Well I left MTTS in Las Vegas after two great days of driving. Wish I had could have gone to Flagstaff but I am heading for Reno to do a trackday. Today I drove the Extraterrestrial Highway, Nevada 375. Had some fun. Only my GPS and I know how fast we went. Stoped at the Little AleInn. There was a crew there filming an interview with the owner and they filmed me saying about why I came there. I am in Tonopah now and going to do a little sight seeing in the mining towns and keep heading north.

 

The roads are long and straight. I stopped to take a picture of the jets flying over the test range and I see a car coming and it was a Mini just like mine. They waved and kept on going. Turns out they were at the Little AleInn.

 

Here is the Mini taking a break. The jets are up there some where. It was a nice sunny day. Not as hot above 5000'.

 

The tow truck outside the Little AleInn bringing in a UFO.

 

I was out there last month. Went west after Tonopah and found what is my favorite highway so far, CA120 east of Lee Vining.

 

You should drive that road at night! It gets REAL dark!!
Spooky dark!
Jim

 

Hmm, I might just have to check out that road tomorrow. I could stop by Lee Vining for a capuchino. You can't get one in Tonopah you may have noticed.

 

Indeed I did notice. Turns out there is a gentleman in the New Mexico club who grew up in Tonopah . . . and he knows people who went to Tonopah to get away from rural isolation . . . although if you want to go to the movies you have to go a bit further.

As for CA 120, I quote my son, "This is the first time we've been airborne!"

 

Looks like "Mater"!

 

That is funny. I feel totally away from the urban sprawl and in rural isolation. I guess it is relative. Some people out here live 5 miles from a bend in the road.

Airborne is fun. I've done that a few times.

 

Ah.....Lee Vining! When my family moved from there, when I was just a wee tadpole, they said the population dropped by 50%. Not really but it was around 500 when we lived there and now its down to about 350. It was a pretty cool place to grow up if you didn't mind that the nearest movie house was 65mi away and if you did something wrong.....mom 'n dad knew about it before you got home....not that "I" ever did. "What do you mean that snow ball hit Mrs. Smith in the kisser" It must have been Timmy!
See you tomorrow afternoon

 

I don't know you lived there. Lee Vining is quite the little tourist spot these days. I am in Tonopah at the motel. My battery is dead and being charged across the street at the parts store. I hope to see you tomorrow.

 

i need to move out there, thats awesome

 

Well I drove CA 120 from Benton to Highway 395. It was 46 miles of excellent back road. Very nice pavement. No traffic. Fantastic views of beautiful mountain country. The dips were really a trip. They were quite steep and blind. My Mini was floating several times. I definately recommend a sighting run before trying for big air. I think it is an easier run from CA 395 to Benton. It is worth doing a down and back for sure. It was steep up hill in the beginning and I could not get up enough speed for air. I had to back off a little to see where the road went and it was lucky I did. There was a sharp downhill left turn after a big dip that could have been a problem. Coming the other way it was an up hill and easy to see. Anyway glad I checked out this section of road. I have been on CA 120 over the Sierras many times. It is nice but it can have a lot of traffic.

 

Oh yeah . . . Maybe I should have mentioned the tendency to bend at the dips! I'm glad you enjoyed the road . . . has anyone tried fitting wings to a MINI?

 

I was also in Tonopah yesterday took 95 (and alt95) up to Reno.
Did you have the 30 minute delay waiting for the road crew to repave the highway?


Tim

 

I had a big delay in Tonopah. It was 100 so I parked under the abandoned gas station island roof.

Are you going to do the track day at Fernley or did you just go home via Reno?

 

Just arrived home after spending the night in Truckee.

Tim

 

I posted a short video of CA 120. You can hear me saying "whoa". That is when the Mini is coming off the ground and being rotated by the wind. It was a trippy ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq57iP0VrbM

 

Here is the picture that I meant to post in the beginning. It got lost in the camera. I wonder is the aliens had anything to do with that?

 

That's a great shot, MC! Keep 'em coming!

 

Michael,

You never stop amazing me. Who else would get pix like yours? Great photos!!!

I am sure you are exhausted, but if you are up for anothe run, make sure you join in on the REME - Lake Tahoe Labor Day run. Sept. 1-4, 2006. There will be a bunch of SNMC members joining is as well.

 

Good pictures and video for a trip log. You needed someone at the crest to watch for traffic!:impatient

 

Sweet! My son and I so enjoyed watching this video! We pretty much had the same reaction you did.

 

Here is the video of my drive down the Extraterrestrial Highway and visit to the Little A'Le'Inn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ShBq7JKy4