Riding the Ghost Train

Over the Labor Day weekend we rode the Ghost Train on Ely, NV. We both love trains, they take you back to a simpler time and a much slower pace. I love the sound of the train on the tracks. We took the steam engine to the west, out towards Ruth and the copper mine. It is a 45 minute trip one way so it's a good deal for the price. All our years here in Nevada and this was my first time to ride this train...Timm rode it just a week or so before me on the Martin Man Reunion. (I know what you're asking...where's the post for that adventure? Haven't seen any pictures from that trip yet, when I do there will be a post.)

This route passes thru two tunnels. "Look down and away from the engine." the guide says. The steam and soot have to go somewhere you know.

ATV Club Rides Ely, NV

Holiday weekends always bring extra members out to ride and Labor Day 2009 was no exception. We based ourselves in the Ely KOA. They were very accomodating and friendly, the spaces are wide so you don't feel like you're on top of your neighbor, large trees shade every site, and you can ride your ATV in and out of the park. They even offered up a BBQ dinner and breakfast Saturday and Sunday for a small fee. We had dinner Saturday night and Timm enjoyed breakfast both days. Eldora is a mighty fine cook and the proceeds go to the children's cancer fund.

Here we are Saturday morning...28 riders strong ready to head out for a day of adventure. Timm was the ride leader so he gave his required speech...ride with your lights on, wait at turns for the rider behind you, and so on.









One of our prettiest places to ride was Sawmill Canyon. What a gorgeous place this is. We pre-rode this area on Friday and tried to connect over to the next canyon but it just got too rough. I hate to say it but I pulled out the 'girl card' and said someone else was taking my quad over that section. (I know, I know...I've never said that before...I was having a really weak moment apparently) It definitely wasn't a trail to try and pursue with so many riders so like much of the area around Ely, we had to backtrack our way out of the canyon.

Eventually, we made our way to Ward Cemetary and Historic Mining District. Unfortunately, the mining district was not accessible. There were large burms with deep trenches behind them where all the roads used to be. GRRRRR! The cemetary was neat though. Our plan was to go see the Ward Charcoal Ovens from there and to head over the mountain at that point. Another big GRRRRR! You can't get close to them without paying $4/person and the trail that connected up over the mountain is now closed! Two years ago, it was a fairly new ATV trail constructed by the Forest Service with wooden bridges to cross the creek and other neat stuff. Now, it's closed to ATV use and a housing development is built on part of what used to be trail access. It is so frustrating!!!!


Anyway, on a happier note, we also rode on the east side of Ely on Saturday's ride. Saw some gorgeous territory, found an old mine site, many took a steep trail to the top of one of the mountains for an amazing view of Ely, the Steptoe Valley, and more. You could see forever and a day.

We enjoyed lunch in a lush meadow that had a spring and some water troughs. I'd like to hide myself there to see what kind of wildlife comes out towards evening.

Our last stop on Saturday's ride where the train stops to turn around. We barely made it in time. It was neat to see them disconnect and re-connect the train. There was a boy losing his mind when he saw all of us along the tracks and the stopping point. Funny stuff.

All in all, it was a good trip, with lots of wonderful people. There were a few issues that will soon be resolved, and a few closed trails that made it really frustrating for Timm. Alan's quad broke down before the weekend even started. Some major repairs need to be done because the service technician didn't complete his job. I don't think those that follow know how the weight of responsibilites feels for the ride leader. Hopefully, someday they will step up and lead a ride.

Cassy and Shelby camp and swim

On our Red Desert Road trip last weekend Cassy and Shelby came along for the adventure. They got the chance to play in the creek, camp and swim in Meadow Lake. Cassy also got to ride the ATV's...she loves that.

They both had a great time at the lake. Shelby forgot how to swim for a minute...there was more splashing than swimming...it was hysterical. I put the video on Facebook if you want to see it. (Crystal Martin, Las Vegas...Cassy is the the photo with us)

They even shared the stick...although not by choice I think. It was cute though.

A great time on Cedar Mountain

We spent last weekend with friends from the ATV club on Cedar Mountain in southern Utah. It was wonderful to get away from the heat and the rat race to enjoy ourselves in the cool mountain air

Our Saturday adventure to us to an awesome overlook, took a group shot there. Nineteen riders went on an 80 mile loop that day that took us to Yankee Reservoir, Panguitch Lake, Hatch, near Duck Creek, Dead Lake, and back to camp on Red Desert Road. Timm was our ride leader and he did another awesome job. For most of the riders this weekend, this was a new place to ride and explore.

This section was much steeper and rougher than it looks here...honest. Most put it in low hear to crawl up over the rocks. A couple of people even used the 'girl' card and had others take their machine over this section.

Mark and Chris at Yankee Reservoir. Lots of people camping there this time. It's a great place to fish.

Keith was there this weekend so you know we had to have a big fire...this time....a really big fire. There was a fire pit that had to be 6 foot across and it was his mission to fill it. The wood was stacked up about 5 foot tall in the pit. Believe me...we had a fire like this both nights. He was on a mission to burn all the wood...and he did.

Get away for a day

It's been hot...ok, really hot around here lately...and humid (for us). Storms have been brewin' but we don't seem to get any of it on our side of the valley. We decided to escape the heat for a day and headed off to Mt. Charleston.

We started our day adventure on a gravel road that I had recently spoken with a BLM ranger about our ATV to work on. We made it half way down the raod before it turned left and started getting too rough for my little trailblazer. Figured it would be safer to do that than get stuck, besides no one knew where we were at the time. Next time, we'll take the ATV's to get the rest of the way through. You know, now that I think about it, the ranger said he had not been all the way through it either...hmmm.

Well, we headed up the Lee Canyon road watching the clouds get darker, lightening hitting the ground on the mountain, and rain making it's way down to us. It cooled off and it felt so good. We explored a group primitive campsite that looks like a great place to get out of the heat for a weekend. There are many people tucked up in the trees...avoiding the rain...as we were walking around in it. (Note the lovely hair style I'm wearing.) Further up the mountain we stopped at the picnic area and munched on a couple of chicken wings in the Trailblazer since it was still raining.

We ventured as far as we could go, that's the ski resort by the way. We got out at the meadow and wandered around for a while. With all the rain, there was actually water in wash...lots of it. By the time we stopped to get out it had subsided quite a bit. Cassy sure loves to explore, really she does. She ran around the meadow sniffing, running through the water and more. What a great time she had. It's fun to watch her knowing she is really enjoying herself.

We took the cut across over to Kyle Canyon, stopping at the over look. You could see storms on the Sheep Mountain Range across the valley. We met a nice couple from Sweden that took our picture together for us.

We finished up our day in Kyle Canyon, doing a little bit of hiking, but mostly just enjoyng the cool weather.

And to top it off, stopped and got dinner at Cafe Rio....YUMMY! I wish we would get one on our side of town. What a great get away it was...pretty scenery, time spent together, rain, cool weather, exploring...just about perfect.

Dunes and Trails ATV Club wins 1st place!

That's right, Dunes & Trails ATV Club particitpated in the Boulder City parade again this year. Big thanks to Kevin and Vickie O'Keefe for all their hard work and efforts. I'm pretty sure it was the tank that pushed us into first place. Their son, Shane designed and built a cardboard tank 'costume' for one of their quads. It was awesome! He even used a fire extingusher to blow puffs of smoke out of the turret. Wish we your in the parade again this year but we didn't make it, too much going on around here. Again, thanks to the O'Keefe's for all their hard work on this event. I wish I had a picture of the tank...it was the coolest thing ever...so creative!

Daddy's home

And he's all mine....Cassy's that is. She stuck to me like glue but now that Daddy is home I am chopped liver. She was so excited to see him (can you tell). When I tried to kiss him on the couch she was right in the middle of it. So I get it, my time will come later. It was just so cute to see how much she missed him. Next time he leaves I think Cassy will make sure she goes with him.

Now, he normally gets a greeting like this everyday but this was certainly over the top...and more. I don't know who enjoyed it more.