Jarbidge or Bust - "Overlanding" Nevada 2015

[FJ60Cam]

Eventually the clouds that had been threatening us all day finally opened up and dumped some rain and even hail on us. Our destination for the day was Wilson reservoir, and we had been running so hard all day to get out of the desert that we never stopped for lunch. By the time the rain hit us, we were in a sprint to make Wilson, mud flying everywhere. The last stretch of road was turning to a baby poo/banana pudding-like consistency that had us wondering if we would be able to leave the next day.

We did finally arrive, filthy, hungry and exhausted...

 

[FJ60Cam]

Then a rainbow appeared!

Then in a colorful display that would make Yosemitebear62 wig out and flip his sh*t, there was a DOUBLE MF'N RAINBOW!!!

 

[FJ60Cam]

Tom brought his lab, Clive, on the trip. Several times throughout the day, he had to stop to wipe off Clive's face from hanging it out the window.

Though there weren't any other kids on the trip, there was Clive. Andrew and Clive ran around the camp every night playing fetch for hours on end, and today was no exception...

 

[FJ60Cam]

Earlier in the day, Tom got a text from Dan, who was free from his bartending duties and trying to meet up with us. Cell service randomly appeared in a few spots, and right before Wilson, we got in touch with him again to give him our coordinates. He was 80 miles away in Elko, and rolled into camp shortly before dinner.

Tom took advantage of the large body of water and set up his hot water shower system for all to enjoy.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Wilson Reservoir is a public campground. Public campgrounds are frowned upon on trips like this, but this place was an exception. There was almost no one out there, so we had the place to ourselves (until the only traffic of the night, an RV, pulls in RIGHT NEXT TO US). There was also a table with a small shelter, as well as some pit toilets.

After a delicious dinner of Shrimp Scampi from Pasquale, we were all hanging out at the shelter, sampling all of the different beers and wines, when, out of nowhere, the sky OPENED THE HELL UP. I'm talking Noah's Ark level rain, and then marble sized hail. I grabbed Andrew and we jumped up on top of the table to get a little more protection out of our shelter. I look around and everyone has scattered, only Tom is still with us. All three of us are standing on the top of this picnic table in the middle of a hail-storm that was now blowing sideways, soaking us and pelting us from the waist down. To top it off there is lightning in the distance.

I am now starting to second guess staying in the tent. Rain is one thing, but I had no idea how long this storm would last and how the tent would hold up to the hail. And with the lightning, the last place I want to be is inside a cocoon of metal poles on top of the wet ground.

We come up with a plan. We are sleeping in the truck, in the front seats. We count to three and I run Andrew to the truck. I grab our sleeping bags from the tent and run them to the truck, getting soaked in the process.

I have to run the truck long enough to get the heat going enough to dry us out. We get as comfortable as possible and then doze off.

 

[concretejungle]

I have to add about this RV.... At first i was in such confusion; i was speechless about this truck and huge double axle camper being pulled behind it. How in the hell, did he pull that trailer through what we just had been traveling through for days?!!!! No way! Later I realized that the way we were about to exit the area was a gravel road with a pretty short stretch (short is relative out there) to a main road. So that's how they got in there. But the fact they pulled in right beside us in this huge expanse of wilderness was just mind numbing to say the least.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I could not figure that out either. Maybe it was a strength in numbers thing. If they had fired a generator, I would have asked them to leave. Instead they were super quiet and went to bed early. They had the whole friggin' lake camp at and they pull in next to us. This is why we avoid campgrounds. Though this was a campground with basically picnic tables and pit toilets. No electricity, no potable water etc, basically keep out the riff-raff.

 

[wngrog]

I finally looked at where all this is going down......that is on the Oregon border......holy crap. That is a LONG way from here.


Also, I still say Cameron is gay for not having a RTT or at the VERY least a RTT with s*** hanging off it. I am sure he was dragging yall down due to both of these

 

[Cruiserdrew]

You definitely get style points with a roof top tent. I wish I had one.

 

[concretejungle]

Here is a quick video of the impending hail/rain storm that Cameron was speaking of. I was smart enough to get all my stuff together so as soon as the rain started i was in the tent.

 

[FJ60Cam]

I finally looked at where all this is going down......that is on the Oregon border......holy crap. That is a LONG way from here.

The GPS app didn't really show the borders well, and I was mostly zoomed in, following the red line, so when I opened Google Maps, I couldn't believe where we were. Just a few feet from Idaho.

Also, I still say Cameron is gay for not having a RTT or at the VERY least a RTT with s*** hanging off it. I am sure he was dragging yall down due to both of these

 

[FJ60Cam]

Here is a quick video of the impending hail/rain storm that Cameron was speaking of. I was smart enough to get all my stuff together so as soon as the rain started i was in the tent.

Aww hail! There's another reason to have a hard-shelled RTT right there. That stuff was serious.

 

[wngrog]

I was smart enough to get all my stuff together so as soon as the rain started i was in the tent.

Did you stay dry? What type?

 

[spressomon]

You guys, Cameron & Andrew (and formerly Pasquale...), are my heroes for being able to do the vertical sleep thing in the front seat...

 

[FJ60Cam]

You guys, Cameron & Andrew (and formerly Pasquale...), are my heroes for being able to do the vertical sleep thing in the front seat...


View attachment 1093428

Andrew slept like a log! I didn't think I would ever be able to rouse him from his coma.

I didn't, but I don't really sleep great on the ground either. However, I woke up refreshed and not at all sore.

I'm always amazed how I can toss and turn all night camping, but I always wake up energized. At home in a comfy bed, I have a hard time getting moving.

We did learn something out of that ordeal - after weighing the hassle of setting up a tent and the marginal increase in comfort vs. the convenience and dryness of the truck, we ended up sleeping in the front seats the rest of the trip.

 

[concretejungle]

I did stay dry. I was in a james baroud space evo.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Inside is always good. I survived a much longer storm in Mojave that pounded rain for 6 hours with lightening striking close and all around. Pasquale likely remembers that. I thought it was the end.

 

[FJ60Cam]

After surviving the night in the front seats, we wake up to a beautiful morning. It is a complete contrast to the chaos from which we fled the night before.

Andrew is conked the heck out. I must have tried to wake him up five or six times, to no avail.

I throw off my sleeping bag and roll out of the truck, already fully dressed from the night before.

I don't have breakfast duty today, so I don't really have much in the way of responsibilities. I wander next door to Dan's truck (which looks a little too clean, btw) as I see that he is up and already feverishly assembling his mobile espresso factory, like a junkie long overdue his fix.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Well, THIS espresso junkie was even longer overdue for a fix. I got hooked on espresso late last year and spressomon has been my Sensei, feeding me tips and tricks via email all this time.

Until this week, I've been able to pull shots two or three times a day since the day I bought my machine. I haven't gone a single day without espresso since the day I bought my machine. This past week, though, I've had to slum it and survive off of mere coffee.

I tried to take my coffee making to the next level for the trip, going so far as to bring my electric grinder, scale, and fresh expertly roasted whole beans, perfectly aged to peak in flavor while on the trail.

It didn't work. I needed some espresso. And here's Dan, a 5th degree espresso black belt and my long-distance trainer setting up shop a few yards away.

I walk over and try not to act too interested. I play hard to get, not wanting to look too desperate or have to resort to begging. Luckily, he sensed my situation and offered to pull me a shot.

YES! FINALLY!

I carefully watched the process with anticipation, a process that only a true addict could appreciate and tolerate. First, the beans are weighed and ground. Then the Portapresso is warmed up, milk is carefully steamed and expertly microfoamed, lastly the portafilter
is filled & tamped and the machine is charged with the onboard air system.

The moment of truth is upon us...

He pours me a one-off spressomon original design, an apple with a feather sticking out of the top.

I take a sample and declare it a gift from the heavens. Just like the double rainbow we saw yesterday.

Finally, I am whole again.

 

[fountainhead]

OMFG.