Utah-Nevada-California-Oregon (Day 2)

 Sunday, May 9, 2021

We awoke from a pleasant sleep at the Beaver, UT KOA campground, despite the heavy traffic that went by the campgrounds earlier that night.  I figured it was the drunks going home after an evening of hard drinking at the bar.

Our plan today is to travel south on I-15 until Cedar City and then cut across into Nevada on our way to Rachel.  Rachel is a small town that sits outside what is commonly known as Area 51.  Dreamland.  Groom Lake.  Or as listed under civilian maps, Homey Airport.  Should be about a 4 hour drive... assuming you're not towing a Jeep and getting really shitty fuel milage.

Actually, the flat towing is going really smoothly.  Fuel mileage isn't all that bad, though it's a little slow going up inclines.  And we're driving slow to conserve fuel.  The RV really starts guzzling once you hit about 65 mph.

We plan to fill up in Cedar City, UT and pick up supplies at Wal Mart.  Our planned trip through the desert has us stopping when we can to fuel up.  Gas stations appear to be few and far between.

Our other plan for the night is to boondock at an establishment called the Little Ale' Inn in Rachel.  That's the claim to fame for this town as those who seek out Area 51 usually stop here for a drink.  And they have camping.

Moments before the Feds, aka 'Men in Black,' started shooting at me.

Traveling through the desert between Utah and Nevada was desolate.  It was like we were the only ones out there.  Before getting to Rachel, we need to travel a bit south to a place called Ash Springs, NV.  It's the nearest place with fuel.  Buffy can't wait to get to Rachel and see what's there since she noticed all the alien gifts and souvenirs that were for sale in the Shell station.

After leaving Ash Springs, we stopped at the rest area just north of town where the iconic "Extraterrestrial Highway" sign is posted.  We needed to make a photo op... and change into shorts.  It was starting to get hot outside.

And then just around the bend is the Alien Research Center!  We stopped but didn't do any research there.  This place was just a sci-fi, alien themed gift shop.  It was an establishment housed in a metal quonset hut (like those things that Gomer Pyle lived in) with a giant alien, made of sheet metal to greet you.  All this sitting out in the middle of nowhere.

Now onto Rachel... just a short 40 miles away.  Again, it was like we were the only ones out there.  Except for the free range cattle.  The cows would roam freely in the desert.  Why?  How good could the steak be from this?  At one point just before arriving into Rachel, we encountered a cow casually sitting by the side of the road.  She didn't seem to mind as we drove by.

At long last, we pull into the Little Ale' Inn in Rachel, NV.  If you ever watched an Area 51/UFO documentary, this place is usually featured in it.  And it looks exactly like what I've seen.

After a few photos, we walk in for a cold drink and dinner.  It was during this time some guy walks in and talks about a cow about 8 miles up the road that he thinks is injured as it can't get up.  He talked to the owner or manager's son who is becoming an EMT.  He said he would take care of it and I'll leave it at that.  So much for alien cattle mutilation.

For dessert, I could not resist ordering the pie.  Flavors included apple, cherry and 'alien fruit.'  Of course I opted for the alien fruit, which resembled a lot like raisin. 

We inquired about RV camping and got that all squared away.  When setting up our RV for the night, I talked to some guy named 'Smitty.'  I don't know if he worked there, was one of the owners, or what.  But he was telling me all the stuff I can do with a Jeep around there.  I told him I wanted to see Area 51 and aliens.  And he told me where to find one of the gates to Area 51.  That was going to be the first thing we do tomorrow morning!

Time for a cold one at the Little Ale' Inn.

Once it turned dark outside, I wanted to do some night photography in the desert.  We unhitched the Jeep and headed about 10 miles west of Rachel and down some road.  Didn't really get good photos and we were disappointed with the night sky.  I don't know if there was some sort of haze or something, but I can see just as many, if not more, stars at home.

We called it a night.  Tomorrow will be a big day.  Lookout Area 51!!

• Miles Travelled: 246
• Fuel Stops: 2