A Month's Ramble - Day 1 -- Old Mining Towns

Yes, lots of old mining ghost towns.

We kicked off our annual journey south this morning after tidying up the house and hooking up the trailer.  Dusting off the old trailer driving skills, Russ managed to negotiate a tight corner where there was an unexpected truck parked.  Without much ado we pushed off from the old homestead at about 9:48 am, only 48 minutes later than we had planned.

We haven't really made a plan this trip so you will have to rely on us to show you the way!  One thing though, we found out recently that because of our advanced age, we could purchase an annual Nevada State Park's pass for $30 which will allow us free entry and free camping for an entire year ($10 per night if we want an electrical hookup when available).  Having purchased this pass, I intend to investigate as many parks as I can while heading south.

What a beautiful state we are lucky to live in.  Nevada showed us plenty on our way down highway 95.  There were mountains, salt flats, deserts and Joshua trees.  There were beautiful "big sky" vistas which cannot be captured on a camera -- at least not by me. 




Tonight we are camping in the historic mining town of Goldfield, NV.  From what I can see, there is not too much left of it.  This town's claim to fame is the opulent Goldfield Hotel which was built in 1902. It is not currently functioning but if you look it up, you will see that for its time it was the Ritz!  Gold leaf on the ceilings, black leather upholstery, mahogany paneling and crystal chandeliers.

Don't ask me how, but some really important people were rumored to have traveled here including President Roosevelt.  In the middle of nowhere.  How did they get here?  Apparently it was quite the spot -- a luxury hotel with the first Otis elevator west of the Mississippi.  The Goldfield Hotel was acclaimed to be the most luxurious hotel between Chicago and San Francisco.  My question is always -- Why Here?  For those of us who live in Nevada you will recognize the name of its most influential owner:  George Wingfield.  Also rumored -- Ghosts in that hotel  . .  .

Anyways, if you check out these pictures, you will see what the modern day Goldfield has become.  A jumble of broken down shacks interspersed with tidy homesteads,  empty mine shafts and beaucoup tailings.




Beginning to think that wind is one of Nevada's greatest crops.  At least I'm not dealing with this:






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