We fueled up the Jeep at the Adel general store and slowly worked our way towards the Black Rock Desert.  Route 34 was the most direct main route, although it is still only a gravel road.  Should have bought the Cherokee a set of mudflaps for this trip! Maybe next time! 😉

That gas pump doesn't look promising. Don't bring gas guzzling high maintenance sports cars out to the desert.
That gas pump doesn’t look promising. Don’t bring gas guzzling high maintenance sports cars out to the desert.
Pretty desolate
Pretty desolate
Here we go!
Here we go!
Yay we're in Nevada!
Yay we’re in Nevada!
Yet another cattle guard
Yet another cattle guard
well shit.
well shit.
Paved for a while
Paved for a while
That'll be gone soon
That’ll be gone soon
"reservoir" is a name for a lake that's not always got water in it...
“reservoir” is a name for a lake that’s not always got water in it…

route34-5

Rugged fence
Rugged fence
Mountains in the distance
Mountains in the distance
Jeep and trusty trailer
Jeep and trusty trailer
Another reservoir.
Another reservoir.
Traffic jam.
Traffic jam.
Reservoir by the indian reservation
Reservoir by the indian reservation
Kinda pretty. Bet the fishing sucks though.
Kinda pretty. Bet the fishing sucks though.

route34-14

Trailer has about a foot more ground clearance than the Jeep does.
Trailer has about a foot more ground clearance than the Jeep does.
The view.
The view.
More gravel
More gravel
Sagebrush and rocks
Sagebrush and rocks

route34-21

route34-22

Keep on keepin' on.
Keep on keepin’ on.
The orange really pops against the sand.
The orange really pops against the sand.
Really like this setup. She's a good lookin little Jeeper!
Really like this setup. She’s a good lookin little Jeeper!

So I think I made myself pretty clear when I said that Jason and I don’t plan anything… (much to the annoyance of our friends, but that’s a different matter entirely!) Our tentative “plan” asitwere was to head south to the Black Rock Desert because there are some trails there that Jason wanted to drive. Good enough reason for me. I’m just here to take photos and pick up rocks. However, we didn’t make it to the Black Rock desert today… we pulled off the side of the road to check out a sign when we realized it was the entrance to the Sheldon Antelope Refuge.  We spent some time in the Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge a few years ago and loved it, so we took a side tour up to Shelton to see what was up there.  Why not? We have no plans and nowhere to be! Might even see some antelope while we’re at it! 😉