its 2000 + bunkers for the storage of ammunition. Along the way, I ran across some insulated wire that was laying across both lanes of traffic. I looked behind me and saw the wire following along. All I could think about was that getting wrapped up in the driveshaft and causing all kinds of problems. I pulled over and tried to pull it free, but it was stuck on part of the suspension on the passenger side. I pulled some diagonal cutters from the trunk and snipped the wire close to the bumper; the rest sprung free and I was able to remove it without having to get under the car.
I could see some rain clouds forming in the distance, and they appeared to be inline with US 95. At first I was a bit annoyed of having to drive through the rain, but remembered all the rain we've had in southern Arizona for the last month. Since I have to drive 1/2 mile on a dirt road, along with parking in the dirt, there was a lot of dried mud on the underside of the Mustang. I figured I could give it a good cleaning with a pressure washer when I got to Carson City. Now the rain rolled in and it was a great opportunity to have the majority of the mud and dirt washed off the underside without me having to do it with a hose. It's all good!
Rain clouds headed my way
This will be fun
Before arriving in Hawthorne, I had to drive through the two small towns of Mina and Luning. Remember, if you're hauling explosives, you are not allowed to park.
Warning sign while entering Mina, NV
And another one in Luning, NV
I stopped in Hawthorne for gasoline and a shake from McDonald's. I chatted a bit with the driver of a Dodge pickup who had been following behind me since Tonopah and then hit the road for the last stretch to Carson City. I skirted around Walker Lake, which had a higher water level than it did in 2016. I turned west near Schurz, NV and took little farm roads for a shorter ride to Carson City. Made it to my father-in-law's house in good order. I traveled 1007 miles from my house in Arizona to home base destination. The last part of the trip I was averaging 17 - 18 mpg, which I was pleased with. I visited with my father-in-law for awhile, and then he left to join his family at a cabin near Lake Tahoe. I unpacked the car, went out to get something to eat, and drank a nice tall beer. A great way to end two days on the road with minimal problem. I planned on a good night's sleep to get up early, clean the interior and exterior of the Mustang, and hit Hot August Nights on Day One.
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