My weekend was supposed to be spent checking out the aspen on Bates Mountain, looking for carvings made by the Basque shepherds from the early 20th century. As such things go, the route to the mountain -- somewhat remote in Central Nevada -- was more than my 14-year old Volvo could comfortable accommodate. It was deeply rutted, and filled with the color and fine grain of the antagonist of Robert Heinlein's scifi classic The Moon is a Harsh Mistress: moon dust. But instead of causing my moon rover to overheat, given its consistency and traction capacity of slick mud, it made progress more challenging than I wanted. Getting stuck wasn't on the agenda.
I found a place to pull over as the sun set, and made camp. I was reasonably confident I could retrace to pavement easily enough. Plans were about to change.
I found a place to pull over as the sun set, and made camp. I was reasonably confident I could retrace to pavement easily enough. Plans were about to change.
I spent most of the night thinking of a friend who’s going through some real challenges that are only compounded by Covid-19. I wish I could help more than buying some groceries, but I hope that little bit buoys things a bit for them.
The rest of the time I spent planning alternative activities. I decided to visit some places I’d seen on the way out to Austin: Cold Springs and Earthquake Fault.
Cold Springs is host to a Pony Express stop, a stagecoach stop, and an early telegraph station. They are all separated, so I turned it into a run (10K with some reasonable climbing), and got my exercise as well.
The rest of the time I spent planning alternative activities. I decided to visit some places I’d seen on the way out to Austin: Cold Springs and Earthquake Fault.
Cold Springs is host to a Pony Express stop, a stagecoach stop, and an early telegraph station. They are all separated, so I turned it into a run (10K with some reasonable climbing), and got my exercise as well.
The earthquake fault was less fun. I was followed up the dirt road by OHVs sporting rednecks with beer and Trumpistan flags. I took a couple of photos and left and continued my way west.
On a whim, I decided to stop at Sand Mountain. I did the nature walk around another Pony Express station while I was in the area. The sand mountain itself would be interesting to play on, but I didn't want to get run over.
When I got back to the car... a flat. Swell. This was the second one (the first wasn't my car) in a couple of months on dirt roads. <Sigh> I got out the spare and jack and lug wrench...
Typically, no biggie, but a combination of super tight lugs after getting brakes done earlier in the week and a short-handled lug wrench with a rounded socket, meant I could only manage two of the five lug nuts. Apparently I’m gifted with foresight, since I bought AAA a month ago. Spotty cell service meant a juggle getting the truck out there, but it happened, and eventually I was on my way, riding on the baby spare. I made it to the tire shop before closing and they had me back on the road in about an hour. I’m buying a new, and better, lug wrench tomorrow.
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