Coco
Seasoned Expediter
In the Fall of 2004 we took our first run west. Being new to expediting we thought this was a great run. And it was if you wanted to stay there!
Our run was from Boston to Phoenix. I had traveled out west with my family as a child on two separate occasions and was excited for my husband to see the natural beauty, especially the sunsets and the mountains. Unlike the broccoli covered mountains in the east, the desert mountains are a thing of beauty only the imagination can behold.
Our timing was just right for an infinite sunset. As we headed west from Texas it was 5:00 and the sun just seemed to keep setting because of the time change. Through the Painted Cliffs and on to Flagstaff was very peaceful. The pink and orange reflection from the sun on the clouds in the cool blue sky was breathtaking. But the unspoiled beauty on Route 17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix made us wonder if a cowboy was going to come out from behind a cliff on his trusty steed in hot pursuit of the bad guy. I mean a gunfight could break out any minute! And across the desert in the distance we could imagine a gathering of Indian braves on paint horses patiently watching the action in anticipation of an attack.
But all good dreams come to an end. Or do they? The sun was beginning to kiss the tops of the massive rocks and sink into the sand. The sky turned reddish orange and the bright blue sky turned dark. Every cloud disappeared and out came the biggest stars we had ever seen and a 3/4 moon! Perfect! Just enough moon to light up the shadows of the mountains against the sky and cactus on the sand. The September air was crisp, we rolled the down the windows and never spoke a word. We just rolled through and down the steep grade and into the city lights.
Morning came, we delivered and began the long wait to get back home. Finally, two days later we got a run from Phoenix to Elko and on to Golconda Nevada. Heading up Route 93 through Nevada seemed disappointing in comparison to our previous run. Rolling down the highway we spotted a herd of cattle right next to the road. From the distance we could just see a mass of cattle. Hmmmm….. how were we going to handle this? As we got closer the cattle left the roadway in unison and two real live cowboys appeared. Hard at work the two young gringos lead thier charges off the road like the pied piper leading rats. It was amazing to see only two men magically manage what must have been two hundred animals. We pulled the truck off the road and the animals came to a complete halt about 500 feet away. Seems the cowboys stopped the herd in anticipation of damage to our truck. Once we realized this was backed out and joined a car that had also stopped to see the sight and take pictures with us. The cowboys gave a big wave with their hats as they passed and hooped and hollored at the cattle just like in a movie.
On to Elko and the dreaded locals. Forty two miles down a dirt road, a one lane dirt road. About five miles from delivery we saw a mine shaft in the mountainside and past that the first sign of civilization, a sign that said Midas 2 miles. We wondered who would live hear much less drive this everyday to work ? Anyway, on to our destination……a gold mine! Once in the receiving office we saw pictures of Midas and asked if we could get there by truck. Yes, we could get there and what a bonus.
At 9:00 we found the tiny town of 72. A barkeep was opening shop and we went in to hear the story of the first mining town in Nevada. The little town had a one room school still in operation with 16 students, two saloons and one church. Behind the church was an old graveyard of miners. The town was founded in 1903 with the first gold strike in Nevada which resulted in the little mine shaft we saw earlier and the big mine we delivered to. Once every two weeks someone would make a trip to Elko for supplies and once a month to Reno. They had well water and propane for heat and lights.
After about an hour the town began to wake up, apparently from a big party the night before. The town was getting ready for hunting season, a season that supplies most of the townspeople’s income. This would explain the For Rent signs in front of the old cabin like houses and the large sign in front of the saloon proclaiming to have steaks and seafood. As hungover citizens began to fill the saloon and our history lesson was over, we walked around for a few pictures and then headed to stop two and a very long visit to a Reno truckstop.
After four days, even though a load was expected everyday, our carrier finally deadheaded us back to Wichita. On the way back we saw the salt flats, the Olympic site in Salt Lake and added a few new states to our “states we have been in†list. Well, we’ve been in ‘em, that’s enough! We don’t regret the trip and will someday make it back I’m sure but we will have a plan, like a backhaul!
Our run was from Boston to Phoenix. I had traveled out west with my family as a child on two separate occasions and was excited for my husband to see the natural beauty, especially the sunsets and the mountains. Unlike the broccoli covered mountains in the east, the desert mountains are a thing of beauty only the imagination can behold.
Our timing was just right for an infinite sunset. As we headed west from Texas it was 5:00 and the sun just seemed to keep setting because of the time change. Through the Painted Cliffs and on to Flagstaff was very peaceful. The pink and orange reflection from the sun on the clouds in the cool blue sky was breathtaking. But the unspoiled beauty on Route 17 from Flagstaff to Phoenix made us wonder if a cowboy was going to come out from behind a cliff on his trusty steed in hot pursuit of the bad guy. I mean a gunfight could break out any minute! And across the desert in the distance we could imagine a gathering of Indian braves on paint horses patiently watching the action in anticipation of an attack.
But all good dreams come to an end. Or do they? The sun was beginning to kiss the tops of the massive rocks and sink into the sand. The sky turned reddish orange and the bright blue sky turned dark. Every cloud disappeared and out came the biggest stars we had ever seen and a 3/4 moon! Perfect! Just enough moon to light up the shadows of the mountains against the sky and cactus on the sand. The September air was crisp, we rolled the down the windows and never spoke a word. We just rolled through and down the steep grade and into the city lights.
Morning came, we delivered and began the long wait to get back home. Finally, two days later we got a run from Phoenix to Elko and on to Golconda Nevada. Heading up Route 93 through Nevada seemed disappointing in comparison to our previous run. Rolling down the highway we spotted a herd of cattle right next to the road. From the distance we could just see a mass of cattle. Hmmmm….. how were we going to handle this? As we got closer the cattle left the roadway in unison and two real live cowboys appeared. Hard at work the two young gringos lead thier charges off the road like the pied piper leading rats. It was amazing to see only two men magically manage what must have been two hundred animals. We pulled the truck off the road and the animals came to a complete halt about 500 feet away. Seems the cowboys stopped the herd in anticipation of damage to our truck. Once we realized this was backed out and joined a car that had also stopped to see the sight and take pictures with us. The cowboys gave a big wave with their hats as they passed and hooped and hollored at the cattle just like in a movie.
On to Elko and the dreaded locals. Forty two miles down a dirt road, a one lane dirt road. About five miles from delivery we saw a mine shaft in the mountainside and past that the first sign of civilization, a sign that said Midas 2 miles. We wondered who would live hear much less drive this everyday to work ? Anyway, on to our destination……a gold mine! Once in the receiving office we saw pictures of Midas and asked if we could get there by truck. Yes, we could get there and what a bonus.
At 9:00 we found the tiny town of 72. A barkeep was opening shop and we went in to hear the story of the first mining town in Nevada. The little town had a one room school still in operation with 16 students, two saloons and one church. Behind the church was an old graveyard of miners. The town was founded in 1903 with the first gold strike in Nevada which resulted in the little mine shaft we saw earlier and the big mine we delivered to. Once every two weeks someone would make a trip to Elko for supplies and once a month to Reno. They had well water and propane for heat and lights.
After about an hour the town began to wake up, apparently from a big party the night before. The town was getting ready for hunting season, a season that supplies most of the townspeople’s income. This would explain the For Rent signs in front of the old cabin like houses and the large sign in front of the saloon proclaiming to have steaks and seafood. As hungover citizens began to fill the saloon and our history lesson was over, we walked around for a few pictures and then headed to stop two and a very long visit to a Reno truckstop.
After four days, even though a load was expected everyday, our carrier finally deadheaded us back to Wichita. On the way back we saw the salt flats, the Olympic site in Salt Lake and added a few new states to our “states we have been in†list. Well, we’ve been in ‘em, that’s enough! We don’t regret the trip and will someday make it back I’m sure but we will have a plan, like a backhaul!