Vegas was just a stop-over. We didn't set foot in a single casino, didn't drive or walk the Strip. This morning, the plan was to hook up the train: motorhome - car - cargo trailer. We moved and jockeyed things around... the riser receiver we bought for the back of the Honda put the electrical connection for the cargo trailer just out of reach.
It was already 91º at 8:00 in the morning - our options: rewire the trailer electrical connection, or drive separate again. Yeah, it's too damn hot - we're driving separate. Get me into some air conditioning!
Leaving the RV park, the only option is a right turn... I-15 (where we need to go) is to the left. With just the trailer behind the motorhome, Joan blocked the first turning lane with the Honda, and I made a U-turn. Easy.
Traffic was heavy going through Vegas at 9:30; the casinos have put big signs out by the freeway (not just along the Strip)...
The only close call in all that traffic was a semi who found himself in a turn lane and swerved into my lane... the brakes work just fine on the motorhome. Note: be sure to open cabinets carefully at your destination - contents may have shifted.
We only had to do about 25 miles on I-15; civilization falls off pretty quick at the northeast side of Vegas...
We stopped to fuel up at a Love's at our exit. Then, north on Highway 93, towards Ely...
Looks like we will be turning onto Nevada Highway 318 - The Extraterrestrial Highway. There is a lot of "empty" out here.
If we stayed on Hwy 93, it would take us towards Great Basin National Park. I get that - this seems to be a gradually climbing valley, with mountains on either side...
We can save 30 or 40 miles by taking Nevada Hwy 318 - hoping it will be decent road; US 93 has been very nice. Two-lane, but not a lot of traffic. Since we weren't driving the 70 mph speed limit, we made it easy for other vehicles to pass us.
Onto 318, we came across quite a few wildlife viewing areas...
Major Deer - I was not aware they rank 'em. It was nice to see some water out here in the middle of the desert...
And some green fields, thanks to some irrigating...
Rising terrain and curvy roads...
A shot from Joan, following behind the motorhome...
More mountains...
Hmmm - snow on those peaks...
As the elevation rose, the temperature dropped - it was 82 degrees when we pulled into a casino RV park (using that term generously) in Ely. The site...
It doesn't look bad in the photo - just a gravel site. Good thing we put on more water and dumped the gray tank before leaving Las Vegas: the sewer connection is a foot and a half up from the ground... apparently, they are not aware that excrement runs downhill? No matter - we are just spending a night, and if we were to keep going, it would be a couple hours before we'd come across another RV park.
By getting off the road early, we had time to work on our double towing set-up. We did bring another hitch, with a 3" drop... we took the ball off that, turned it upside down, and it gave us a closer connection for the cargo trailer behind the CR-V.
We took the time to set it all up, including the electrical; unfortunately, that would leave us sticking WAY out of the site, so we disconnected and pulled the CR-V and trailer alongside the motorhome...
It shouldn't take long to get hitched up in the morning.
We'll see.
The low tonight in Ely is supposed to be 50º - that will be a real change!
4 comments:
I would like to see a Pic. of the whole rig setup-- I would guess that backing up all three together wouldn't work that well..
Glad to see you are heading north where it is much cooler, even though Seattle hit 92
a few days ago. Love to follow your travel blog and adventures. My first bike was a 2013 PCX a few years ago, but wanted to venture farther so upgraded to a 2014 Suzuki Burgman. I hope to take it to the San Juans this summer as I live near Tacoma. We have an exchange student daughter that will be in Friday Harbor with her family in July so may pop up there then. They are wanting to experience a whale watching tour. Maybe we will run in to you. Have a great summer - Greg
Hi C-Brats,
When I saw your picture of Hoover Dam I thought to myself "they are ten minutes from our house". If you come home this way, please come share a meal with us or call ahead and stop for ten minutes. We are right off 93 just before the big right hand turn at the entrance to Old Town Boulder City (694 Magic Cove Court - Boulder City - Nevada 89005 714 686-2728). We are here 20 days out of the month, in California the other 10. Miss reading about Wild Blue but enjoying the current ride as they say!!
Bob and Kyung Jarrard.
Just saw these comments this afternoon.
Kent, there are a couple photos of the double towed rig on Tuesday's post. No, there is no backing with a car behind the motorhome. I suppose if you only had a couple feet to move, you'd probably get away with that, but the tow bars are designed for moving forward.
Greg, the Burgman line scoots are all very nice, especially if you are going to be running on the highways. We have really enjoyed having our scoots in the San Juans - San Juan Island, Orcas Island, and Lopez have some fine riding. If you find your way there with your foreign exchange student, I can recommend a guest-oriented whale watch company. ;-)
Hi Bob and Kyung. Sorry we missed you - our time in LV was just an overnight, stayed at Oasis Las Vegas; only left the park to have some BBQ. Imagine: going to Vegas and not even stepping into a casino!? Sure was HOT there. Wild Blue was a big part of our retirement - what a great boat! For now, we are enjoying the land cruising. Looking forward to some time with the whales soon.
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