So, in this multi-part Death Valley trip report let's take care of day 2, 3 and 9 right now. These were our days driving through Nevada. I rather pride myself on finding any place I visit interesting; looking for the unique and noteworthy and seeing its value.
But...Nevada, sigh.
First, there is the landscape. You might remember from previous posts that I am a fan of trees. Real trees. Big flowing and majestic trees. Nevada has, well, sage. And while I find the Joshua trees a welcome relief from the endless flats and clearly unique, even their repetition does not a forest make.
The few distant mountains do not make up for the unceasingly straight road with its signs advertising 24 hour liquor, 24 hour casinos and 24 hour, ahem, ladies of the night 'ranches'.
With its nude landscape filled with military installations, munitions depots, undersea training(!) and flight zones it is easy to see how Nevada's big empty (but not really) spaces could lend itself to tales of alien landings.
Perhaps I could learn to admire if never truly like the landscape, but it is indoors where Nevada sends me running for cover. I didn't actually see this, but I'm pretty sure there are gaming machines in the restrooms because they are certainly in every other nook and cranny of any building that has an entry door.
But what really drops Nevada down to #50 on the "I love this state" list is the SMOKE! Not only is smoking allowed nearly everywhere, but mostly to get to any non-smoking area you must trudge through casino clang and swirling smoke to reach breathable air.
We met some lovely people and ate at least one very nice meal in Nevada, but my ability to see what Nevadans must, and I am sure do, love about their state is lost in a heavy cloud of smoke.
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