[A/S] Virginia City, NV to Lake Havasu City, AZ - September 26, 2000

[hhamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,

If I'm not coherent there's good reason... it's 106 degrees outside here in 
Lake Havasu City, AZ.  What was I thinking????

Don and I pulled out of Virginia City on Sunday morning.... we took the truck 
route down the mountain to Carson City.  Off to the left I got my last look 
at a small band of mustangs, near the road.  The big highlight was there was 
a foal with them. (c:  

I was so sick on Saturday I didn't go to town at all... I just slept.  Don 
came and walked the dogs for me....and fed me soup. I can really milk it (c:  
Quite the drama queen. Friday we walked up to town and spent the afternoon 
enjoying Virginia City.....
I visited some art galleries and scored some pictures.... and met a nice lady 
with an Avion trailer for sale.  I told her I would put it up on the 
Internet. She was grateful and gave me some homemade plum preserves. 

Sunday we stopped at a nice campground in a town named Lee Vining, it 
overlooks Mono Lake.... we came around a bend and the lake was just there.. 
it's huge and unlike any lake I have ever seen.  No trees, no green near 
it.... just sand...or salt.

Monday's drive was a long one, we drove across the Mojave Desert.... there 
was no place to stop...no place at all.  We finally came up on a town... a 
veritable oasis... at least it seems so to me... I was long since ready to 
stop. 285 miles is way more than I like, especially when I'm sick.  I did 
look up a good friend, the gal who runs Border Collie Rescue in California, 
she was 9 miles from where we camped.  he came over and we hung out all 
evening.

Today we set out early and drove about 5 miles to the Roy Rogers Museum. As 
my friends all know...for me, going there is akin to a Catholic having an 
audience with the Pope.  It's my second visit, the first time I was there I 
got to meet and chat with Roy himself.   Sadly, those days are gone.  I 
treasure the time I spent with Roy, it was very emotional for me to go there 
today knowing he will never be there again.   We wandered around, I showed 
Don all the Roy and Trigger stuff that I have in my collection that is also 
there.  I drooled over a lot of the Trigger memorabilia... none of it for 
sale of course.  I took lots of photos.

Before we left we watched a wonderful short film about Roy and Dale's 
life.... then wandered in the gift shop.  I got into a discussion with one of 
his children, a daughter..I forget her name..... I got real emotional telling 
her about meeting Roy the last time I was there..... then we talked about the 
possibility of a new RR cartoon show... seems quite a few people miss their 
children having good role models instead of the violence and horror they see 
today.

After we left it was another long drive across the desert.  I saw a road 
runner, my first as he darted across the road.  Later I saw a dead coyote on 
the side of the road.... the only thing missing was the Acme Dynamite 
Company.  The mountains were pretty, but I don't really get turned on by 
desert.  I do want to see the Disney movie again, The Living Desert....  

We were going to stop half way to Lake Havasu City... hahahahaha..... half 
way is desert and nothing.  The temperatures outside called for 30 amp 
service..... my kitties wanted air conditioning (so did I)..... so we drove 
another 237 miles.... what was supposed to be a 3 day trip turned into two.  

We are here now, when we arrived it was 110 degrees.... the sun is down now 
and it's 96 degrees..... this is preparation for hell.  Now I'm thinking I 
should have taken I-80.... so what of there was a blizzard?

Why are we here?  Don is getting solar panels put on his Airstream.... this 
is where the people live who go to the rallies..... why I can't imagine. 

So, we will stay here for 4 days then on to Flagstaff, Gallup, Albuquerque 
and Santa Fe.... (to see Lynn and hook up with Conrad and Tricia)....then we 
will just stay on I-40 and Don will drop down to Austin and I'll continue on 
to Knoxville.....

So, that's life in the fast lane... I hope to jump off I-40 occasionally and 
travel old Route 66.

Hunter