On my way out of Mono Lake and California, I stopped at a marsh that on a previous trip produced some real photo gems, of a California Oriole for instance.  This time, the marsh was a brackish pool of brine water and salts left on the receding shore.  The only critters were cows and black birds.  Neither very photo notable.  The cows were stinky and the birds were a flight risk. 

 Nevada is an impediment.  If the unoccupied part of the state were put up for sell, it would list for less then what we paid for the island of Manhattan.  Hwy 50 for example, puts the sleeping pill business to shame.  Nothing works better or faster to put you to sleep, then Hwy 50 through NV.

Here is my only picture of NV (get it?)

This first photo is a picture of the salts deposited on the shoreline of this dried up marsh.

I drove from Mono Lake towards Nevada with a small amount of gas reserve as the gas price in Lee Vining, was really up there, near the $3.50 region.  I felt I had enough gas to get to Benton, CA and upon arriving, I was happy to see that this remotest of towns, much more remote then Mono, had gas for sell for $3.09.  I pumped 13.8 gallons so I still had 30 miles of gas reserve left.  I hate when gas stations gouge and I also hate having to push a tank of gas to the point of having to call AAA.

As I already mentioned, the trip through NV was less then memorable.  From Benton, CA I went up to ELY, NV Then East on 50 (zzzz) to Utah where I finally stopped and stayed at a Motel where Hwy 50 and the interstate 70 junction occur.  I was going to try and make it to Fruita, CO but since I was over 4 hours away, I decided it wouldn't be safe to try.  Besides that, this portion of Hwy 70, between the Junction of Hwy 50 and Fruita, is one of the most scenic routes you can ever take.  Never mind that it is an interstate.  It would be a shame to whiz through this portion of my trip, after dark.

I got in Fruita, CO around noon.  I then headed for Glade Park up the steepest, curviest, most dangerous, and scenic road you can imagine, through Colorado National Monument Park.  Nineteen miles of road with a golfing handicap of +19 miles.  Since I had lost my contact information for the two friends I wanted to visit: Joe and Jill, I head for the Glade Park Store where she works.  I was delighted to find her there and I got directions to her house and a hug from her and set off to visit her husband (also my friend) who was at home.

Joe and I talked about his new career (at 66 years of age) of being a volunteer fireman for the last five years.  He had several interesting stories: movies at Glade Park every Friday night which produce a healthy amount  

of income for the fire dept.  (The fire dept. rely's solely on donations and fund raisers for revenue.), First medical response, a story about two women and a baby in a roll over accident.  A roll over that executed graciously three or more times, ejecting the baby and a passenger and trapping the drunken 19 year old mother in the vehicle.  They used the "jaws of Life" to extract her and helicoptered all of them to the hospital.  All survived including the baby who was released the next day.  The mother was eventually released to jail.; and another story about a preferred "suicide cliff" with a 400' drop and how there were never survivors and that the vehicle would have to be cut into pieces and helicoptered out.  I suggested that they erect a sign, "If you are going to commit suicide, use a bicycle, not a car."  Can you imagine purposely going over a 400' cliff?  Wheeeee!  I think even Disney Land would charge extra for that thrill.

I also visited with my friends Stuart and Saundra (more hugs ;=) in Fruita. We eventually met up with Joe and Jill from Glade Park and we had GREAT dinner at the "Rib City Grill" in Fruita, having a delicious round of ribs and chicken and cheese fries.  Yum.

I left the next morning with Stu's advice to "take hwy 50."  Hmmm, hwy 50?  My sleeping pill nemesis.  

Wow, what great advice.  I went through three passes, all over 10'000 feet and one topped out at 11,200'.  It was breath taking.  I ended up in Alamoso, CO after missing the junction to stay on 50.  Not to worry though, I will get back on track and back on 50 today.  Thanks Stu, for the advice for the scenic way on my eastward travels to NO.  Great scenery, unusual scenery (always a winner with me,) and a very nice road.

These pictures were taken at various stops along the way.  I am not sure why these flowers (top row)  attracted flies instead of bees.  I purposely avoided smelling them out of fear for what the flies were attracted to.  The butterfly photo speaks for itself.  Because of shots like this one and the following one, I am deeply affectionate for my telephoto lens, an inanimate object for sure, but still revered for this kind of shot

The iron oxides stains everything in its path.  Pretty, but it appears
unnatural.  One of the few things in nature, not caused by pollution
from man.

The furry tailed striped mouse having a fresh salad for lunch.

A ginger bread house?