Monday, September 30, 2013

Pick A Patch Of Dirt And Park Yourself On It

From the lush, wet, temperate rainforest climate of the Pacific Northwest, to the middle of the dry, arid desert of western Nevada.  Two hours from Reno, five from Las Vegas.  It's a hideous place.  Although my aunt saw a picture of Walker Lake I sent her and said "It looks pretty." 

I suppose it has a certain appeal to people who like dirt.  And trailer parks.  Not that she likes either, I just think she was just able to see the beauty in something different.  She's that kind of person.

This is Hawthorne, Nevada.  It's one of those blink-and-you-miss-it towns.  Seriously. 
 
It's mostly motels from the 1940s in varying stages of disrepair, typical roadside motels and vintage motor courts.  Back in the forties, the population of this town was around 13,000.  Now it's more like 3,000. 

I don't know why anyone would want to stay here, but for a town of its size, it does have a lot of motels and RV parks.  This is the main drag, E Street.
These places are all located on or adjacent to the main strip.  The Frontier Trailer Park and liquor store.
The Holiday Lodge. which offers color TV, coffee, phones and king size beds.  I actually like the old signs.
The Wright Motel.  Where there is no vacancy, because it's no longer open. 
The Hawthorne Motel - one of many small hotels that all have ten or fifteen rooms and a little office in a one level complex.
Some even have kitchenettes. 
We've been here several times before and passed through many times more.

Hopefully we won't get stranded for six days, because sitting in a truck stop with a dirt lot in a town whose shopping consists of Dollar General and Goodwill is not my idea of a good time.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012:
The Heat Of The Road
2011: My Super Handsome Man
2010:
It All Started With Betty
2009:
Traffic Stopping Skyline
2008:
When You Are Proud To Be Told Your Roots Are Showing
2007:
Engulfed In Color
2006:
Fish And Loaves Of Bread Are Not The Only Things He Is Generous With
2005:
23 Things

1 comment:

Gil said...

I think we stayed in one of those ancient motels on one of our cross country trips!