WESTLANDIA - a drive into the old, ghost, desert West

Randsburg, CA. Perhaps the most unknown little gem in CA
Death Valley



America is great. And the road-trip belongs to her. So we entered Nevada after Death Valley, and first was a ghost town, Rhyolite, so short lived that one can't say he grew up in it. Only about 15 years at max of agitated history, 1905 to 1920, time during which the city grew fast and furious, its development soon to include all the amenities required by civilization: school, hospital, newspaper, opera house, stock exchange. At peak not more than 5000 folks enjoyed (or not) living there. Fascinating times whichever way you look at it.
Goldfield, NV, once the largest town in Nevada with daily stage coach service to Tonopah, later daily train connection to the same Tonopah.

Tonopah, NV
Highway 6, NV, on the way to Area 51 (for the ufo lovers) just past Tonopah. 20 miles into the drive and thank god we see the sign warning of the 163 miles up to the next gas station. Made a u-turn, back to Tonopah, in the end barely making it to Rachel before AleInn closed up for the day.

Pioche, NV. True gem just like the theater itself. On some end of the city there is the Boothill Cemetery

Ely, NV. On the Loneliest Road of America, Highway 50, which turned out to be not lonely at all, that title went to Highway 6. Ely has the Hotel Nevada with casinos and hunting trophies, empty streets, wind and tumbleweeds making up the traffic on the city's streets, and a flair of early, unchanged America.
Sand Mountain, Fallon, NV. A huge dune out of the blue. The same Highway 50 leading to the Lake Tahoe and Reno metro area.
Virginia City, NV. Well taken care of, full of historic facts and evidence of 19th century mining prosperity, a bit touristy too.



CA highway 395, Mono Lake. This entire route parallel to the Sierras is a one of a kind drive.

The Dreamer (a balloon above the world)

The Dreamer was found in Ashland, Oregon, in the last day of 2015. It was an accident; nor we were looking for it, nor we had a purpose for the flying globe replica. The Dreamer caught our imagination in a store living its last days, it was the end of a life for someone, all things must go. One day in Los Angeles we boarded The Dreamer to go to the Ocean. We took Beverly boulevard then we continued on Santa Monica - we flew as if we drove. People looked at us like they had seen the newest electric car. Later, on a sunless beach we landed.

The Greatest Loop Ever 11/09/14 - 11/30/2014

a bit later with the post, never too late a voice tells me. Elvis Presley grave, Memphis, TN
cincinnati, around midnight
Lima, OH. 14 degrees weather
Luna Pier, MI. Lake Erie
Detroit Riverfront from Windsor, Canada
Toronto, Beaches neighborhood at Lake Eire
Detroit abandoned homes
Detroit, Michigan avenue, former glory
Lake Michigan woods near Indiana border, in MI, south of St Joseph & Benton Harbour
Little Bucharest, Chicago
Chicago from Hancock Tower
Chicago, Lake Shore Drive from Kancock Tower
Springfield, IL
Collinsville, IL. biggest ketchup bottle in the world
Oklahoma Route 66 roadside craziness
Leaning Tower, Pampa, Texas
Amarillo, Texas, route 66
Gallup, NM diner on route 66
AZ / NM border

Louisiana 2

In and around New Orleans.

Lusisiana 1

The one place in the South properly run, promoted, with personality and flair above its neighbors, not so much into BBQ as it has the French connection, blah blah blah, it's called LOUISIANA. And we LOVED it.

Day 5, 11/13/14. the TEXAS 2

Strange thing is that although everyone talks in great words about San Antonio and Austin, we didn't find them that crazy good looking, so we kinda rushed thru them. In fact some of the best time was spent in the brand new Courtyard by Marriott in San Marcos, half way between the two star cities, built for a huge outlet.