Back on the road: Livermore, CA to Rye Patch State Recreation Area, NV

Howdy folks.  After a 1.5-year hiatus, Doctor Vagabond is back on the road!  For the next two weeks, I will be doing a loop around the western US in order to attend a wedding in Seattle.  Along the way, I am pleased to share my mundane experiences with all of you.  If you're wise, you'll find something better to do with your time.  But you're not, so strap in and let's go!

On Wednesday September 7 I drove out of sunny Livermore, CA and headed east toward the wild plains of Nevada, armed with only the necessities: a roll of toilet paper, some light reading, and a big-ass knife.

Driving east, I passed through the beautiful mountains of eastern California.  I decided stop for lunch at a rest stop, and heard the sounds of a pleasant, babbling brook.  Following the sound, I came across something less than pleasant.

I chose not to drink.  Eventually, I ended up at Rye Patch State Recreation Area, located in the middle of nowhere, Nevada.  Despite being situated in the center of a giant dirt field, it was actually fairly pretty.

After eating a tasty dinner of avocado mixed with tuna fish and smeared on a cold bagel, I took a short hike around the reservoir.  At one point, I came across a bench overlooking the water, and saw this:

 
I couldn't agree more.