Inlet

Inlet.

Standing in the sand,

Barefoot, dress blowing in the ocean breeze.

Arms around me,

My Vronsky,

But he was already taken.

Pretending not to see you as you walked by,

looking for me.

The beginning of the end.

That feeling was nice for a brief moment.

That pure, insatiable desire that I might die without you.

Desperate, fleeting passion.

Phone calls with no one there.

I know it’s you,

But you say nothing.

Looking back,

it was tumultuous, reckless.

Selfish.

But that feeling always fades eventually.

Ours just never had a chance.

And therefore, I will always remember it as it was so long ago.

Next Stop, Extraterrestrial Highway

Longest highway ever through a desert of nothingness.

No places to stop,

It’s just before dark,

Cows in the road,

Tank almost empty.

No cell phone signal.

But I do love it when my husband humors me and climbs on board with one of my crazy ideas.

This time, I think he was just as excited as I was!

Heading north from Las Vegas during our cross country move this past summer. Next stop, Extraterrestrial Highway, and more to the point, Area 51’s back gate, with a side trip to the Little A’Le’Inn, Rachel, NV.

About two hours pass and the GPS shows we are on the ET highway (really, it says that). Let our adventure begin!

Why, you may ask. After years of UFO Files and like-inspired television shows, I wouldn’t say we are believers. But we are NOT Non-believers either.

Officially known as Edwards Air Force base, Nevada Test and Training Range. On record, the development and testing of top secret experimental aircraft and weapons systems have taken place here. It’s the unofficial, off-record UFO conspiracy theories and goings-on that intrigue most of us. Just what are they hiding there?

For the most part it was all in the name of good, adventurous, but somewhat illegal FUN!

Diversion one. Obligatory photo op with Extraterrestrial Highway sign. Onward.

Next stop, the Little A’Le’Inn. 1 t-shirt, 1 alien head piggy bank, and 2 alien beers later, map in hand and clear instructions on how NOT to get arrested, and we are off!

There’s no sign that says ‘Area 51 THIS WAY!’ We turn onto the only unmarked, partially paved, partially unpaved road with a stop sign at the end (with sticker on back, just like the bartender told us).

We travel down the long road in a cloud of dust, our big pick-up truck pulling a car and car trailer. Bet they didn’t see us coming. Ha ha.

Desert. Mountains. Not exactly sure what we are looking for. And there it is in between. It doesn’t look like much. A gate and small guard building nearby.

We kind of look around expecting someone to show up and maybe tell us to leave. Nope. Nobody. We can see the cameras, we know they see us.

The moment we’ve all been waiting for. Heart beating with excitement. I jump out of the vehicle, followed by my husband to have my picture taken next to the gate and sign that says, “Photography of this area is prohibited”. I have to admit, it was the most fun I have had in a long time! And made my summer utterly complete!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well except the part towards the end. No cell phone signal, having free-range cows run out in front of us, and almost running out of gas.

We only saw one other car the entire time we were on the Extraterrestrial Highway.

We eventually made it to a strange little hitchcock-esque town, where we could finally fill up our gas tank.

It could have ended very differently, but all in all- it’s one of the best summer memories and stories of all time.