Clifford and I are camped in our RV, Cougar, on Black Rock Road not far from our friend David, a fellow nomad. The last weekend of January, Clifford, David, and I make a trip to Mesquite, Nevada, to the balloon festival. We meet friends Rick and LeeAnn there, go to a casino for a great lunch, the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum, and a pawn shop while we wait for the evening Balloon Glow when the balloons are filled and lit up. At the pawn shop I saw an old fiddle in a brand new case; I was tempted to buy it, but since I don’t really need another instrument, I talked myself out of it.
At the Virgin Valley Heritage Museum with Friends
We parked on a hill on the edge of Mesquite to watch the activity below until dark, then found a place to park near the balloon field so we could walk through and see the balloons up close. The balloons are huge and colorful and it was fun to walk among them.
Mesquite, Nevada, Balloon FestivalBalloon Glow at Mesquite, Nevada, Balloon Festival
In my miscellaneous reading, I come across something called “Five Minute Journal,” which I added to my daily journal writing: 1) – Inspiring quote. 2) – List 3 things I am grateful for. 3) – List 3 goals for the day (and did I accomplish them, if writing pm). 4) – List 3 things that were amazing or made me happy. 5) – Anything I would have done differently. In reviewing the journal for this blog, I find what I wrote in the Five Minute Journal to be quite interesting. I am glad I did it, at least for a while.
As January draws to a close, the temperature is warm enough for Clifford to sit outside on the sunny side of Cougar to play music, even getting bit of a tan.
Clifford Plays Dulcimer in the Sunshine
An exciting change of weather happens the very next day – SNOW! I spend a long time walking in the snow taking photos. It doesn’t last long, but it was delightful for me while it was happening.
Falling Snow Blurs the HorizonSnow Defines the MesaMountain to the West Covered in White
By the next day, the last day of January, the snow is all gone, except for the new white coat on Pine Mountain. What will February bring?
Outside the Lincoln County Courthouse Museum in Pioche, Nevada
Wednesday May 10, 2023 is moving day. Clifford and I have enjoyed our time at Echo Canyon Nevada State Park, but we are continuing our journey back to Montana to spend summer with family. Pioche, Nevada, is only 15 miles from Echo Canyon and that is our first destination.
There is a small RV park on the outskirts of this old mining town, and that is where we are planning to stay for a week or so. When we arrive, we are pleased that the site at the end of the row is available. This RV park does not have a restroom, but it does have water, a trash can, and a tree at each site. Being at the end of the row means more privacy for the days that we are here.
Pioche City RV Park
Pioche has a historical role as one of the most lawless of the mining towns in the Old West gold and silver rush days in the1870’s. We have been here before and spent time in the museum and driving out to the old cemetery, but on this stay, we browse around town, stopping at the old Lincoln County Courthouse, which housed the jail, and further along the street, we admire the leaning mining shack, appreciating somebody’s sense of humor. We finish with lunch at the historic Silver Cafe.
Lincoln County Courthouse in Pioche, NevadaJail at the BackLeaning Miners’ CabinHistoric Silver Cafe in Pioche, Nevada
Across the road that encircles the RV sites is a large pit, maybe once a mining claim. I walk there to take photos of wildflowers. It’s a shame that trash is blown or tossed there, as it could be made into a delightful walking path with benches where visitors to the RV park could enjoy a bit of nature.
Phlox in the PitBlooming Shrub in the PitBeauty Hiding in the Pit
Across the street from the RV park is a large and well-developed city park with a ball field, a swimming pool, and an area with playground equipment for kids. I like to walk the outer edges of this park, as the Japanese flowering crab apple and forsythia trees are in bloom, their contrasting deep pink and bright yellow putting on a delightful show for any who pay attention.
Flowering Crab Apple in the City ParkForsythia in BloomForsythia and Flowering Crab Apple Putting on a Show
There are some cloudy and windy days, but I often sit out with journal and coffee by the big boulder that is a boundary between our site and the road. A week in Pioche gives us time to catch up on internet activities.
Cloudy Windy Days at Pioche, NevadaSitting out for Coffee and Journal at Pioche City RV ParkAlways Projects, Inside or Out
Our next destination is a new place for us – Patterson Pass. We have seen the highway sign on previous trips, but on the map it looked too remote. However, the internet allows us to investigate further and it might be a great place. Guess we will soon find out.
Our last days camping at Black Rock Road are especially pretty with filaree extending for acres, a beautiful green carpet dotted with purple blossoms. Soon there will be other wildflowers, but it is time for us to move on.
Filaree Carpet at Black RockFilaree Blossoms
Wednesday April 26 is moving day. We are up by 7:30, have breakfast, finish packing, and are on our way by 11:30. It is good to have gotten a lot done yesterday despite the shopping day and Clifford not feeling well. Luckily, he is feeling better today. I don’t have much time for my morning routine, as getting ready to travel is a big deal for us. Lots of things need to be in place for safe travel, in addition to hitching up.
Suburban and Cougar Ready to Leave Black Rock Road
We have a safe and beautiful drive except for that area on Highway 56 where the trees are all dead – very dry, and negative energy there.
Good-bye to Arizona and UtahJourney to Nevada
Happily, we make it to Echo Canyon by mid afternoon and find a nice spot on the side of the loop that we like, next to the site where we were last fall. We are happy to be here. I walk to the reservoir for photos of the water, getting reacquainted with this campground, one of our favorites.
Campsite at Echo Canyon Nevada State ParkCalm Day at Echo Canyon ReservoirReflections on Echo Canyon Reservoir
A couple days after our arrival at Echo Canyon, our camping neighbor from Black Rock comes to visit us on his motorcycle, bringing sugar for hummingbird juice. I make a good lunch of pork steaks, wild rice, and salad. It is good to see him.
Words of Wisdom from my daily reading from the Law of Attraction: “The more you come to understand the power of the law of attraction, the more interest you will have in deliberately directing your thoughts – for you get what you think about, whether you want it or not. Without exception, that which you give thought to is that which you begin to invite into your experience.” I am keeping this in mind as I go about my daily activities. it is interesting to notice how often my thoughts stray to things that I don’t want to manifest.
The next day Clifford and I go for a picnic to a spot that we know of on the edge of the park where there is (was) a picnic table. When we get there, we find the creek overflowing and the picnic table is gone., but that doesn’t stop us from having our picnic. We just sit alongside the road using our own table and chairs for the picnic. After we eat, Clifford plays music until the wind gets too rambunctious.
Creek OverflowingToo Much for Bridge and Picnic TablePicnic and Music Prevail
I often climb the ridge behind the campground loop to get a bar of cell service. It is enough for me to send and receive text and connect to short “Begin with Breath'” tai chi routines. One day I come across a bench on the ridge, oddly out of place, but a nice place to sit for a great view of the area and a good place to prop my phone up for the tai chi class.
Bench on the Ridge
There are not many wildflowers, but some trees are in bloom, possibly crab apples, which are totally delightful for me to photograph. They also seem oddly out of place, but in a very pleasing sort of way.
Crab Apple in BloomBeautiful Touch of ColorBlossoms and Blue Sky
The weather was pleasant when we first arrived, but then there are several days of cloudy, windy, rainy weather, and even hail. One morning we see some sunshine, but just a teaser. It is soon cloudy and windy again. The day before, I kind of wore myself out walking in the wind, trying to find a spot with cell service. Someone has camped at the site right below the bench, so I can’t go there now. So we don’t have much outdoor time, but I’ve been able to do tai chi inside, as well as other indoor projects, like journal writing. Clifford always has projects. We neither one are ever at loss for things to do whether inside or out. On the days that it is too windy for me to do the uphill climb, I get a boost from Clifford’s hotspot.
Windy Cloudy Days
Finally we have a day calm and warm enough to sit outside. I take photos of Primrose on way back from restroom and then sit outside with coffee to listen to Clifford sing while I write in my journal.
PrimroseMusic on the PatioSitting Out with Coffee and Journal
Monday, May 8, the sky is a beautiful blue, but El viento no es divertido. Café is muy Bueno. Studying Spanish with Duolingo – the wind is not fun. Coffee is very good. The trees don’t seem to mind the windy days and are as attractive as ever.
Blue Sky Day
We have just a couple more days to enjoy our stay here before we head to Pioche for a few groceries and better internet. This has been a good stay, but it is time to move on.
After spending the summer near family in western Montana, Clifford and I are heading south for the winter. I am grateful for all the time I’ve had with family. Despite the early August mosquitoes, hot spell, and forest fire smoke, it was great being in western Montana with my kids and siblings.
Goodbye Montana
It’s a good day for travel with light winds, a great blue sky, and trees just beginning to turn to autumn color as we travel southeast on I-90 along the Clark Fork river.
Clark Fork River Along I-90 in Western Montana
I am grateful for the safe and pleasant drive from my sister’s place where we were camped this summer, to the rest area south of Butte, Montana, where we are spending the night.
Sunset at Rest Area near Butte, Montana, on I-15 South
Sunday September 25, 2022
Sunrise at Rest Area near Butte, Montana on I-15 South
Our travels take us through the ever-changing landscape of southwest Montana.
Southwest Montana Landscape along I-15Organ Pipe Rock Near Dillon, Montana
We take I-15 from the rest area near Butte to the rest area at Dubois, Idaho, grateful for the clean facilities and the large parking area where we find a parking spot on the edge alongside the grass median.
Shrubs at the Dubois Rest Area Attractive in Autumn ColorsSunset at Dubois Rest Area
Monday September 26 was an overnight stay at the Walmart in Burley, Idaho.
Tuesday September 27, 2022
For the first time, we are traveling south through Nevada to avoid going through Salt Lake City. We stay on I-15 until turning south on US highway 93 at Idaho Springs, Idaho.
Tonight we are at the pullover north of Wells, Nevada. It was a harder day of travel due to traffic on 93 as well as more wind. We sure are glad to get to this spot safely and after picking up trash, I take a few photos of the rather scenic desert landscape.
View from the Pullout North of Wells, NevadaView at Sunset North of Wells, Nevada
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Even Weeds Look Good at SunriseCougar (our RV) at Pullout North of Wells, Nevada at Sunrise
Our destination today is Cave Lake Nevada State Park near Ely, Nevada. About half way between Wells and Ely, Nevada, we stop at the Schellbourne Rest Stop which features kiosks that recount the history of the Pony Express, highlighting the bravery and hardships of the young men who traversed Nevada on their route delivering mail from St. Joseph, Missouri to San Francisco, California in 1860.
Schellbourne Rest Stop Features the Pony ExpressNevada Landscape Near Schellbourne Rest Stop
We arrive at Cave Lake Nevada State Park by mid-afternoon. It is perfect timing for us to catch the park ranger and get the Annual Nevada State Park Pass. The ranger is very nice to take the time for us since he was on his way out.
My research on the two campgrounds indicated that Elk Flat is more favorable for RVs, but since the headquarters is at Cave Lake Campground where we met the ranger, we camp here.
Our campsite at Cave Lake Nevada State Park Near Ely, Nevada
There is a very scenic view from the only pull-through site, but it is really tricky leveling because of the curve and slope of the land. The landscape is a juniper and opinion pine forest with views of mountains, hills, and mesas all around.
View from our Campsite at Cave Lake Nevada State Park
We like what we see and are treated to a beautiful sunset at the end of the day. I am grateful to be here!
Sunset from our Campsite at Cave Lake Nevada State Park
Friday, September 30. September comes to a close with reading Seven Spiritual Laws and sipping hot tea, as I enjoy the egg sandwich that Clifford made for breakfast. I am very happy there are showers at this campground, quite the luxury for our traveling lifestyle. I am grateful to be alive, savoring the beauty and the perfection of the moment.
