Appian Way-Day Three: July 14 2011

BEEP!! BEEP!! BEEP!! Its 4 O’ Clock, we want to leave at 5. Not going to happen. What felt like five minutes of sleep turned into an hour. We need to go! Well once again everything happens for a reason and we were able to pack up camp and get in the car at 6 o’ clock, perfect timing to see the sun rise beyond the hundred foot cliffs of Zion National Forest.

Today was definetely the longest and ugliest drive of the trip. Nevada is weird in its beauty and it takes a creative mind to make it look appealing. As we drove the never ending straight roads we were always excited to practice our turning skills that we learned growing up in the Rocky Mountains. Some parts proved to be quite magnificent when taking into consideration that the western states of the United States were separated by an ancient ocean. We were certain to stop and take in the beauty of a dried lake bed populated by the Joshua Tree. The Joshua Tree seems to be a hybrid of the Saguaro Cactus of Arizona and the Pinion Pine found in much of the United States. The dry landscape was filled with many rodents and aerial predators that methodically plan their attacks.

Today may be the longest strip of road without a service station, 278 miles, concerning both of the travelers. However, the newly named Roaring Glacier (the white 4runner) treaded on without a problem. The ugly check engine light never reappeared unless sitting in the passenger seat triggered it, which threw the co-pilot into a short lived tizzy. Many summits through the Sierra Nevada’s were conquered the greatest crossing into California from Nevada.

The travelers, so dependent on their IPhone maps, were sent on the scenic route to the next destination: Mammoth Lakes, California. This allowed us to meet the hill billy folk of California for a quick reference as to where we might be. The detour only totaled a half hour of extra drive time and helped us learn that all roads are not on the AAA maps. Atlas? I think not. Just ask, even if it takes persuading for the co-pilot.

We pulled into Mammoth Lakes camp grounds and quickly asked for assistance on how the park works from the visitor center. Both travelers are very familiar with camping but campsite camping is a whole different animal. We were told to drive through the park and find a vacant campsite. Campsite number 19 was our home for the night; we soon found out that we may have done something wrong. First off, camping cost eight dollars? Yeah right. Try 20. The visitor center needs a lesson in teaching novice campsite campers what to do.  And the vacant lots may be reserved hmmm… Nobody told these unfamiliar campsite campers this. Of course, we should have asked but we pitched the tent and unloaded anyway. You see, when traveling through the campground there were many taken lot all with a white sign covered by a yellow sign with the occupants last name. Well,  campsite number 19 had just a white sign. That’s reasonable let’s camp!  Then we soon realized what this white sign said RESERVED 7/13-7/23. HMMM…… Suspicious. Well, we overcame our combined shyness and knock on a R.V. door labeled campsite attendant. The friendly old man informed us that the person that reserved it is running late and we need to find a different one. We took it as a positive and practice breaking camp. Our new location campsite 35 not reserved until 7/16 today 7/14. We're golden.

Well a few lessons learned today plan a little further ahead. Now we are already booked for the next two days and looking to improve our forecast. Ask ridiculous questions. No matter what. Oh yeah, we get to learn how to change our very first fuse in the car tomorrow. The clock, the speedometer lights, car audio and the cigarette lighter seem to be much tired and gave up all together. Tonight we learned what fuse has split 15 amps ACC and tomorrow we are on the hunt for this popular item. However, the power inverter installed has seemed to pay off offering some charge to the cell phones and one lap-top until this problem is fixed early tomorrow. Ta Ta for now we are hungry and we will see you at our next two destinations tomorrow: the city of San Francisco and the much anticipated nicely tasting Napa Valley, California.

Total miles for the day: 471

Miles per gallon: 18.1

The longest road in Rome

The white sand in this picutre is the epicenter of the Atom Bomb test!

Think creatively...

Hot.

Please be a turn up ahead!



Tallest point in Nevada.

Where was he before hill billy country?

Meticulous stalker.