October 10, 2000, Tuesday- we were up and on the road at 9 because we had to pick up Hobbes before 10 from the kennel, or pay for an extra day's stay. Then up to the Armagosa Valley, just east of Death Valley, for our third annual Death Valley rally. The wind, which was howling last night in Vegas, continues today at our campground. Hopefully the wind, and schedule moisture will pass before our four wheeling is scheduled to start on Thursday. It should be a good great time to see old friends….looking at the list of 26 coaches attending, we know about 20 of the couples.
October 11, 2000- Wednesday- we took a four wheeler run today with three other cars to the Echo Canyon, an old mining area at an elevation of over 4000 feet, and to Chinatown, the remaining stone structures of a town where the Chinese workers lived. These men had built a large railroad trestle about 100 years ago. On the latter trip, we had climbed the steepest grade that we've done in the Jeep. With a four wheel low gear, it climbed effortlessly. My concern was the trip down. How would it look going down? Again in four wheel low, and in first gear, there was so much engine holding power, that I had to give it gas to keep moving forward. Fortunately, it was a nonevent.
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In the evening we had dinner at the Longstreet Casino with our 50 or so friends, followed by our nickels into the slot machines.
October 12, 2000, Thursday- Happy Birthday to Susan. Lots of cell phone calls, and e-mails with good wishes. Our four-wheel run started at 8:30 with 11 vehicles and covered a 24 mile run through the Leadfield and Titus Canyons. The latter contains rocks that are half as old as the earth itself. Now that's old! Very scenic, and the road was as smooth as silk.
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Dinner was heavy snack food with everyone chipping in, and a special surprise birthday cake for Susan that was baked by the hotel kitchen staff.
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October 13, 2000, Friday- today's ride was through areas of old mines, but contained a few surprises on the road. The Jeep ahead of us told the story- dropping into the narrow "V" of a river wash bottom, and up the steep opposite side. For the first time we saw a owl in flight, and the wingspan was about 4 foot across. Later we drove to the China Ranch Date Farm- here Brian, the owner, explained their development process and how they've planted 1000 date trees. One male tree can pollinate 40 female trees. Old clothes drape the date clusters to prevent the birds from eating the fruit. Each tree can produce from 200 to 300 pounds of fruit. Two men do all of the work, and needless to say, do a backbreaking job.
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The ranch dates back to the 1850's when Chinese laborers were working in the nearby mines, and required familiar foods, so initially it was known as the Chinese Ranch. Over the years, it's now the China Ranch.
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Part of our ride was along the "Old Spanish Trail", quite rich in history and loss of life through the desert. It brought us back to the highway at Shoshone. After touring the little museum we rode past the caves- creative, cheap housing for the miners. Many of these were connected with several rooms, and one even had a garage for a Model T Ford.
The Longstreet Casino, where we are parked, provides a low-key operation. On Thursday through Saturday evenings, a $3 blackjack table opens to complement the nickel and quarter slot machines. It's a far cry the bright lights of Vegas.
October 14, 2000- Saturday- our last four wheeling day. Bill and Sandy joined us in the car as we headed to the top of the Cinnabar Mine and then to the Chloride Mine. The is was to be the most aggressive day of four wheeling, with an option for the Cinnabar Mine which was to take it one notch higher then the rest of the day. Naturally we made a right turn to Cinnabar to see what we were made of. Wow! We certainly chose a road less traveled. On certain parts you had to go full bore downhill in order to gain the momentum to get up the steep grade. When going up hill, the eyeballs had to scan where the road disappeared as we were faced with two rock outcroppings to climb, ride, or jump over. At the knoll on the top, we caught our breath, and then had to figure out where the road went. All that was obvious was a plateau of rocks.
At the top of the Chloride Mine, a 5000 foot peak, provided incredible views and, for the first time in a few days, four bars of digital cell phone service. It was quite a sight to see half of the Rotarians, on top of the world, catching up on the phone calls.
After the official run, we continued along and stopped at the ghost town of Rhyolite. The famous Kelly bottle house was built in 1906. Why bottles? First, Anheiser Busch was the first brewer to perfect the preservation of beer in bottles, which shipped better across the country. In the dessert any material has value. Since there were over 50 bars and brothels, along with 2 churches, bottles were plentiful. What was unique about this home, was that the bottles were not plastered over as many of the other structures were. When the mine played out in the 1930's everything that was movable to the next mining area, was taken. Thus, three story concrete walled schools, banks, and hotels, were stripped down to the concrete. All of the wood, windows, roofing materials, etc., found a new home down the line. Now that's recycling brought on by the lack of materials in the desert. At it's heyday, 8000 folks called this gold mining town home.
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A lone volunteer manned the area for the spring and summer, and another one for the winter season. During the spring and summer over 50,000 visit this ghost town, and over 100,000 during the winter and fall periods.
Continuing on down the line we came to the little town of Beattie. This town, originally supporting a mine, had a few casinos and gas stations, and a little ice cream shop, which, naturally drew us inside. The walls were all painted a cream color, and permanent markers were available to "autograph" the walls. The proprietor had family that lived in Redcliff, Colorado, a 50 person suburb (being generous), of Vail. Small world.
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Down the street we passed the information and research center in charge of the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Depository project. Billions of dollars are being spent over a 15 or 20 year project just to determine if the underground proposed vaults are a good place to store, for eons of time, our nuclear byproducts. After watching a short video, we are now experts on the subject. Just ask us!
The day continued with a performance of the Goodtime Cabaret with Marta Becket in the Armagosa Opera House. This two person performance, similar to the one we attended at our first Death Valley trip, was performed to a packed house of 100 persons. It's not New York opera by any stretch, but she has build a hall, painted it, added hotel and dining facilities, and provides a touch of sophistication to the dry landscape. Hokey but worth the $10 admission price, especially considering her 75 years of age.
October 15, 2000, Sunday- time to say so long to all of our Death Valley Friends…next rally will be in April 2001 in Gold Point, NV, south of Tonapah, just past the end of the pavement. The cruise into Vegas was easy along state road 95, but the $200 diesel bill for 106 gallons hurts.
Dinner was with Laurie at her son Andy's home. What a surprise to find out that his wife, Belinda, had built a Succoth in their back yard, and we had dinner under the stars. What a treat!
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Andy is involved with the development of a "locals" type restaurants with associated slots- some 10 to 15 per establishment. The philosophy is to give away the food and drink for the return on the gaming area. Nevada's gaming commission has a minimum return from slots of 84%. The owner's can set the returns at that amount or higher. Many on the strip advertise 97.4% returns, etc., but off the strip, the public isn't aware of the return rate.
October 16, 2000, Monday- at Andy's suggestion we went to the Red Rock Canyon National Park. The rock outcroppings are to die for. Reds, tans, browns, white! A four-mile hike through the desert, forests and rocks was great. Even Hobbes got to enjoy.
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Dinner was with Laurie and her grandson Michael Max at a little bistro, Venice Beach. Now in two days we've found out about the real neighborhoods to the northwest and southeast. Can you imagine that they even have real strip malls?
October 17, 2000, Tuesday- a day of play for Laurie and Susan (myself dragging behind), at the shops at the Venetian Hotel and at the Fashion Mall. Success for them with purchases and lots of chatting. Good job ladies!
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