A friend of mine once joked that when people have four-wheel-drive vehicles, we are always looking for dirt roads to take them on to. Every dusty road leading to gods know where becomes an unbearable temptation. In Georgia, I didn’t feel particularly tempted. In the desert, it’s hard to resist taking that sharp right turn and seeing what your vehicle is made of.
That said, I’m no hardcore off-roader and I certainly don’t take Big Boy Samson rock crawling. So, what is it about the dirt roads that grab my attention? Well, there are actually quite a few reasons I’m looking forward to returning to the rugged Nevada terrain in the spring.
Lake-side View
The primary reason I spent time on dirt roads was to see the lake. The water was freezing all three or four times that I visited, so I originally had no intention of going in. The first day I drove down to the lake, I actually sat in the back of the truck with the door open and worked on my novel. That blue water can really get the creative juices flowing.
Kayaking
Last week, I talked exclusively about the kayaking in Nevada. It saddens me to think that it may be next spring before I can take this back out onto the water, but we’ll see. The kayak’s permanent location is the back of the truck, so you never know what great spot I may come across next.
Camping
The most secluded camping spots in Nevada will require a trek down a dirt road. Even better, these camping spots are free. Stewart’s Point had every rig imaginable and the camping spots are nicely spread out. You can tell by the photos that it’s perfectly possible to go camping and have no neighbours or secure an entire spot for yourself and your friends.
Sunsets
You probably realized by now, but the sunsets are amazing in the middle of nowhere. Some were even more beautiful than this, but when you’re out exploring, sometimes you need to choose between embracing a moment and recording it. After years of documenting my travels, I have mastered the art of putting the camera down and feeling zero guilt.
Driving
It may not look like much, but that portion of the road pictured on the left gave me a run for my money, both times. When you go over, you have a drop off to your left and your car points upward almost vertically for a few seconds. If you hit a skid, you probably stand a good chance of barreling down the hill. I watched someone else go over in an F-150 first and then followed their exact route. The way back was a little tricky at sunset, but I managed. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Next week, I’ll share what it was like going boondocking for the first time — on Halloween. It didn’t quite go as planned, but more on that later.
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