{"id":1269,"date":"2012-05-08T07:14:44","date_gmt":"2012-05-08T14:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/?p=1269"},"modified":"2012-05-09T07:18:55","modified_gmt":"2012-05-09T14:18:55","slug":"the-middle-of-nowhere","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/minniebiz.com\/gmcmotorhome\/2012\/05\/08\/the-middle-of-nowhere\/","title":{"rendered":"The Middle of Nowhere"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are in an \u201cRV Park\u201d in Tonopah, Nevada and we have no internet \u2013 at least no usable internet. Everything was working fine when we got here but within a few minutes both our Verizon Air Card and the RV park\u2019s wifi could no long communicate long or reliably. Seems like who ever is providing the data connection to the internet from this town is out of order. I will use a local editor until we have internet again \u2013 maybe tomorrow.<\/p>\n

The first thing we did this morning was gas up \u2013 $3.93\/gallon \u2013 just outside the RV park. It looks like the long, steep climb over Donner Pass reduced our average some but we are still up over previous trips.<\/p>\n

We left Reno \u2013 actually Sparks it turns out \u2013 at about 9 or 9:30 and headed out to Tonopah which is about half-way to Las Vegas on US-95. The weather was really nice in the low 70\u2019s and the road was smooth and in great shape \u2013 nowhere near as boring as some people have said. The only thing wrong was all of the noise from the driver\u2019s side exhaust manifold and the periodic poor performance which I am beginning to think may be the fuel filter in the carburetor. Steve F. suggested strongly that I take it out but I have yet to do it. I am still thinking that the exhaust manifold can wait unless I have time and it gets too irritating. We\u2019ll see about the performance problem.<\/p>\n

We arrived in Tonopah at about 2:30 at the only camping in town \u2013 in back of the Tonopah Station Casino, Hotel, and RV Park. There are 20 spaces which are $20 per night with full hookups and they have discounts. It seems as though there should be more camping since this is right in the middle of nowhere and only half way to anywhere \u2013 Reno\/Sparks and Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Tonopah is a small mining town in a small mountain range in western Nevada. The mountain range is small but I think we are at about 4000 feet of altitude so not that small. I am curious about what goes on here. It looks like the mine is still somewhat active and we could hear a periodic roar from some kind of equipment. I thought it was maybe some kind on mining method but then I saw that we are at the corner of Air Force Road so it may be some sort of engine testing. We also saw a Naval Underseas Battle Facility or some such name north of here. Lots of sparse landscape to do testing of funny equipment in Nevada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t