DAY SEVEN, part one: Lake Mead NV to Calico Ghost Town CA

DAY SEVEN, part one: Lake Mead, NV to Calico Ghost Town, CA


I sat and typed last night with a flashlight tucked under my chin lighting up the keyboard while the rest of the family passed out cold behind me and above me. It was kind of nice to have a small moment to myself, even if I was so tired I couldn’t stay focused. I looked at my watch (which I have never reset to local time) and it was after 2am. Happily I trudged up the ladder to bed.

I didn’t sleep very well last night. Lots of odd dreams, most that I can’t remember, but they were odd enough to wake me. We woke up and took an extra-long time getting ready. I’m nervous about today’s journey, as we are headed to Anaheim. My GPS tells me we’re not that far, but the likes of Google Maps (and a few friends) have warned me that traffic can more than double the time it takes to reach our destination. Stop and go traffic in an RV is not fun. It is literally nauseating. But at the end of the line is Disneyland (and a hotel!!!).

Ava popped up quickly and easily. I told her that Santa comes tonight and we’re heading to Disneyland, and it seemed to energize her! Watching the sun come up over the mountains in front of me is so beautiful it doesn’t seem real. I thought I would have loved to stay in a hotel last night, but walking along the Strip and taking in all its energy and light, I realized that the campground was the right choice. I wouldn’t wake up to beauty like this in a hotel in the city. Although one of these years I would love to stay in the Bellagio with a view of the dancing fountains. I want to take in a show. I want to play poker and slots. I have even wanted to have Elvis walk me down the aisle just once (typically I’m dressed like a showgirl in this fantasy…and a size 4). Three out of four won’t be bad I suppose.

We entered California about 70 miles from Lake Mead. We stopped to take pictures. Ava was so happy! Every time we count down to a state line, she has either asked us how many more states until Disneyland, or she’s said “yay! We’re in Disneyland!” So you can imagine her joy when we told her we were finally in the state that houses Disneyland. “I can’t wait to see Sleeping Beauty’s castle!!”

Crossing the Mojave Desert we noticed lots of little muddy lakes where I can only imagine flat sandy land was only a mere week ago. The rains that passed through here a few days ago must have been legendary. The mountains and landscape here are very grey, pale green, and brown. But they are beautiful in their own way. We went up and down in those mountains quite a bit. The highest so far has been almost 5000 feet and the lowest being almost 900. The ups and downs make me feel like a nosebleed is just around the corner. But so far, nothing yet. I am so sensitive to changes in elevation and temperature. I’m not proud of this. In fact it pisses me off!

Our next scheduled stop if in Calico Ghost Town. I stumbled upon this when planning the trip. I had zoomed in on Google Maps to find a town that might provide us with sustenance at the lunchtime leg of the trip. And this little gem was not too far off the highway. I looked up pictures and it seemed pretty cool. An old ghost town from gold rush days gone by. This could either be a hit or a dud. It’s something to see in the middle of a boring desert drive, anyway.