Sites around Hawthorne, Nevada

We decided to spend 6 nights in Hawthorne, Nevada.  A place that Craig's friend John, always referred to as the armpit of the world.  His parents lived here for about 30+ years, while his Dad worked at the Munitions Depot as a civilian.  As we were leaving Reno, there were signs stating that the road to Hawthorne was one of the loneliest roads in the US.

We stayed here because we found a big rigs RV park, Whiskey Flats, that had all the accommodations we needed and we wanted to visit sites around the Hawthorne area.  It is so amazing to see all the ways that people travel.  This RV came in with two English Springers as well as their cats and constructed this cat cage assembly for the one night they were in the park.  It's amazing what we do for our pets.

First drive we went to the Bodie State Historic Park about 60 miles from Hawthorne.  This is now a California State Park, working to restore the remains of Bodie.  Gold was discovered here in 1859 and in 1877-1881 the mining district included 30 different mines and 9 stamp mills.  The community had two major fires, burning various structures in 1892 and again in 1932.  Only about 5% of the buildings remains from the town's 1877 - 1881 boom time.

Methodist Church - 

Schoolhouse - highest enrollment was 615 and closed in 1942

 


Firehouse - rebuilt in the 1930s

We also smoked our first Pork bone-in shoulder picnic ham.

The moon was almost full when Craig took this picture from our campsite.

On Monday we spent the day in Yosemite.  It was a long day driving from Hawthorne, but we really enjoyed the various sites throughout the park.

Moms Lake on our way to Yosemite

   

Ellery lake at the east entrance to Yosemite

Tanya Lake

No, that is not us climbing.  

Bridle veil Falls - luckily it had just snowed so there was a falls.  

El Capitan

Half Dome

Tuesday we we went to June Lake, Mammoth Lakes and ate dinner at one of our favorite locations - Carson Peak Inn at June Lake. We had not been back to Mammoth Lakes since we were married there in August, 1985.  We could not see the Devils Postpile National Monument as they were doing a maintenance burn in the area.

Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church
Married on Aug. 23, 1985

June Lake

Horseshoe Lake area in Mammoth Lakes Basin
Trees are dying due to higher than normal CO2 levels
from earthquakes in 1989.  

Twin Lakes at top of falls.

Wednesday was cleaning day and then on Thursday we were moving on to Armagosa Valley.