Sand Mountain
Pyramid Lake on NV 447
Fly Geyser
Site 1, Fernley RV Park, Fernley, NV
2011 Trip across the US
2012 Trip across the US
Other Trips
While it still looks & feels like I'm in the desert, the night time temperature sure dropped more last night than in the last few weeks. It was down to 45°F outside & 51°F in the trailer when I woke up at 4:00AM. I turned on the furnace for a bit to get the temperature up to the 60's, & set up the electric heater to keep it there.
I hate waking up at 4:00. It is too early to get up & get going, but you have been asleep long enough that you really don't feel like going back to sleep. I usually take as long as an hour to get back to sleep at that time in the morning.
Another boring drive across US 50. I did stop to photograph Sand Mountain along the way. I stopped for the night (actually, afternoon) at the Fernley RV Park. I'm in site 1 for two nights at $30.41 per night. Full hookups, although the TV cable isn't working (not that I mind).
After setting up I decided I was close enough to another very photographic place - Fly Geyser, to make a side trip. I say close although 94 miles each way is only close in the West. Wikipedia has information & the history of the geyser. National Geographic magazine did a feature on it, and many photographers have made some wonderful images there. I stopped at the Friends of Black Rock in Gerlach to ask about access - they used to give tours of the site. I've been on their mailing list for a couple of years, hoping to hear about better access to the geyser. Unfortunately, a few years ago the owners closed access to the site due to it being trashed by idiots. Now, the only way to shoot it is from State Route 34 over a half mile from the geyser. They didn't have any news other than the same rumors that keep appearing. They no longer give tours of the site, but at least I bought a "T" shirt!
While I did have my 300mm lens & doubler, giving me the equivalent of a 600mm f:5.6 lens, it was windy enough that even with the VR (vibration reduction) turned on & mounted on my tripod, the photos were lousy. All I can use them for is to remind me that I was there. To see how wonderful the images can be with proper access, check out Diana Petersen's page of photos. I met her at Valley of Fire State Park in southern Nevada earlier in the trip, although I didn't know she was a photographer - she was showing her husband's flutes at the time. I wish I had seen her website at the time - I might have found out how she gained access to the site.
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Sand Mountain |
Pyramid Lake on NV 447 |
Fly Geyser |
Site 1, Fernley RV Park, Fernley, NV |
Anyhow, after a disappointing trip, I headed back to the campground & started a couple of loads of laundry.
There is a Chinese Buffet next door to the campground, so that will be dinner tonight.
Until later -
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Last Update:
August 13, 2014