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Ely Nevada

waynecrider

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I saw a program on CBS about three or four months back about Ely Nevada. Ely sits on the eastern border right up against Utah. They have an old steam train that’s in service during the summer, and as well they do a late night run when they set up telescopes so that the passengers on the train can look at the stars. Apparently it is a great place to view the heavens since it is one of the darkest places in the United States. Ely is right outside Great Basin National Park where there are plenty of caves to explore, great scenery, lakes and tall mountains according to what I’ve read so far. I was lucky enough to run into a couple down in Ga. who were camping up in that area after quitting their jobs and moving to Georgia and couldn’t say more about how beautiful it was. They wound up extending their stay before they left and want to go back.
I’m thinking about going up there late summer/early fall with my cameras and a telescope and thought it would be nice to have a Photrio gathering if others were interested. With Utah right next door it would be a two fer.
Check it out.
 
The last time I was in Ely was about 1979 or 1980. Passed through while on a motorcycle tour. Seems like a nice town but I didn't have the best time because it was middle of winter, there was a storm, and Ely is high enough that I got snowed in and there were no accomodations available. I met another guy on motorcycle; he arrived earlier and had a motel room, offered to let me stay with him (I got to sleep on the yucky floor), and right before the lights went out he showed me the giant revolver that he kept under his pillow. The next morning I bought him breakfast and left... following a snow plow to get out of town ASAP. Bad idea because even after the plow the road was slick and I took a spill that required me to return to Ely for repairs. I'm sure the town and surrounding areas are beautiful, but I might have too many bad memories and PTSD to return.
 
I went to GBNP many years ago now and stayed at a small motel / hotel within a few miles of the park as I recall. Besides the inn there was a very small cafe across the street. The actual town of Ely was a bit of a trek from the park. Have a good trip.
 
I was in Ely in the winter overnight. The next morning it was -17°F and even though I had the proper level of antifreeze the ice in the coolant broke the water pump and the only mechanic around really ran up the bill way above what it should have been.
 
[QUOTE="BrianShaw, post: 2519709, member: 9152"
.....and right before the lights went out he showed me the giant revolver that he kept under his pillow. [/QUOTE]


It's always weird when they show you their revolver.
 
I think it be a hell of a lot nicer in the early fall, especially if I rent a camper. Hopefully I won’t have to deal with snow.
 
 
Maybe about 10 years ago I spent a week in Ely, well just outside the GBNP at a bed and breakfast called the End of the Trailer which the back of a single wide trailer with a great view of the park. The nearest town is Baker. I was there in the summer, the park was full but too crowded. I took the steam train ride, not a bad place to shoot. One night was moonless, and it was dark.
 
That’s some kind of story there Brian. Maybe you should write a screen play; include Sirius.
 
waynecrider said:
That’s some kind of story there Brian. Maybe you should write a screen play; include Sirius.
Click to expand...
Oh, there was more Wayne. The guy who put me up for the night also put up a traveling preacher. The preacher woke us up in the middle of the night screaming naked from the bathroom that sinners would perish etc etc etc. He was invited to settle down by the guy who slept with a revolver. I honestly thought the preacher was about to die… and me from heart failure.

Now do you understand why I have anxiety about Ely? If that won’t happen again, perhaps I’d be interested.

now, Tonapah has good memories. I ran out of gas a few miles from Tonapah and a very kind man in a keep gave me some. He was very kind.
 
Oh my. Where's my popcorn?
 


I wouldn't mind cruising through Tonapah to meet Jim sometime. As for Great Basin, I love desolate places, and cold doesn't bother me. I live in South Dakota after all. As for guns, my plan is to simply have a bigger one. A revolver only has six rounds. Meh.


Kent in SD
 
I worked a few summers in Eureka, Nevada about 8 years ago, it’s the next town Northwest of Ely, about 72 miles. Look up ghost towns in Nevada, there are plenty of them to explore. Great Basin park is really nice and never crowded. Also lots of wild horses to try to photograph.

El Ranco Motel by Bryan Chernick, on Flickr
 
Tell you what . . . you boys come on to Tonopah and I'll git in the Ford Model A and we'll head for ol' Ely an you kin take pitchers of me in that Ford all the way there.


That's us in McGill th last time we went to Ely.
 
How's your double clutching skills on a downshift?
 
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