TONAPAH

I GOT SLOWLY STARTED ON MY TREK SOUTH. IT WAS SO COLD ON MONDAY MORNING THE WATER WAS FROZE UP AND WOULDN’T RUN. PREPARING TO MOVE OUT, WITHOUT MARY ISN’T MUCH FUN, AND AT LEAST TWICE THE WORK.

ONCE ON THE ROAD, THINGS IMPROVED INCLUDING THE WEATHER. MY FIRST STOP, MINA, NEVADA AT THE LOCAL BAR. THE “OLD CODGER” WAS TENDING BAR. THIS OLE GUY LOVES TO TALK AND TELLS SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING EARLY DAY NEVADA STORIES. HE WAS TELLING ABOUT A CASINO THAT HE AND SOME PARTNER WERE WORKING ON, CAUSE THE “OLD CODGER” HAS A GAMBLING LICENSE. HE LOOKED ME IN THE EYE ACROSS THE BAR, AND SAID, “YOU KNOW I GOT TO GET SOMETHING GOING PRETTY SOON, HELL, I’M 93 YEARS OLD!”

NEXT STOP, TONAPHA, NEVADA WHERE I PULLED INTO MY FAVORITE CASINO RV PARK. WOW! THEY’VE REMODELED AND ALL THE SITES ARE PULL THU’S. THERE ARE ONLY 20 SITES AVAILABLE AND I JUST PULLED IN AND WENT TO THE CAGE TO PAY FOR MY SPOT. ALL SITES WERE RESERVED FOR A GROUP COMING IN. CRAP!

SO BACK TO THE EDGE OF TOWN TO THE BANG CLUB (CASINO NOT BROTHEL) TO BONEDOCK ON THEIR BIG FLAT GRAVEL PARKING LOT. A WALK-ABOUT DOWNTOWN WAS A TOUR OF MANY BOARDED UP BUILDINGS AND THREE TAVERNS.

I SETTLED IN AT THE BANG CLUB BAR FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL, FREE SNACKS, AND EVEN WON A COWBOYS T-SHIRT AT THE HALF TIME DRAWING.