First Leg: Driving from Phoenix to Reno

US Thursday 21st June - 2018

Part I: Roadtrip from Phoenix, Arizona to Reno, Nevada

I departed the trailer park in Chandler, Phoenix at 0300 this morning to beat all the Phoenix peak-hour traffic. Peak-hour congestion starts to build from 0500 here in metropolitan Phoenix & with their 6-lane freeways - you can just imagine what the traffic is like trying to get out of the built-up areas.

I am now well on my way to my final destination; the Golden Nugget Casino in Reno, Nevada to prepare for the upcoming week's events at the National Model A Ford meet.

Sheila - stopping for a breather
87-miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada

Today was a HUGE driving day for me as I wanted to knock over the miles as quick as I could.

The total distance from Chandler in Arizona to Reno, Nevada is 785 miles (approx. 1,300 klms.) I had the pedal to the metal on ‘Sheila’ today driving for 12-hours & covering 654 miles (approx. 1,000 klms) leaving me only a short drive of 131 miles (approx. 200 klms) into Reno on Saturday morning, to take up residence at the Golden Nugget Casino for the next 7-days.

'Sheila' my Model A Ford resting on the verge of 
Highway 95 North between two iconic Joshua Trees.

I would say without a doubt that today’s road trip would have to be the most boring, desolate, arid, dry dessert highway that I have ever experienced.

Hwy 23 North from Phoenix in Arizona, then Hwy 95 North from Las Vegas is like the dark side of the moon, there is just nothing for hundreds of miles. 

Today's first Leg of my drive - approx 654 miles from
Chandler, Arizona to Hawthorne, Nevada

I was too scared to think about ‘Sheila’ possibly breaking down, what with the desolation & the 43ºC [110ºF] or more temperatures, heavens knows what would have happened.

As you can see by the photos how dry & isolated it is along the highways, however the Joshua Trees seem to thrive in this sort of climate. The road north from Las Vegas skirts along side the Death Valley National Park, the photo that shows ‘Sheila’ parked outside a store in Main Street, Goldfield, a town which is located in the middle of nowhere in the vast deserts of Nevada.

'Sheila' parked outside a quirky store on Main Street in
the remote desert town of Goldfield, Nevada
185-miles North of Las Vegas

Needless to say I was very relieved when I drove safely into Hawthorne this afternoon to check into my Holiday Lodge Motel. I have decided to stay here for 2-nights because my reservation at the Casino in Reno commences on Saturday. 

My accommodation for two-nights enroute to Reno, Nevada
at the Holiday Lodge Motel in Hawthorne, Nevada.

With only 131-miles remaining left for my drive into Reno, Nevada, I will check out of here on Saturday morning then drive the final leg into Reno so that I can check in there at 1400 on Saturday afternoon.

Rest assured that I definitely will not be taking the same route back to Phoenix in a week's time when I make my return journey back to Chandler.

No more news for now.

Cheers
Warbo