Settling in…

Based on the VA appointments I have now, it looks like I’ll be here in Pahrump for the 1st quarter of the year. My knees will get xrayed, my bladder will get an ultrasound, they’ll check my heels and maybe figure out why they started hurting last T-Day week, and I hope someone at the LV Vets Hospital will make the decision that I need the prostate surgery, I am allowed and scheduled to get it, so I won’t have to worry about any of that any more.

I’m also thinking of making a quick 2 week trip down to Parker, AZ in order to get my slide awnings replaced, one has a tear, and while that’s being done, get a new big pull down awning over the LR slide’s 2 windows…or all the windows in the RV. Haven’t decided yet whether to use the money I’ll get from the government due to Covid for the awnings, or any of those 3 trips I have planned for the future, OR to donate it to any number of worthy causes. I’m leaning towards donating to a Vets charity ATM.

So here in Pahrump, the weather is kind…which is why I’m here. Up in Milton Freewater it’s cold, in the 30’s, and rainy. But right now, I am just a short drive from Death Valley here in the mid-high desert (2600 feet) and we do get cold weather but right now it’s pretty comfortable during the day if the sun decides to peek out. Which is most every day. Last night it got to the 30’s but it’s now 61 F and I expect it to reach the 70’s like it’s done nearly every day. Really good weather for strenuous work outside…if I had any. Makes me think I should buy some fixer-upper or something. But then when I try to stand, my bad knees sort of remind me of how hard it would be to do construction work with my knees as they are. Or how they’d make it difficult to travel to distant lands like I want, and walk a lot while on those journeys. Or run away from bad guys.

Speaking of travel, since I have little to do these days, I thought I’d run out to Death Valley Junction to check out the Amargosa Opera House. I was hoping the cafe there would be open so I could sit awhile, and have a coffee with a piece of pie, so I timed my visit like that was possible. I also hoped I’d be able to go inside the opera house and take some pictures of the art there. Checking the web site sort of ended that dream since it says they’re closed for Covid but, hell, I’ll just zip out there for a look around anyway. Especially because state governments are changing their minds about what can open so often these days of Covid. A few years ago there was an opera I wanted to see put on there and I almost went just for the uniqueness. Eventually I decided not to go. Wish I had now. Anyway, off I went!

Pretty much a death valley around here…

But I find the trip up interesting. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I grew up in the Tri-Cities in Eastern Washington state and that is basically a desert…just happens to have a mile wide and several mile long portion of the Columbia River flowing right in between all 3 clustered cities. But…desert! So I like that sort of ground. Trees!? Who needs ’em. They just block the view. You’ll see what I mean if you visit the east coast. But I do hate tumble weeds in the desert areas. Damn things.

Well, anyway, so I drive for 35 or so minutes…that’s how close it is to Pahrump…just for a look around. Who knows! Maybe they accidentally left the doors to the opera house open! And here we are looking at the side facing the street. Dumb picture. Or dumb human that took such an ill composed picture.

I drove a little north just to check it out before I stopped in at the Opera House. There is a small contingent of humans that live here. In a scorching desert.

Drove up the 1/2 mile to the turn off to Death Valley (DV), turned around and came back. Now I know where this particular entrance to DV is for my next adventure.

Parked right along the open area here that fronts both the motel and opera house. And here’s the stone erected to honor Marta…

If you watched that film available at the link above, you might have noticed the drawing of the empty shell that was at one time this motel. This is it now. Marta saw to it that it was rebuilt. I think she used it mainly to house artists she’d invited here to perform AND of course it operated as a real motel or apartments after reconstruction. There’s still people living there now, saw their cars parked in front of 2 or 3 of the rooms. Here’s how the motel looks now. No longer an empty shell.

And at the end of the north wing of the motel, is the opera house.

After that short visit, I headed a little bit south from the junction but there’s really nothing to see so turned around and headed back home, passing through the junction again. The restaurant was closed up tight. Sort of nondescript, hope it’s nicer inside when I do get a chance to visit.

And here on the edge of Pahrump is this weird mash up of old & new homes, RVs, and trailers. Being a curious guy, I always wonder ‘what’s the deal?’ when I pass. Heh.

And here I am back in town. Nice little break in the day. Think I’ll make a run up to Death Valley here soon, you guys should come back for that.

Thanks for reading!