Weird Stay In Beatty

Although we are very comfortable, the scenery is pretty if you like desert, it is a little weird here.  When we checked in at the campground, we were told by the host that this is a desert - tarantulas, scorpions, snakes, coyotes, cottontail bunny rabbits are just a few of the sights we could see or hear.  But - beware of the wild burros.  Do not approach them, do not feed them, give them wide room - they are not friendly.  Okay, so we know all about the wild stuff you find in the desert and are used to them when we are at Picacho, but not the burros.

Years and years ago the 20-mule team borax wagon trains plied Death Valley hauling the borax out, then with the introduction of the modern machines to do this, the mules (burros) were let loose.  And they roam everywhere now. As we were driving in town the other day, we saw burros everywhere - in yards, in the grassy marsh area, roaming along.  They are protected so you can't kill them or harm them. Mostly at night you can hear them braying, and then the coyotes crying as they run by us, and I have to say, I love it.  Every night about an hour after sunset, the coyotes waken and cry and run by.  Each one has its own distinctive cry.  And the burros do too.  Each time I hear the burros I think of the old TV show, Hee-haw.  That's what it sounds like! Dave went looking for them after hearing the braying yesterday and he said they watched every step he took, definitely did not want him near.

Eee-haw

Hey - I am watching you!

But there is something else here, and I am looking for ET everywhere. We are near Area 51, google it, and the manager of the campground said that back in the late '50s when the nuclear testing was being done in Area 51, people would come out and watch the mushroom clouds go way up and then dust themselves off from the fallout and go about their business.  Guess there has been many lawsuits and of course lots of illness due to the fallout.  But the weirdest thing is - the rumors abound that this a great place to see UFOs.  After reading about Area 51, I am not sure if it was UFOs they saw/see or secret aircraft.  We could hear in the distance artillery being exploded, high jets overhead, definitely some secretive stuff here.  But will not venture out in that no-man's land.

There is no other road between Reno and Las Vegas other than the route we took to get here - Route 95.  High speed (70) one lane each way, very rare to see a town, no stop lights, but heavy traffic.  We see 18 wheelers with military gear on their flat beds zooming by, we suppose from Hawthorne or even Nellis Air Force Base which is within this Area 51.

A different note - I saw this morning that where we were last week - snow covered!  Donner Pass, Crater Lake, Lassen - all snow covered.  Got out in time!