Northward migration

Because we had the time this year we figured we'd drift north at a bit more leisurely pace than usual.  On the theory that spring comes earlier on the coast we thought we'd head up through western Nevada and then either northwest through Oregon or northeast through Idaho depending on how spring shaped up.  One thing we knew for sure: we weren't hanging around Arizona for long now that air conditioning season was here!

Spent the first night enroute at the Beatty Pond (36.88209, -116.75419)...

...and then hung out for a week at Walker Lake Sportsman Beach BLM campground (38.69357, -118.76665) watching the weather forecast.  It's a beautiful lake and a nice campground, sadly the lake is drying up (click this link for the story).  

At the south end of Walker Lake (or, where the south end used to be) is the town of Hawthorne.  Its main claim to fame is the... 

Who knew?  Definitely not me!  For the full details click here.  By the way, this is as close as I got to the base itself.  

We did however go to the town park

 and the Ordnance Museum

but we never could figure out when the Mineral County Museum was open (it wasn't the hours posted on the door).