technical difficulties...

Well, the mobile broadband stopped working, so I haven't been able to post updates... My apologies to anyone actually following along! I'll keep trying, update as soon as I can!

The Extraaaaaterrestrial Highway

Day 2.... and a lot more time in the car!  I'm finally in Vegas (where my mobile broadband works, yay!), but it was another long drive from Reno to get here.  Fortunately, there were some beautiful & interesting sights along the way. 

I convinced the boys to take a slightly longer route along Highway 375, better known as the Extratrrestrial Highway, which runs along the east side of the USAF's Groom Lake flight test center... aka: Area 51.  We stopped in the solitary town along this route, Rachel, to eat dinner at the Little Alie-inn...  a cafe/bar/motel/gift shop that is sustained by the UFO mythology of Area 51 & those devout enough to visit.  (For the record, I'm not one of those people...  just couldn't resist going to say that I've been there.)  

After leaving Rachel, night had fallen, so we had the opportunity to look for UFO lights....  I did see a flashing light above the hills, but I'm guessing that probably was something belonging to the Air Force, and not the ET's.  All the sky watching wasn't in vain though...  out in the boonies, away from the glare of the city lights, the stars were absolutely incredible to look at.   Still, after a 500 mile drive, I wasn't complaining one bit when the bright lights of Vegas came back into view!!

Walker Lake

Snow in the sagebrush... gotta love the high desert!

Caution... dancing bulls!

On Highway 375... the lady's voice on the Garmin called it the Extraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaterrestrial Highway.

Watch out for low flying aircraft near Area 51!

It was a long, flat expanse of road, with not a soul to be seen around... 

So... what's a girl to do but let fly a little?!?!  (Hypothetically, of course.  I'm not actually admitting to any type of traffic violation here....)  ;-)

Even the state of Nevada acknowledges this stretch as the Extraterrestrial Highway.

The Little Ale'inn, in Rachel, NV.

Special of the Day - Alien Legs & Eggs...  (I didn't even ask...)

Eek, stay outta there!

The lights of Vegas on the horizon at last.... aaaah, civilization!

Running away to Vegas!

Yesterday was the 1st day of our Vegas roadtrip!  We drove from Portland to Reno...  10 long hours in the car... been awhile since I've done that, and wow, does that make a person a little sore.  

I'd love to say that I hit Reno and went all party girl, hanging out in the casino...  but instead I went straight to my hotel room and crashed.  The downside, though, is that I fell asleep early enough that I woke up at 5:30 this morning, Ugh!! 

So... now I'm sitting cross-legged on my bed in my pajamas, sipping room service coffee, and making use of the wifi access I paid a $10 daily us fee for.  (Charging your customers for wifi??  ....Ridiculous!!)

Anyway, not a whole lot to share about the trip yesterday...  it was long...  the roads were clear (thankfully), and the scenery was beautiful.  Here's some photos....  

John & Travis by the Klamath River

Me & Travis by the Klamath River.  

View from the road.  I think this is Shasta... but happily accepting any corrections if someone knows for sure! 

Darkness falling in the wilds of northern California.

The lights of Reno on the horion at last!

Today we'll be moving on to Vegas, via Highway 375... better known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, so tomorrow should bring more interesting photos!