I thought I should see The Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park so I headed south on a highway that was clearly imported from Arizona, turning off on another highway that was definitely Arizonan with horrible potholes, cracks, and general disrepair which continued onto a dirt road. Disappointing. I thought Nevada had standards.
I was met at the payment sign by a park ranger although it's a self-service situation. She watched me pay and after I slipped the envelope with money into the locked box she told me the Ichthyosaur fossil exhibit was closed. Really? So sleazy and dishonest to wait to tell me this after I already paid. I considered demanding my money back, but I figured it does go toward state parks and I can look at the ghost town.
Berlin is the "ghost town." A bunch of old buildings that were locked. I could see the inside of the buildings looking in the windows, but every building was filled with a bunch of old trash and a whole lot of dust. Not much upkeep there. I was so disgusted and disappointed by the whole visit, I didn't even take any photos.
I continued back to America's Loneliest Highway to Reno for some supplies. Reno is very nice. Reminds me a little of Bozeman, Montana, only it has a lot of casinos. Nice neighborhoods, clean streets, lots of stores. I visited the Great Basin Co-op and when they failed at necessities, including a bathroom, I went to Whole Foods. At least Whole Foods is consistent and, therefore, dependable.
By this time it was almost 4pm, but I didn't want to stay in Reno where it was nearly 90 degrees so I headed north to the Humboldt National Forest. It didn't disappoint! Straight up a twisty mountain road, surrounded by 200 foot tall pine trees and SNOW! The temperature dropped to 75 degrees and the air smelled wonderfully cleaned. By the time I got up to Mt. Rose Ski Resort I realized there were campsites along the highway populated by small trailers and vans. I pulled off onto what looked like a gravel parking lot back in the trees across from the ski resort. It has glowing reviews on iOverlander. I'm so happy to be surrounded by green! It's absolutely stunning here!
California, here I come!
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