Well, the boys and I made another trip up to San Juan Creek, above the Reese River Valley, in the Toyoibe Range... thus far, my favorite place in Nevada.
The drive was uneventful, until I turned onto NV SR 89, followed by NV SR 844 both recently graded.
Both are good roads, but since they had just been graded, they were covered in many places, in 4-6” of playa dust... enough to send 44 veering in all directions.
Dust billowed up behind 44 and, at one point. The wind was just right to cause dust to drift into 44 thru the gas tank drain hole in the body.
I first thought 44 was on fire and then realized it was dust... so, once again I’m trying to remove all the dust.
Two nights at 7k+’ both nights low at 5*. One night in 44... one night in my tent. I was surprised 44 was actually warmer than the tent.
But, we had sleeping bags and wool blankets to keep us warm. Teddy’s first time sleeping under covers, so I had to wake up and re-cover him frequently, during the night.
Chester stayed covered up and even kept his head covered. He turned in by 6pm and I didn’t see his handsome face again until daylight.
I also had my belacava... and slept in it.
Creek’s frozen.
And I found proof that bears do, in fact, s*** in the woods.
We drove several ATV tracks far back into the Toyoibe Range. Farther than we’ve been... these tracks follow a couple of drainages and are created primarily by hunters and used by quad enthusiasts.
I turned around at the first herd of angus steers... didn’t want to start a stampede. They were in the area with all the “color” in my picture.
Between the dust and the cold, I was seriously considering relocating.
Then a NFS ranger dropped by and I told him about the steers... grazing is supposed to be shut down for the winter. He was gonna go read their brand, so he could call the rancher.
He also told me it was supposed to be daytime temps below 20* all next week. I asked how he could find a forecast for the area we were in. He said Elko was the most comparable. I thought Austin was better... 30 miles and 1k’ lower.
I texted my son-in-law, via my SPOT X, and asked for an Elko forecast.
He texted back 50/30 temps next week... so, I’ll go with the NFS ranger’s forecast.
At any rate, my decision was made... I decided to relocate to a lower altitude. I decamped and packed up and headed for Tonopah.
By the time I got there, after driving 70+ miles of playa dust again, I was feeling terrible.
So, we drove home instead of camping... another truncated trip...
But, on a good note, 44 was flawless... I cruised home, from Tonopah, at 70-75 mph. I don’t usually drive her that fast, but I really couldn’t tolerate my usual 60 mph and really wanted to get home before dark... we made it by “that” much... with Teddy sleeping on my shoulder much of the three hour drive.
I have always enjoyed driving 44, regardless of distance and could never understand others complaining about distance driving in their 40. I just put my earbuds in and listen to a good book... time flies.
But, this 6 hr trip, each way, killed me.
My hands, wrists, neck, shoulders and back killed me this time.
When I climbed out, to gas up, in Tonopah, on the way home, I could hardly walk... my knees were killing me.
These arthritic aches and pains are not lately an anomaly... I have all but the knee pain most afternoon-early evenings.
So, I spent today with a hacking cough, blowing dust out of 44, then rinsing it off, to park it in the garage.
I think this
might have been my last long trip in 44... if so, I’ll continue to use her to get to my local camping/hiking opportunities... I’ll use my truck, with and without our trailer, for longer trips.
But, I reserve the right to change my mind.
