One of the things that Cindy and I love about our Edge of Pizen property is that there's over 1 million acres of wide open BLM and National Forest, just outside the back gate. In fact, we literally can drive all the way to the historic ghost town Bodie from it which is about 60 miles away and 100% of it, all on dirt. Needless to say, this is something we've been meaning to do ever since acquiring the new homestead and we finally got a chance to do it yesterday. And, as luck would have it, our good friend Moochie was able to join us for the fun and the following are a few highlight pics from our trip.
Here's a shot of us just outside the back gate of our place and as you can see, we decided to take Bandit, our new Jeep Gladiator for the run and Moochie came in his new Ford Bronco.
The first part of the trip is a typical Nevada superhighway and something you can bomb across.
Fortunately, there was a slight breeze to push the dust off the trail and it didn't take too much backing off to keep this shiny new Bronco looking sparkling and clean.
Well, for the most part anyway. There's always the dust any rig kicks up all on their own to coat the sides and back![Beaming face with smiling eyes :grin: 😁](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f601.png)
Down the trail, we came across a point where it crossed over the East Fork Walker River on this nice little bridge.
Further along the way, something caught my eye in the brush and we made a stop to check it out.
And, what I thought was going to be some kind of an aqueduct turned out to be an old watering trough.
Now this oasis in the high desert was one of our favorite stops.
As you can see, it came complete with big tress, a lush lawn and even picnic tables. Definitely a place that would be great to camp at.
Of course, the reason why it was so beautiful here is because there was a beautiful spring that produced a lot of water.
And because of the spring, it became stage stop connecting the smaller towns in the area during the 1860's and then gained greater importance in 1881 after the Carson Colorado Rail Road arrived in Hawthorne and made it easier for passengers and good to make their way to Bodie.
As far as Ripley was concerned, the spring fed pool was a perfect place to cool off and play.
Here's a shot of us just outside the back gate of our place and as you can see, we decided to take Bandit, our new Jeep Gladiator for the run and Moochie came in his new Ford Bronco.
![20240709083417-8d354801.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083417-8d354801.jpg)
The first part of the trip is a typical Nevada superhighway and something you can bomb across.
![20240709083421-21dfcaad.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083421-21dfcaad.jpg)
![20240709083423-d4dcbda5.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083423-d4dcbda5.jpg)
Fortunately, there was a slight breeze to push the dust off the trail and it didn't take too much backing off to keep this shiny new Bronco looking sparkling and clean.
![20240709083442-5db558d1.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083442-5db558d1.jpg)
Well, for the most part anyway. There's always the dust any rig kicks up all on their own to coat the sides and back
![Beaming face with smiling eyes :grin: 😁](https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f601.png)
![20240709083448-9528401e.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083448-9528401e.jpg)
![20240709083454-8febf431.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083454-8febf431.jpg)
Down the trail, we came across a point where it crossed over the East Fork Walker River on this nice little bridge.
![20240709083517-3c780dec.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083517-3c780dec.jpg)
![20240709083508-7fb78713.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083508-7fb78713.jpg)
Further along the way, something caught my eye in the brush and we made a stop to check it out.
![20240709083538-867f9e8b.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083538-867f9e8b.jpg)
And, what I thought was going to be some kind of an aqueduct turned out to be an old watering trough.
![20240709083534-55fcb9dc.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083534-55fcb9dc.jpg)
![20240709083530-9cff0679.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083530-9cff0679.jpg)
Now this oasis in the high desert was one of our favorite stops.
![20240709083712-44045eee.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083712-44045eee.jpg)
As you can see, it came complete with big tress, a lush lawn and even picnic tables. Definitely a place that would be great to camp at.
![20240709083716-39992fbe.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083716-39992fbe.jpg)
![20240709083554-a9b85f18.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083554-a9b85f18.jpg)
![20240709083612-fe2264b8.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083612-fe2264b8.jpg)
![20240709084940-d98c59e1.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709084940-d98c59e1.jpg)
![20240709083550-e7b9d1e1.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083550-e7b9d1e1.jpg)
![20240709084958-9425c5a8.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709084958-9425c5a8.jpg)
![20240709083702-c73e6d70.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083702-c73e6d70.jpg)
Of course, the reason why it was so beautiful here is because there was a beautiful spring that produced a lot of water.
![20240709083638-d64d66ef.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083638-d64d66ef.jpg)
![20240709083641-f989b1bc.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709083641-f989b1bc.jpg)
And because of the spring, it became stage stop connecting the smaller towns in the area during the 1860's and then gained greater importance in 1881 after the Carson Colorado Rail Road arrived in Hawthorne and made it easier for passengers and good to make their way to Bodie.
![20240709085010-dc3fc403.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709085010-dc3fc403.jpg)
![20240709085016-b752b012.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709085016-b752b012.jpg)
As far as Ripley was concerned, the spring fed pool was a perfect place to cool off and play.
![20240709085026-3d3f750c.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709085026-3d3f750c.jpg)
![20240709085050-f5460f9c.jpg](https://wayalife.com/photos/upload/2024/07/09/20240709085050-f5460f9c.jpg)