Me vs. the Mojave Desert

I always wanted to visit Las Vegas but not the same way most people want to. I wanted to land at McCarron Airport, check into my hotel, walk the strip a few times…and than disappear into the desert, not to be seen again until it was time to go home. And that is what I did in the spring of 2009.

I loved Vegas but I longed for a more freeing experience and I promised myself I wouldn’t leave without doing that one thing almost every adventurer dreams of doing; renting a convertible and driving off into the sunset.

Well, I almost did just that. I left at sunrise and drove off into the Mojave Desert. I didn’t get very far before the sounds of video lottery terminals were replaced with…nothing. Absolute, sweet nothing. Well, there was something, it was just a very peaceful something. I felt so light and free out there in that vast, open place.

For two days, I aimlessly drove around the desert. I love to get lost so that is what I did. I drove down the most desolate looking gravel roads and left the main road behind me. Sometimes I reached a dead end and got out of the car to stare off into the desert. Other times, I reached a fork in the road where I stopped to contemplate my next move. I always chose the route unknown and never regretted it. At one point, I pulled over to watch tumbleweed blow across the desert floor like in those old western movies. I even witnessed a dust tornado. I saw no other cars or people for much of my journey. At times, it was daunting. Most of the time, it was peaceful and liberating. I found myself lost one evening and dangerously close to spending the night in that dark, lonely desert. Luckily, I found my way. Driving those dark, lonely roads at night was an unforgettable experience. I was doing something many women wouldn’t contemplate doing alone. I felt proud for letting my fears go and choosing to live in the moment.

I had a destination in mind for my last day in the desert; Death Valley. I thought I knew the way there but, as per usual, I got very lost. I drove around for hours trying to find my way to the Nevada-California border and in the process, found other interesting places. I came upon the infamous road known as The Extraterrestrial Highway because of the many UFO sightings on that stretch. I also happened upon a gas station that claimed to have maps to Area 51. No one would talk to me about it when I entered to buy one. I drove around in circles looking for it, got a little lost again and ended up back at that garage without finding Area 51 but a clearing between some mountains along the highway had me thinking in was in there somewhere.

I drove along that road with desert on one side and mountains on the other. No cars passed me for a very long time and that, for me, was heaven. I had the whole open road to myself; it was just me, cruising along a lonely desert road with the top down. I finally reached the Nevada–California border.

I spent the afternoon leisurely driving through that vast landscape. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to see the entire park because I had to return to the city. I didn’t want to be stuck sleeping on the side of the road, alone, in Death Valley. I set the GPS to take me back to my hotel in Las Vegas. Someone who used the gadget before me created a pre-set for LAX. LAX was the name of the bar in my hotel. I soon discovered that LAX was also the abbreviation for the Los Angeles Airport. I drove for over an hour in the wrong direction…into the middle of nowhere with nightfall only minutes away.

When I finally did get close to Las Vegas, I, once again, set the GPS to take me to my hotel. I set it to take me on a route that would allow me to avoid going down The Strip. The GPS worked…partially. It took me on a different route alright – all around North Las Vegas, through some shady areas and deserted back roads and into a poorly marked construction zone only to end up exactly where I didn’t want to– on the Las Vegas Strip on a Friday Night.

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