Bryce Canyon NP, Utah, to Tonopah, Nevada (Friday, 12 Dec)

After feasting our eyes on the stunning natural beauty  in south western Utah the last few days, we were now heading back west to join Mia & Frankie in Tahoe for hopefully some skiing. According to the map the shortest route would be straight in the middle through the Nevada desert.

This is what Google Maps advised - just under 400 miles through naffienk!

 I chose Tonopah as it made sense to overnight there from a distance point of view. I was actually very excited to travel on this road, as it was going past the infamous Area 51. And the road that will take us there was aptly named the Extra Terrestrial Highway. And since I believe in aliens, I really could not wait to spot them! ;-)

The road out of Bryce took us through the beautiful Red Canyon:

And then we crossed out of 

and into 

We drove through some pretty small towns that did not seem to have a lot going for them. The little town of  Caliente was quite pretty and maintained its beautiful station building, as the well known union Pacific Railway line passes through here.  

The station 

'Caliente' means hot - and it looks like it can get that way here in the summer 

And then we hit the Extra Terrestrial Highway!

See, I told you there are aliens!

Still don't believe me?

Surely these guys won't lie . . . 

Next stop - little Ale Inn

I think we must have arrived just after this flying saucer, before it started to fill up with petrol

This poor one had a bad landing

Hey Alien! Stuff you, man

The Nevada Tourism board renamed this highway as it is known today - and it seems to be a popular tourist attraction.  

A few miles before reaching Tonopah, we passed the Tonopah Test Range.  

Dept of "Energy"? Yeah right 

Not everyone in the car was as excited to meet all these aliens. In fact, I was the only one, as everyone was falling asleep. 

So to keep awake I had to stop and take silly pictures of the road:

According to my map, those hills are well within Area 51. It seems to be literally clouded in secrecy. A remote place and understandable why the US Government would choose it as their secret weapons test area.

And then their was



It was established due to some mining rush (gold or silver, can't remember now), but that economic driver is long something of the past and the town is slowly busy dying, it seems. But it sure is a pretty place:

 

Mining musem

US Post Office 

The Mizpah Hotel - At one stage the highest building in Nevada. Tonight however just a resting place for our heads

Some more pictures of the town. To me it is beautiful, but very sad . . . 

My mum Lochnette was from teh start of our little road trip very excited to see snow. And then the skies opened up and dumped some fluffy stuff to her delight!

the main street from our hotel while sbnowing

The Mizpah at night. And now also in snow.

The Jeepie left out in the cold. I have not mentioned it yet, but Francois and Mia was so kind to lend us their Jeep for this part of the trip! What a kind gesture and thanks again so much. We enjoyed the little guy so much that Oom Frans and I just made plans to get it back to the Cape . . .

Post Office by night 

The only substantial economic activity present in this town is the construction of a large solar thermal project, aptly named the Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project - very impressive to see and read about. Anyhow, there were some Spaniards and Frenchies in the hotel working on this project, with whom I had some interesting rugby discussions before head off bed.