NAS Fallon, NV
July 10 - 11, 2007
Page 1 of 2
Mike traveled to the NAS (Naval Air Station) Fallon in Nevada 55 miles East-South-East of Reno (63 miles, 1.25 hours via highway). That's where the hotel was. However, to get to work each day out on the test range he drove another 49 miles East-South-East of the city of Fallon (45-50 minutes depending on how heavy his foot was). 70 MPH is the speed limit on US Rt 50 (the loneliest road in America) most of the distance of the morning/evening drive to/from the site. The test range, primarily in the Fairview & Dixie Valleys, is huge and has many, many individual sites that are a part of it. Mike checked in at the Centroid Facility near the Frenchman Flat Dry Lake and then mostly worked at one specific site. As usual for military base visits, cameras and recording devices of any type are not allowed to be used without dealing with miles of red-tape . . . even though there would be no sensitive pictures taken. So, the only pictures of the site where Mike worked were taken from locations on public usage roads that anyone can use. In fact, all were either US or Nevada highways of one sort or another.
The Holiday Inn Express where Mike stayed in Fallon.
This is the Stockman's Casino that is connected with the Holiday Inn Express.
Easterners do not normally associate a Holiday Inn Express with a casino. However, here it is. And, they had a great steakhouse in there where Mike had a super rib-eye steak dinner one evening. Yummy.
This is the only sign you see along US Rt 50 that indicates that there is some sort of Navy facility out here in the desert. Who would think the Navy would have a facility in the desert!!!! Well, they do.
This is a picture of the site where Mike worked. Off the main road for sure. But as you can see, it is quite visible from the regular paved road as are many/most of the sites.
Just another photo of the site from long-range with the mountains to the west in the background. The site is on a substantial hill in this wide valley where most sites are located. But the height of the hill is nothing compared to the mountains in the distance.
Mountain ridge to the East of the site. Most of the sites are in a very wide valley centered about 45-50 miles east of Fallon and the Naval Air Station there which is home for the Navy's Fighter Weapons School, "Top-Gun."
Things were not all business related. Mike had time to look around the area. The first day there were some dry lightning storms in the area. That made for some interesting looking sky and lighting. We had a 6-inch rain that day . . . when it was over the measurement between rain-drop-spots on the car roof was 6-inches between spots. LOL.
At home Barb & Mike like to take drives and explore back roads. Out here it was no different. Here's a road off of US Rt 50. The area is run by the Bureau of Land Management and ranchers can free-range their cattle on the land. Most of the road is fenced to keep cattle off. But, cars still need to go down the side-roads and here is a "cattle-guard" (cattle-grid) on the dirt-side-road. The cattle guard allows vehicles to pass easily but the cattle will not cross the cattle-guard. A gate is not required.
The cattle-guard up close. The car rear-view mirror is in the upper-right of the photo. The guard is like a grate/grid. The steel bars are spaced close enough to allow a car to pass over it easily. However, cattle and horses are afraid of getting their leg stuck in between the bars of the guard. Therefore, they will not pass over the guard. Neat. It works so well that in some places all they need to do is paint stripes on the road and the cattle and horses will treat the painted-lines with the same "respect" as the real guard. :-)
Desert vegetation. Don't believe this is a creosote bush like they have in the Mojave. Not sure what the bush is and didn't ask. Too bad.
That same bush up-close. Light-green in color. It looks like it might be some variety of sage.
Have no idea what this bird is. Not one that we have back East. This is not well focused and the sun was at the wrong angle to get a good picture. But, this is the best of the many pictures that were taken of this type of bird. Nice yellowish breast. If you know the species, please let me know and I'll update this page. Mike's sister, Janey, probably got it right. A Western Kingbird!!!! Mike's picture just isn't that great. LOL.
Lizard . . . maybe a "Desert Iguana?" At least that's what the guys at the site called them. However, after doing a little research I now think this is a Western Fence Lizard. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know what this animal is.
I'll bet these horses had not seen a car or a human for days. They sure were intent on watching every move Mike and the car made.
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