Wards Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park – Quiet Walk Photography

June 28, 2023March 29, 2026

Wards Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park (Part 3) – June 2023

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Clifford and I are camped at the Willow Creek Campground in the Ward Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park. The day we arrived, we discovered a leaking wheel bearing on our old Suburban, which has been in Ely for repairs for the past week. My cell phone was accidentally left in Ely when we dropped the Suburban off. Yesterday, we got a ride to pick up the Suburban. We are glad to have our vehicle back and I am especially happy to have my cell phone back

This morning with my phone in hand once again, I go for the morning walk, past the bench alongside the creek and on to the old bridge. I take more time with the iris, as they are abundant now, but soon they will give way to other flowers.

Mornings are often calm and that is the best time to go, as walking in the wind is too energy draining. This particular morning, I leave later than I want for the morning walk and it is already getting gusty, so have to cut it short. Flowers photos don’t work well when the flowers are whipping around. Ah well, there are plenty of indoor projects – working on blogs, taking care of email, meals and dishes.

Saturday June 24

We are still at Willow Creek even though we are at the 14-day limit. Without having the Suburban for over a week, our travel itinerary has changed. The park ranger is understanding and we are given permission to extend our stay for a couple days, which I take good advantage to walk to the bench again. Acres of wild roses in bloom, columbine, and flax have replaced the wild iris as objects of my attention.

Wild Rose Bushes Make Their Appearance Along Willow Creek

Columbine by Willow Creek on a Blue-Sky Day

Back at camp, working on a blog, writing in my journal, tai chi, and sharing a few photos keep me busy, and fiddle comes out before it is too dark to see the music. This is Amateur Radio Field Day, so the radio has Clifford’s attention much of the day.

Sunday is filled with taking care of mundane projects. Looking ahead at maps and weather app, it looks like Wednesday or Thursday will be the day to leave. The temperatures have been in a range of about 50 at night to 70-80 high and it is time to move north. One of these last days at Will Creek CG, I discover a tick biting me. The head is not embedded fortunately and it was easy to remove, bur it doesn’t make me too comfortable with hiking off-trail for photos of flowers and the creek.

Interesting light at sundown catches my attention.

Wednesday June 28 is our last day here. Despite the forecast for a high wind day, it is the calmest day we have had in quite a while. I take photos of the white prickly poppies along the road and then walk to the bench. Despite the tick bite, I still walk off-trail, but shower and put on clean clothes when I get back to camp. In the evening, I pack up as much as I can to make tomorrow’s leaving easier.

This has been a very good campground for us and we hope to return on a future journey through Nevada.

June 19, 2023March 27, 2026

Wards Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park (Part 2) – June 2023

Tuesday June 13, 2023

Clifford and I are camped at Willow Creek Campground in the Ward Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park. Yesterday we took the Suburban to D&S, the vehicle repair shop in Ely, Nevada, to fix the leaking bearing that we discovered right after we arrived at the campground.

Today Clifford got a message from the mechanic at D&S. The mechanic says the failed bearing is because we are carrying too much weight (6-gallon containers of water) and other stuff on top of towing. The weight could be an issue, but it doesn’t explain three failures in 250 miles of highway driving at moderate speed. One failure was shortly after a bearing replacement when the Suburban was not loaded and we weren’t towing. Things are not adding up here. (Eventually it is determined that the bearings from Big O are cheap Chinese imports inadequate for the size and weight of the Suburban.)

It was only after our ride dropped us off at the campground yesterday that we realized that we left the mail with some items that Clifford needs, my purse, and my cell phone in her truck. I was totally bummed about not having my phone for taking photos until we get back to Ely to get the Suburban.

For the next week (except for taking photos with Clifford’s cell), I work on little projects that don’t involve my phone – texts and emails with Clifford’s cell, journal in the morning, fiddle in the evening, and work on February 2022 blog. I am reading Law of Attraction. Of course, this is not new to me, but the presentation is different and I appreciate the Words of Wisdom that come forth for my consideration. I write my favorites in my journal.

“Today, no matter what I’m doing and no matter who I am doing it with, it is my dominant intention to look for things I like.”

The weather has been interesting with clouds and rain some days, even thundershowers with very loud and close thunder, a beautiful rainbow one day, hail another day, but sunshine often. On windy days, except for a couple photos of flowers or clouds, I focus on indoor projects – preparing photos for blogs, journaling, and reading, while Clifford continues fussing with antennas trying to get better reception and transmission on his ham radio.

Although we can’t sit out every day, Clifford works on his antennas frequently, and I do Tai chi outside as often as I can.

Once in a while it is warm and calm enough to play music together, mostly fiddle tunes from the Phoenix Folk Group in the UK. Clifford also plays and sings a great variety of popular songs. It’s always nice when this can be done outside. Since there are few people here, there is no one to complain.

One day Clifford and I walk to the charcoal ovens together, which was a fun hike and interesting as we read the kiosks about the reason for them being there. It was an environmental disaster to cut all the trees, changing the valley ecology. Sometimes the people making these decisions are looking only at the profit motive, not the long-term welfare of the land and it’s ecological systems.

Another day, Clifford and I hike on the trail toward the mountain. There are a variety of flowers along the trail and the wild iris are especially delightful.

I show Clifford the bench I discovered along the creek and then we continue on to an old foot bridge. It has a special ambiance, but I am reluctant to walk across it. We want to take a different route back to camp anyway.

Bench Along Willow Creek (Photo by Clifford)

I make chili for dinner and it is nice enough that we are able to sit outside to eat. No word from the mechanic as to status of suburban.

Despite the inconvenience and expense of the Suburban issues and no cell phone, I am grateful and happy to be alive. Today’s Words of Wisdom from Law of Attraction confirm that that is a good idea! “Get your eyes, words, and thoughts off of WHAT-IS (if what is is not what you want) and put them purely on what you want now, which encourages me to stay focused on the positive, including the trees for shade and ambiance, flowers, using Clifford’s phone since mine is still in Ely, pleasant temperatures, scenic views, and the fun hikes together.

One morning, after making a smoothie for our breakfast, I go on a hike by myself. The sky is amazing blue and wildflowers are plentiful. I work with Wild Child, as I call the wind, to get moments of stillness for photos of flowers, still using Clifford’s cell. It is getting warm for me by time I head back, but what a lovely time with nature.

In the afternoon I send photos to family and friends, get in an hour of fiddle practice, and still have time to work on the next blog. It is an enjoyable and productive day.

The next day is much too windy to go walking, so the focus is on indoor projects: fiddle inside, work on next blog, journal, and tai chi for me. Clifford always has radio and a list of projects that he works on.

Monday June 19 starts with breakfast, my usual projects, and radio for Clifford. He is always tweaking his antenna to get the best communication possible no matter where we are located. Finally a call from Jennifer, the receptionist at D&S. The Suburban is done and she comes out to get us. Back in Ely with wheels again, we run a few errands before heading out to camp. I am very happy to have my phone back!

June 12, 2023March 27, 2026

Wards Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park (Part 1) – June 2023

Wednesday June 7, 2023

Clifford and I are leaving Cave Lake Nevada State Park today but before we finish packing, I take a shower at at the bath house and do some Tai Chi in a spot of sunlight while Clifford checks into his net on ham radio. Then we have yogurt and fruit for a quick and easy breakfast with no cleanup involved. I packed as much as I could last night, so it is not hard to finish up and we are on our way to Wards Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park by 10:00 or so. Both of these state parks are near Ely, Nevada, in east central Nevada, so it does not take long to get there. Wildflowers are on hand to greet us at Willow Creek Campground.

Arriving at Willow Creek Campground in the Wards Charcoal Oven Nevada State Park

We drive around the campground loop and agree on site #6. A little tricky backing Cougar in with the big pine tree right next to the driveway, but once in place, Clifford unhitches and parks the Suburban at the front of the driveway. That’s when I notice the oil leak from a rear bearing. This is not a good thing!

Clifford has enough cell service to call a mechanic in Ely, D&S Repair, and we are scheduled to take it in on Monday – almost a week from now. If we are going to be somewhere while the Suburban is repaired, Cave Lake with flush toilets and hot showers would have been nice, but the advantage here is that the friendly ranger will be understanding if we have to stay longer at this out-of-the-way park. T-mobile (Clifford’s provider) service is okay here, but no Verizon (my provider). However, I can use Clifford’s phone for communication to stay in touch with family. We get set up, trying not to worry about the issue with the Suburban.

This is a great location in the foothills of the Nevada Egan Range. There are scenic views across the valley to the Schell Creek Range.

I really appreciate the trees here creating ambiance, shade, and privacy. The old junipers have a lot of character. Willow Creek Campground is small but nice with plenty of native trees and shrubs for privacy between sites. Each site has gravel, a new picnic table and canopy over the picnic table for a pleasant camping experience. We are grateful for water here, and the vault toilets are maintained. I am pleased to see wildflowers all around.

Wildflowers at Willow Creek CG – Ragwort

The morning after arriving, I walk about near camp to take photos of the mountains and wildflowers, and then I explore the trail across the road that meanders through the woods.

Wildflower Friends – Wild Buckwheat and Phlox

I discover that this trail leads from the campground to the ovens. I only go as far as a junction with a trail along the creek, as I need to be better prepared before heading further.

The next morning, armed with water and my 2-meter radio, I explore the trail toward the mountain to the west and discover a bench right alongside the creek, which often becomes my morning destination. The views from this location are peaceful with trees, shrubs, mountains, and wildflowers every direction. It is not long before my morning walks take me off the trail and along the creek itself for many more delightful photos.

Monday June 12 is our day to take the Suburban to the mechanic. It is a beautiful day with big cumulus clouds and only a touch of rain.

Although we are a bit uneasy about driving the Suburban to Ely with a leaking wheel bearing, we have to get it there, so off we go. There is a ride service that we plan to use for a ride back out to camp. When we call to set up a ride, no one answers. Hmmm While we wait for a return call, I go to a cute place down the side street called the Flower Basket Coffee Shop. I order a coffee and settle at a table to write in my journal. I am looking forward to some quiet sitting time with coffee and journal. But Clifford texts to let me know that Jennifer, the receptionist at D&S, the mechanic shop, will give us a ride back out to camp.

Back at the campground, we unload the groceries that we had picked up on our way to D&S. It is only after Jennifer leaves that we realize that we left the mail with some items that Clifford needs, as well as my purse and cell phone in her truck. I am totally bummed about not having my cell phone to take photos. It may be another week or more before we get back to Ely. Clifford offers his phone so I can continue taking photos, which is much appreciated, and in the meantime, we will continue to enjoy this lovely peaceful place.

June 6, 2023February 8, 2026

Cave Lake Nevada State Park – June 2023

Wednesday May 31, 2023

Clifford and I arrive at Cave Lake Nevada State Park after leaving Patterson Pass this afternoon. This small campground is very popular, but we find an available site on the downhill side of the campground. We are happy to be here, but will only be able to spend a week.

Cell service is marginal, but using Clifford’s hotspot, I am able to make contact with family and friends to let them know where we are and to keep abreast of the news.

Hot showers are a real plus at this campground. Since there is no one camped near us, we can play music outside, which is something we always enjoy.

Although there are not many wildflowers here, the views are good and I enjoy the walkabouts.

I can see a mountain range to the west with snow-capped peaks even though it is June, but in looking at the map, I can’t tell what range I am seeing. There are numerous mountain ranges running in a north/south direction in this state with wide valleys between.

When we were here last fall, we drove up the mountain for a picnic and to take photos of autumn color. This time, we go on an exploratory outing to find where we might camp when we leave here. Ward’s Charcoal Oven State Park, about 10 miles south of Ely, is one of our outings. Quite the history of how all the trees were cut and burned to make charcoal needed for smelting steel for the railroads carrying silver ore. The land has never recovered and is barren for miles, but fortunately, the campground in this state park, Willow Creek CG, is situated in what remains of a juniper and pinon pine forest.

We also check out a large forest service camp to the southwest of Ely, but all the sites seem to be reserved although there is almost no one there. Odd. There is a BLM road across the highway, but no sites, not even any good places to pull off the road. Then Egan Summit, another BLM area with cell service and a good view of the nearby mountain range, but no shade and it appears to be an ATV place, which is not so good for camping. There could be dust and noise much of the time.

We go to the little village of Ruth, just to check it out, desolate, almost a ghost town. Back in Ely, we find a city park with picnic tables and have a picnic before heading back to camp.

Wednesday June 6 is our last day here. I pack up as much as I can to make moving preparations easier tomorrow. We have enjoyed our time here, and perhaps we will come again.