Being that Cindy and I were gonna be helping to pit for EVO at the Silver State 300 race and that it'd be taking place on Cinco de Mayo, we decided to head out a bit early and specifically so that we could spend our "May the 4th", doing a little exploring, out along Nevada Highway 375. For those of you who don't know, this stretch of highway runs along the north side of Area 51 and because of it and the number of, "unidentified flying objects" that people claim to have seen out there, it's been given the name, the "Extraterrestrial Highway". With that said, the following photos have been declassified for your view pleasure and we hope that you enjoy seeing all the fun we had. 
Even though we got a late start, it sure didn't feel like it thanks to the longer days that come with Summer being just around the corner. Here's a shot of JET Li taking a break along the shores of Walker Lake as we made our way down to Tonopah.
Just as we were about to hit the pavement again, a big herd of big horn sheep hopped across the road and beckoned us to follow them for a bit.
Fortunately, there just happened to be a length of trail we could drive along.
I know it's kinda hard to see but if you look closely, you can just make out the herd grazing down by the water.
After our fun viewing the local wildlife, we got back on the highway and continued our way south.
As we got closer to our home for the night, we decided hop off the highway again and have some fun especially being that we still has so much daylight left in the sky.
Unlike the last lake we were at, this was a little different.
Our home for the night after a great day of just getting there - CHEERS!
The ET Highway
One of the things Cindy and I love most about northern Nevada is that you can still find signs like this - 163 miles to the next gas station... on pavement! Exploring off road out here definitely requires a bit of planning and an ability to take care of yourself.
Our first stop of the day was over at an old abandoned Army Air Field that was used during WWII to train P-39 Airacobra pilots and B-24 Liberator crews. Up until about a year ago, there were 3 hangers like this still standing. Today, there are just 2.
It's fun to imagine what it would have been like to see a B-24 parked in this hanger.
After getting back on the road, we made our way further to the east and made a stop over at an old hot spring resort. While it hasn't been operational in years, the pool is unofficially still accessible and piping hot mineral water offers up a delightful soak.
Shot of the water source pouring in over a highly mineralized fountain.
As you can imagine, a curtain of steam billows from the pool in the winter time.
Hopping onto Nevada Highway 375, the actual Extraterrestrial Highway, a new sign informs us that we now have 111 miles to the nearest gas and again, all on pavement. Time to hit some dirt!
After a long drive out in the middle of nowhere, we made a stop to have some lunch up in the Grant Range.
I think our lunch is just about ready to come out of the oven
It's in a vast and desolate place like this that you start to wonder if your MPG calculations are correct.
The City
If you look out toward the horizon, out toward the grouping of tree, you may just be able to make out earthen berms that shield the view of a massive art installation out in the Garden Valley. Created by artist Michael Heizer and known as, "The City", this art installation was started back in 1972 and has since cost of over $25 million to construct. At about one and a quarter mile in length and about a quarter mile in width, when finished, this will be one of the largest man made sculptures ever built. Oh, did I mention that it's all on private property? Yeah - that's why this is the best view of it that we could get.
For those of you who are interested, here's what it looks like from the air (found on Google).
And here's what some of the built structures look like (found on Google).
As we were climbing around the hills, I came across some fossil bearing rocks.
Working our way to the south across the Seaman Range.
ET Highway Part 2
Back on pavement and gassed up, we circled around and started to make our way back to the west and once again on the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Our first stop along the ET Highway was over at the Alien Research Center. Essentially, a glorified alien gift shop.
There's a wall inside of the Alien Research Center that you can sign and I did just that back in 2014 when we made a stop here with the JK-Experience. Amazingly, it's fading away but it can still be seen here on the wall.
Being that this is the Extraterrestrial Highway, warning signs for things like cattle on the road always include aliens in them too.
Even though we got a late start, it sure didn't feel like it thanks to the longer days that come with Summer being just around the corner. Here's a shot of JET Li taking a break along the shores of Walker Lake as we made our way down to Tonopah.
Just as we were about to hit the pavement again, a big herd of big horn sheep hopped across the road and beckoned us to follow them for a bit.
Fortunately, there just happened to be a length of trail we could drive along.
I know it's kinda hard to see but if you look closely, you can just make out the herd grazing down by the water.
After our fun viewing the local wildlife, we got back on the highway and continued our way south.
As we got closer to our home for the night, we decided hop off the highway again and have some fun especially being that we still has so much daylight left in the sky.
Unlike the last lake we were at, this was a little different.
Our home for the night after a great day of just getting there - CHEERS!
The ET Highway
One of the things Cindy and I love most about northern Nevada is that you can still find signs like this - 163 miles to the next gas station... on pavement! Exploring off road out here definitely requires a bit of planning and an ability to take care of yourself.
Our first stop of the day was over at an old abandoned Army Air Field that was used during WWII to train P-39 Airacobra pilots and B-24 Liberator crews. Up until about a year ago, there were 3 hangers like this still standing. Today, there are just 2.
It's fun to imagine what it would have been like to see a B-24 parked in this hanger.
After getting back on the road, we made our way further to the east and made a stop over at an old hot spring resort. While it hasn't been operational in years, the pool is unofficially still accessible and piping hot mineral water offers up a delightful soak.
Shot of the water source pouring in over a highly mineralized fountain.
As you can imagine, a curtain of steam billows from the pool in the winter time.
Hopping onto Nevada Highway 375, the actual Extraterrestrial Highway, a new sign informs us that we now have 111 miles to the nearest gas and again, all on pavement. Time to hit some dirt!
After a long drive out in the middle of nowhere, we made a stop to have some lunch up in the Grant Range.
I think our lunch is just about ready to come out of the oven
It's in a vast and desolate place like this that you start to wonder if your MPG calculations are correct.
The City
If you look out toward the horizon, out toward the grouping of tree, you may just be able to make out earthen berms that shield the view of a massive art installation out in the Garden Valley. Created by artist Michael Heizer and known as, "The City", this art installation was started back in 1972 and has since cost of over $25 million to construct. At about one and a quarter mile in length and about a quarter mile in width, when finished, this will be one of the largest man made sculptures ever built. Oh, did I mention that it's all on private property? Yeah - that's why this is the best view of it that we could get.
For those of you who are interested, here's what it looks like from the air (found on Google).
And here's what some of the built structures look like (found on Google).
As we were climbing around the hills, I came across some fossil bearing rocks.
Working our way to the south across the Seaman Range.
ET Highway Part 2
Back on pavement and gassed up, we circled around and started to make our way back to the west and once again on the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Our first stop along the ET Highway was over at the Alien Research Center. Essentially, a glorified alien gift shop.
There's a wall inside of the Alien Research Center that you can sign and I did just that back in 2014 when we made a stop here with the JK-Experience. Amazingly, it's fading away but it can still be seen here on the wall.
Being that this is the Extraterrestrial Highway, warning signs for things like cattle on the road always include aliens in them too.
