Part 3 March 29 to April 4

Day 11 Monday March 29
We went to town to the museum to do email, etc. Then stopped by an “antiques” place to look around. After lunch we headed back to Bailey wash to see if we could go up further. Went in further but the rocks in the wash bed were getting to big for Goldie to drive over. Did find some nice rocks there since it is probably further than casual rock hounders get.

Day 12 Tuesday March 30
Frustrating day. I have had itching and rashes for a while now. Took a trip to Beatty and started at the clinic to get phone # to give the Doc. back home. I stopped one medicine with doc approval to see if it helped. No luck. Went into town for cell phone service. Tried getting a hold of the doctor in Washington today. Left a message. Judy and I went to the museum to do email and then went to lunch in a saloon. Still waiting. Called again being assured the doc will call. Drove every street in town, twice or was it three times. When it was just about 5 pm I called again and got the “on call” nurse who said I should go to the local clinic that just closed. Went back to the motor home and had a scotch and dinner.

Judy’s word

This is the truth… Richard is not one to stretch the truth. I have had great fun picking out the several suspects who are working for Angel’s Ladies. This pastime was quite entertaining. One forgotten incident, Richard was once again attacked be the biggest Tumble Weed he has ever seen. He subdued the giant weed and in spite of the itchies, we are safe and fine, Better day tomorrow. J

Day 13 Wednesday March 31
Well I went to the local clinic and met with the doctor. He agreed that I should start tapering off my current heart medicine and see if the rash and itching goes away. If it does he wants to put me on a new medicine .
I will be checking my blood pressure often to make sure it is not going too high when I get off the old medicine. After the clinic, we went to the Laundromat and washed our clothes. After lunch it got windy with guts over 20 mph and after dinner there was a mix of snow and rain and temperature down to 35 degrees F. There is snow in the higher elevations around Beatty. Wheee.

Judy’s word

I made chili the other day. We passed it by. Too hot for such food. Perfect for this windy, blustery, snowy day. We are warm and cozy in this lovely home on wheels. Perfect reading weather. J

Day 14 Thursday April 1
After a delicious pancake breakfast we headed north on US 95 to the old gold mining town of Goldfiel Wild burros along hwy 95

Just a short distance past the town and four miles off the highway was mining claim where you paid for what you found. No one was there and the pay box had been gone for what appeared to be many years. We found some pretty rocks, some red, brown and green. There also was lots of opalite. Unfortunately the rocks were highly fractured so the pickings was slim for good stuff. After lunch there, we headed south 3.4 miles south of Lida Junction (hwy 266). We went 7 miles up the dirt road to a spot that was suppose to have agate, chalcedony, and petrified. Found very little and figured out the road was now different and plan on going back. On the way down we stopped to look at some small Joshua trees. We stumbled over a big piece of petrified wood, about 20 by 12 inches. Chipped off a few pieces and will go back to bust into several smaller pieces. We had quick hot mineral pool dip and a late dinner. Ahhh, good day.

Judy’s word

I have heard so many times from others about the indescribable beauty of the desert. Well, all that has been said is true. It is a case of “seek and yea shall find” What a blessing to share it together…and also with you! We will return with many rocks and special memories. J

Day 15 Friday April 2
Went to the Beatty clinic and arranged for the doctor to call a prescription in to Wal-Mart in Pahrump. After a 75 miles drive, the prescription was received by fax. Yeah. Not ready yet so we went to lunch and then did some grocery shopping. Beatty does not have a big grocery store. Pick up the prescription and headed off to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Mostly small reservoirs and springs. Not many birds. Saw some small fish, special to the refuge, the males of which are bright blue. Fun to watch them swim around. We headed back home for a nice quiet evening.

Day 16 Saturday April 3
Headed out in the morning to go to the “Racetrack” in the park. We stopped at Ubehebe crater which erupted, I think, about 1000 years ago. We started on the road to the race track and it was so washboardy that we did not want to go one way 27 miles to see it. Stopped to look at flowers and rocks. After lunch we drove to Salt Creek area to look a pup fish, relatives of those we saw at Ash Meadows. Getting too hot to do much hiking. Over 84 degrees. We went to Zabriskie point for a nice view over some badlands. Then we headed to Twenty Mule Team canyon where we were stopped by the state patrol. Some English singer named “Prime One” was shooting a video. Lucky it was not too long. We saw some new flowers today.


Judy’s word
Our last day in the park. Such a strange and wonderful place. I am so glad that I was able to enjoy it. I am feeling rather sad that this is over. May we return. J

Day 17 Sunday April 4 HAPPY EASTER
We drove back towards Lida junction and recovered the petrified wood we found the on Thursday. I managed to get it into about 5 reasonable sized pieces. Collected some chalcedony too in the same area. We stopped by Scottie’s Junction again and picked up some more apache tears. Very nice day except it was very windy. Wind gusts back at the trailer hit at least 22 mph. For Easter dinner we had ham, mashed potatoes, broccoli, and salad with ice cream for desert.

Judy’s word
We will spend the day tomorrow preparing to leave. It means we will attempt to leave the desert dust here.
Wash the car tidy up and be sure we are ready to roll Tuesday AM.