After each of several hikes in the Mojave National Preserve
and nearby wildernesses, I’ve stopped in most of the towns of southern Nevada,
and across the line in California. These
are few and small, except of course for Las Vegas. Here is what I’ve learned, and it won’t take
long.
Nipton, California, is a store and a hotel. It’s on a paved road east of I-15 by the railroad. You can stay here for $78, but if you require bedding or towels , that’s $7 more; and there is no internet. The train comes rumbling through several times during the night, but they offer ear plugs on request.
Goodsprings, Nevada, on Highway 161 west of Jean, is a saloon and a store. I stopped here for a beer. It’s a fine old-west saloon with a small museum and a lot of history from the mining time before Las Vegas existed.
Searchligjt, Nevada, is on Highway 95 south of Henderson. It has a fine country café and casino, a good
stop for a meal. Sorry, I have no
picture.
 |
| Bun Boy is gone, sorry to say |
Baker, California, on I-15 south of Las Vegas, used to be a fine place to stop at Bun Boy and enjoy a good breakfast and observe the world’s largest thermometer. The thermometer is still there and appears to keep good temperature, but Bun Boy and the motel are closed. All that remains is Mad Greek Café and a new Denny’s Restaurant. Gas is much too expensive here; wait til you get to Las Vegas if you can.
Primm, Nevada, is a casino town just north of the Nevada state
line. It offers rooms without internet
and a buffet that is not bad.
That leaves, not a town, but an enclave of solar expectation,
costing more and expecting more that all the above mentioned towns put
together. I saw it best while driving
west from Nipton—Ivanpah Solar plant south of Primm. It opened on February 13, 2014 with a planned
gross capacity of 392 megawatts of solat power. That’s equal to the combined output of three
of the 17 turbines at Boulder Dam. The
plant uses 173,500 heliostats, mirrors
that focus the sun’s rays on boilers high three towers. It is the world's
largest solar power station.
It all looks pretty lonesome, I am glad you are coming home. But at least you were at the fine well attended Poetry Reading Friday night... Look forward to hearing more stories and some more adventures more beautiful sunrises and sunsets and gleaming colorful rocks and fine cactus poses.... as you lean toward home!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm also glad to be coming home on Friday. It has been a good trip, but seems complete now. Not that I have done every hike possible, but the roads are worse than I expected, making the drive time up to two hours each way to many of the hikes. I have sampled each kind of topography, and have a sense for the place. Really, that's all there is.
DeleteI've been to all these towns not too long ago. Ate at the Mad Greek many times. They all seem unchanged except for Bun Boy. I glad the giant thermometer is still the hot and hotter. Lee C.
ReplyDeleteYes Lee,
DeleteWe will have to discuss our mutual adventures on my return. I am coming home Friday, and plan to be at Keith’s place on Saturday.
Lee - I love your comraderie with Sharon and comments. Hope you will come to one of our meetings sometime~ Sharon must be off on some meanderings this morning... meanwhile I have a layers prompt on Tanka Poets on Site that connects with her geologic adventures
ReplyDeleteYes Lee, do come sometime, though I know it's a long drive for you. I assume Kathabela is talking about layer cakes, or associated goodies, whereas we speak of hard-rock geology. I will go to her Facebook group called "Tanka Poets on Site" and look.
Delete