My Journey

[Sticky9]

I've got some nice trilobites that I found when I was a kid back in Louisiana. My dad was big into searching for arrowheads and has quite a large collection. I would always go with him and I guess that's what started my interest in looking for the fossils. It always amazed me finding something so old. But yes they are all collecting dust in an attic somewhere. Maybe one day I will have someone to show them to. I was actually just back home for a long weekend and I was going through my grandpa's old house as my dad is trying to sell it and I found a nearly complete trilobite I had given him. Ha... it made me smile.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Riversdad.....one thing that will be crucial in my decision is being able to easily dismantle the cart / trailer and store it. Yukon spent quite a bit of time in a Burly bicycle trailer when she was young so hopefully this transition will go smoothly. Her trailer folded flat and unfolded within seconds. I'll need something similar.....

Sticky9.....so quickly I'm proved wrong ! I'd never heard the word Trilobite and then one of the few readers of this blog actually owns them.....the world is full of surprises.....




Late that afternoon we found our next spot to overnight.....



Of course I'd never heard of Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge when I came across their entrance sign driving southbound along Highway 93 but all the fall colors of the cottonwoods and willows that I could see from the highway made me pull into the refuge to have a look.....



As I drove down the gravel road along the lakes shoreline it didn't take me long to realize that I had stumbled onto a very special place.....



And it only got better when I realized that there was a small campground here with 14 spots and it even got better when I realized that this was a free BLM campground so of course we had to stay the night.....



The first night here was spectacular.....



The following morning we headed out to learn about the refuge.....



And what I found here was an amazing oasis in the desert.....



The trees were in full fall foliage.....



And the birds migrating south filled the lakes surface.....



This place was special.....we would spend 5 nights here.....I certainly could have stayed much longer.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

I have no idea how many times I would hike the 3 miles around that lake but not once did I tire of the scenery. I saw no deer or coyotes during my stay but they left their signs everywhere along the trails. Dotted along the western shoreline were birdhouses maybe every 500 feet or so.....





Below the lake was a great little stream to hike along.....





Further downstream we came across a visitors center.....



And beyond the visitors center we came across the Petroglyph Cabin.....









The days here were cool.....and the nights were still cold (one night hit 19 degrees). It was hard to leave but I was looking for warmer temperatures and I could see that a drive of less than 100 miles would provide the warmth that I seeked.....after 5 nights we continued south.....

 

[MCX]

Ahhhhh...there's no place I love more than the entirety of Lincoln County, NV and especially the Pahranagat Valley. It's my "go to" place to get away from Las Vegas...only about 100 miles, but it feels like a million miles away. Thanks for sharing!

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

MCX.....seems like a wonderful place to me so I sure understand your love of it. One thing I found remarkable about the wildlife refuge was that I didn't see a single person on those trails (and there are many). I had the entire place to myself for the entire time.....and it's dog friendly.....




One hundred miles south of the wildlife refuge would be our next stop.....and this stop was a planned one.....here we came mainly to hang out with friends.....



Whenever I pass through Las Vegas I always overnight in the Mandalay Bay auxiliary parking lot.....it's huge so I've got some space and it's very convenient to the strip.....



The downside is that it's loud.....and I mean really loud as just to the east is McCarran International Airport. Helicopters and jets all day long.....



I shared my "campground" with several international travelers.....





I had no idea that SEMA began during my stay until I talked to these guys that were getting ready for the show.....





And that explained why so many transport semis were parked nearby.....





The strip is always a great place for people watching and fancy cars.....and I love the Ferraris and McClarens and what not that frequent the Las Vegas strip. This year with the SEMA show there was even more than what I'm accustomed to seeing on the strip. I loved it.....

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Driving down the road one day I happened by Nevadas best marijuana store.....and you know me.....I had to have a look.....





I stayed in Las Vegas for six days for no particular reason. It's always interesting to see the support teams that typically stay in the same lot as I. These guys came with seven matching semis.....





Also in my lot.....this guy proves that you don't need much to live this life.....



The name on this building along the strip caught my attention for obvious reasons.....



And I saw this painted on a stone wall along the strip.....and it caught my attention.....



It's not very often that I write about people, and especially people that are in my life. The picture below is my friends that I met at their hotel in Las Vegas. Both are amazing people and I mean that in every sense of the word. Joe went to school and became an architect but he wanted to do more with his life so he left his job, got student loans and became a medical doctor.....he said that he always wanted to help people. Now he works with war veterans.....and she is a psychiatrist.....like I said truly amazing people.....



Maybe Joe inspired me while I was in Vegas.....that I don't know for sure, but it had been quite sometime since I had helped my fellow man. Vegas has a massive homeless problem and every day I saw people sleeping on the streets (literally) and in the next picture you see a pile of steel beams where people have built their homes. So I fed the homeless but honestly that did not go well.....



From my "campsite" I noticed a "homeless family" living in a tent at the far end of the parking lot and I decided that I would buy their child some toys and candy (since feeding the homeless was such a flop). I introduced myself with two bags of goodies for the child but I was quite surprised to learn that this was not a homeless family but these guys were world travelers on a level that few of us could ever imagine.....and a friendship was made.....

Friendships can be difficult to maintain for the traveler.....I'm thankful for my friendships of the past and very grateful when I'm able to make new ones along the way.....

 

[tgil]

Do all three ride on that bike? Your post was missing pics of the dogs on the strip.

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[Ace Brown]

Do all three ride on that bike? Your post was missing pics of the dogs on the strip.

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Wondered that too. Looks dangerous.


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[ITTOG]

Do all three ride on that bike? Your post was missing pics of the dogs on the strip.

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You have obviously never been to any Asian countries. They find ways to put ten people on one bike.

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[Ace Brown]

You have obviously never been to any Asian countries. They find ways to put ten people on one bike.

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I have and know that. But this is in America where I’m sure it’s illegal. Ever hear of child endangerment?


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[ITTOG]

I have and know that. But this is in America where I’m sure it’s illegal. Ever hear of child endangerment?


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I see that type of thing all the time in Houston, especially driving between cars and on the shoulders. Unfortunately it seems to be happening more often in the US.

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[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

Tgil / Ace / ITTOG.....this post will answer the question.....




The fathers name is Julian, the mothers name is Lorena and their 4 year old son (who will be 5 on November 17th) is Fabrizio. And they once traveled with their best friend (a dog) Trico until 2 years ago when an old man in Greece ran over him in his car on the beach. Now it's not hard to tell how much they loved that dog cause Julian has a large tattoo of him on his bicep. That must have been one terrible, terrible day in their lives.....

Travelers with a dog tattoo probably explains why I loved these guys so much.....dog loving travelers.....



These guys started their travels February 25, 2002 leaving Buenes Aires, Argentina on their motorcycle and living in a tent. To this day they still travel and still live in a tent.....17 years ! At some point they added a sidecar to their motorcycle (the sidecar is in storage). They added a son nearly 5 years ago which required them to purchase a car so that now they travel with both, the small car and the motorcycle. They told me that they have a car stored in Europe and the car they currently have was somewhat recently purchased in Canada. Here you see their setup (and maybe this explains why I thought they were homeless.....I did not notice the Quebec plates initially).....



They have been to 118 countries so far and they continue to add countries to their "I've Visited That Country" list.....



And Julian is a sticker guy.....we have so much in common.....









We hung out in Las Vegas for a few days and once I told them that I was headed to Arizona Hot Springs to soak they suggested that they come along and of course I welcomed their company so we decided to meet there that evening.....we were back on the road.....



Passed by Lake Mead.....



And headed into Arizona.....

 

[tgil]

A side car crossed my mind. Sounds like a very interesting family!

 

[Arjan]

Sounds you have a lot of fun and get to meet interesting people.

 

[YukonMontanaTannerTrapper]

tgil / Arjan.....I absolutely loved hanging out with this family and now that they have moved on I can honestly say that I miss them. Interesting is most likely an understatement yet I don't know what adjective would best describe them. I'm always most attracted to the most unique people and these people definitely filled that mold.....




We (Yukon, Tanner and I) arrived at the trailhead parking lot at what I thought was a reasonable time that evening. I began to think that my new friends would be a no show but at 9:00 p.m. they pulled into the paved lot. Almost immediately Lorena began to cook her family a hot meal.....chicken fillets, sliced potatoes and sliced tomatoes.....all on a one burner "stove" inserted into a cardboard box to protect against the late evening breeze. After dinner they brewed mate, a South American tea.....something I could never acquire a taste for. Then the family of three walked into the desert and set their tent up for a night.....



The following morning very early I walked alone to the hot springs.....



These hot springs could easily be my favorite of all the hot springs I've ever visited.....



I recalled the hike being much shorter than the seven mile roundtrip that it actually was.....



.....and I was immediately concerned that their four year old Fabrizio would never make that hike.....



These guys are late to bed and late to rise. I was already back at the camper having a mug of coffee when they came into view from their little desert hideaway.....



And again Lorena would prepare a hot meal for her family. Fabrizio loved to walk Yukon on the leash.....Yukon was not so excited about that.....



We talked and talked and their stories of their life on the road were astonishing. Little Fabrizio, whose 5th birthday was in just a few days, only knows life in a tent.....and life on the road. I think I'll nominate him for National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.....



They spent the entire day hiking in the canyons, soaking in the hot springs, and swimming in the Colorado River. They loved this place as much as I.....