Made it to Berlin/Ichthyosaur State Park

craig333

Riley's Human
Joined
Jan 12, 2007
Messages
8,192
Location
Sacramento
Lucky for me I never checked the figures a certain person here gave me. Its more like a six hour drive, not a four hour drive. Glad I went anyway. Kept wondering why they call Highway 50 the loneliest road because it sure didn't seem that way. Had to go past Fallon before I found the lonely part.

Just before entering the mountains past Fallon I see this huge sand hill. Bunch of odd stuff around it too. Wow, I've heard people talk about sand mountain before but I never really knew where it was. Now I do.

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Please ignore the dates, forgot to reset the date and time on my camera. Camera also wasn't functioning correctly, I could only take two pictures before it shut down, hence I didn't get many pics.

Wow they have some really nice dirt roads in Nevada. Found myself nearly hitting 80mph on the way out to Ione. Unfortunately the saloon in Ione wasn't open. The town itself looks pretty ratty.

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Though it was pretty interesting how many of the building were built into the hillside.
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I was assured the park wouldn't be crowded. Wrong, even the overflow campground was packed. Went out a dirt road looking for a spot. All the spots were taken. Got lost. Found a high point and spotted some buildings in the distance. Yay, found a paved road. Still didnt' know where I was or really where I as going but I have a pretty good feel for these things. Sure enough a few miles down the road I come across a dirt road with a sign leading to Ione. Found a good spot to camp off a side road. Thats a New York steak on the barbie there.

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It was cold at night. Sure was glad I had the heater. Made it into berlin after breakfast. Nicely restored town. Tons of signage.

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Then took the fossil tour. Guide was very informative but its still hard see an ichthyosaur in the dig. Guess you need to be a paleontologist.

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On the way back I went south on 361 just so I could see more of Nevada. Interesting how one valley can look so dry and you enter another one and its nice and green. So many of the small towns look rundown and near ghost townish. Even hawthorne with all the military there has one shuttered building after another. Few towns seem to have more than one casino anymore. Took 95 to 208 to 395 to 89 and back across to 50 on the way home. Except for California it was 95% new territory for me.

Parts of Nevada are so remote, I was thinking I really need to upgrade my communications equipment. You could wind up with a heck of a walk out if you broke down in the wrong area.

Almost forgot. Never saw any wild horses or even any deer. Did run across a herd of Antelope.
 
Looks like a great time and hope it piqued your interest in what is out in Nevada. Sorry the state park was full, but it is nice to see that many folks are out enjoying the area. A cozy camp and a steak on the grill.........life's little pleasures.
 
Thanks for the report and photos, Craig. I've spent a lot of time out in The Great Basin and always enjoy reading what others are doing there.

Too bad Ione's Ore House Saloon was closed; it was the same when 3pin was in town a short while ago. In the past, I've tipped a few in there with the miners, buckaroos, desert rats, and tourists.
 
Lucky for me I never checked the figures a certain person here gave me. Its more like a six hour drive, not a four hour drive.

Well, sure, six hours for people like me. But I've been on road trips with you and seen how you drive. So four and a half seemed about right for you. ;) For proof I offer this:
Wow they have some really nice dirt roads in Nevada. Found myself nearly hitting 80mph on the way out to Ione.

OK, how moany of you reading this have done 80 on dirt roads? Anybody? Anybody? Bueler? :D
 

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