What Reward Are You Looking For?

So we said goodbye to Oh Ridge! What a gorgeous evening sky for a "Farewell, please come back soon!"

We headed south, hurrying home, along US 395, tracking the Sierra Nevada range.

Our next stop was Lone Pine, at the same park we had stayed in on the way north. But we didn't just sit there, we went out. Carl's Junior was calling us with their Guacamole Turkey Sandwich, and we ordered it "Lo-Carb Style," which means "No Bun, Wrap it in Lettuce." Feeling so righteous, we added a couple of Hand-Scooped Milkshakes (2 for $4) for dessert. Oy!

Feeling adventurous, we moved north to the Manzanar / Reward Road. This road is directly across US 395 from Manzanar National Historical Site, where Japanese-American citizens were held in "protective custody" following the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941 (See our post about this place: "Have You Seen Manzanar").

The road leads east five miles across the Owens Valley to the ghost town / mine site called "Reward."

The Reward Mine operated in the 19th and early 20th centuries, bringing gold, silver and assorted minerals out of the Inyo Mountains east of the valley. Now it is a target for ghost town / mine site afficianados. But for us, we were looking for rocks, and we found them! Here in this tailings pile, and many other places!

We wanted some rocks for our cactus garden back in Benson. Maybe we'll show you when we get there, but right now they are tucked away inside any space we can find in our Suzuki!

Here is a little about the mine:

Looking north from the basic mine site.

Heading back to US 395, we stopped to watch a fisherman at work. You may remember that the City of Los Angeles has "appropriated" most of the water from the previously prosperous Owens Valley. Some of it is channeled through the middle of the valley, and our new friend Rick told us that he was catching bluegill and small big-mouthed bass in this pond.

Worms, the best of bait!

A bluegill and a small large mouth bass Rick was keeping alive and "fresh".

Further on, we shared the road and the valley with a few cattle.

Now, we are headed home to Benson, AZ, as fast as we can. No telling when we may be able to contact you again, so please stay with us, be patient. We're heading for home, and very soon thereafter an SKP Chapter 21 Rally, which may have it's own ominous results!

So now, be content with this visit to ... Our Life on Wheels!