June 25 - Terrible, Terrible, Tonopah

We're winding down. I compose these words from a glorified parking lot behind a casino in Tonopah, Nevada, the worst place on earth (although we do have hookups and beer, and I'm freeriding someone's wireless internet connection, so there's that). Okay, maybe it's not the worst place on earth, but we're a long way from our little bit of east rim heaven of just a few days ago.


After lingering as long as we possibly could this morning at our little riverside spot, we eventually swallowed hard for the long trip across Nevada today. I actually really like driving across Nevada, because it's wide open, there's almost no traffic, and it sort of frees the mind. It seemed like we were the only ones choosing to traverse Nevada today, at least on the Extraterrestrial Highway (you could look it up - Nevada 375, which cuts across the famed Area 51, is know as the Extraterrestrial Highway). There were a few hokey alien-related shops in the extremely downtrodden town of Rachel, NV, but no actual aliens, as far as I could tell.





By the time we made it to the first real town in six hours, Terrible, Terrible, Tonopah. We were pooped, so we decided to cut our losses and moor at the Tonopah Station Hotel, Casino, RV Park and Laundromat. Instead of cooking, we splurged on what appears to be the only restaurant in town, conveniently located steps from the casino floor. Janine ordered the cardiologist's special, chicken fried steak. "What's chicken fried steak, dad?," Maggie asked. "Deep fried hamburger with gravy," I told her. She was aghast. But it was good.


Tomorrow, our last stop is Columbia, California - in the heart of gold country.