Okay, so I am not so sure I like Nevada. It's hot. And really, really empty. I wanted to do back roads all the way on this trip, and it is physically impossible here! It's either the interstate or a dirt road. I have taken quite a few dirt roads, though. Tach is not liking me much, but I gave him a good wash at the Soap and Suds while I was doing my laundry and having a beer. All in one place! Maybe Nevada is okay.
I found the cutest town ever at the end of the worst road ever. Hwy 50 is listed on tourist maps as the "Loneliest Road". On my AAA map, there is no such helpful hint. I was literally going crazy, and the sun was going down with no camping in sight, when I spied buildings in the distance. Then I got closer and found out they were cemetaries. I almost cried then. I had run out of time, and the town that I had driven 3 hours to get to was a literal ghost town. But then I went up over the hill and into the mountains, and I saw the real Austin. Every building on Main Street is from the 1800's. There are 5 cemetaries, 4 churches, and 4 saloons. Not to mention camping only 6 miles away. And it all goes directly uphill, as it is right on the mountain. The sunset made it look like a Hollywood western set.
But I shouldn't have jumped there. That was my second night. The first night I spent in a lovely free campsite up in the Sierras. Also at the end of a dirt road, over a few fairly scary ditches (I haven't bottomed out yet though!), and across from a beautiful glowing meadow. As soon as I got out
of my car, I saw a deer cross the road not 30 feet to my left. I know, I've seen lots of deer. But it was still special. As were the three times I heard bears circling my car during the night. My heart rate was too high to sleep for about an hour. The next morning I heard a bear again, then I looked up and saw the plane the growling was coming from. Hmmph. Well it was pretty convincing at the time.
Strawberry was great, for those on this list that weren't there. There was a fabulous Celtic Rock band from Canada, Great Big Sea, that I have wanted to see for a while. And a cute, cute band of 5 guys in white shirts, ties, and cowboy hats singing Hank Williams kinda country. There was also Patty Griffin, the woman that wrote 3 of the songs on the Dixie Chicks latest album. She sang "Top of the World", and I actually got teary. Me!
Well, gotta go, my time is up, and that's all I can think of for now. It's off to a great start!
Bethany
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