Loneliest-American-Highway-US-50-Bob Davis Podcast 1161

Loneliest American Highway

Firstly US Route 50 is unofficially called the Loneliest American Highway. Join me for the trip in Loneliest-American-Highway-US-50-Bob Davis Podcast 1161.

Best American Highway

But Route 50 turns out to be one of the best road trips you can take.

Mega Road Trip California

With this in mind as I ended my mega road trip up the California coast…

Sacramento To The East Coast

I headed for Sacramento as soon as I wrapped up on the Pacific Coast Highway.

Here’s The California Road Trip Podcasts

As a matter of fact if you want to check out the PCH trips go here for part one; https://thebobdavispodcasts.com/mega-road-trip-2025-bob-davis-podcast-1159/

And here for part two;https://thebobdavispodcasts.com/perfect-pacific-vibe-bob-davis-podcast-1160/

YouTube Channel

And here’s the YouTube channel link if you want to see video versions of these podcasts; https://www.youtube.com/@thebobdavispodcasts9768

US 50 Is Different

However US Route 50 is something altogether different.

Mountains To Deserts

That is to say we start in the mountains and deserts of Eastern California.

Free Camping

In particular in these mountains I encountered my first ‘free’ campsite.

In contrast with the bracing breezes on the West Coast my first campground was a thriving babbling brook.

Most importantly I arrived too early in the year for the campground to be open.

But the gate was down and other people were camping.

Therefore I spent a great first night at the side of the brook.

Subsequently on into the California and Nevada deserts.

Nothing Like A Two Lane Highway For Freedom

Above all I can say there is little more in this life more therapeutic than a deserted two lane highway stretching into infinity.

Open Road

In other words if what you seek is the open road US 50 has it in spades.

Mountains To Valleys

Equally important are the shifts from mountains to valleys and deserts as we travel this route.

Life Pressure

Certainly these days we all wonder what will happen next.

Corporate Grind

Even more the pressures of day to day life and corporate life are heavy for many.

Small Town Antidote

I took a closer look at many small towns along the way with this purpose in mind

What Comes Next

In other words if you didn’t do what you’re doing now how would you do whatever comes next

Small Town Life

As an illustration of that question small towns like Ely, Nevada and Delta Colorado help the traveler imagine what life would be like if things were a little different.

Colorado Mountains and Continental Divide

Finally moving into the Colorado Mountains including crossing the Continental Divide at Mammoth Mountain.

Plains

Then we moved straightaway into the plains of Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas.

National Parks and Truck Stop Camping

From time to time camping at more free campgrounds, national parks like The Great Basin and Black Canyon, and an occasional Truck Stop.

Meditating On History

In addition to the meditation of driving there’s a lot of history in this region of the country.

Farming Ranching Mining

Especially ending in Fort Dodge Kansas, I am reminded of the ranching history of the plains as well as the mining, pioneer and Native American history of Colorado, Nevada and California.

Ancient People

To this end there are artifacts like the Petroglyphs in Nevada where people lived and thrived more than ten thousand years ago.

Full Experience

To sum up all of this is waiting to be experienced on supposedly the loneliest highway in the United States.

But I think Route 50 is one of the best highways.

Sponsored by 36LYN

Loneliest-American-Highway-US-50-Bob Davis Podcast 1161

Oversharing-Nomads-Ruin-Travel-Bob Davis Podcast 1158

Oversharing Nomads Ruin Travel

Do oversharing nomads ruin travel? These days it seems like all the travel highlights have been detailed by oversharing nomads. Details in Oversharing-Nomads-Ruin-Travel-Bob Davis Podcast 1158.

Opportunity

Certainly the world is full of opportunities for Discovery and Exploration.

Nomad Life

And I discuss these subjects in relation to nomad life.

Documenting Experience

However recently I have noticed almost every place and experience has already been documented with a pin in a map…

So everyone else can have the same experience.

Freedom

By all means we have the freedom to experience and enjoy where we go in our own way.

Overshare

Nevertheless one of the pitfalls of the so called #nomadlife ‘movement’ is a tendency to overshare ….

Lecture

And as a matter of fact lecture everyone else about where to go and what to do.

Road Tramps

Even more with people who learned nomad life a certain way from certain people…

They are generally apt to pull right up next to a vehicle and force themselves on other campers.

On one hand this behavior is based on the idea we’re all brothers and sisters in this effort.

Manners and Boundaries

On the other hand this behavior shows a pronounced lack of manners and boundaries.

Accordingly it is not unusual to find yourself listening to a whirlwind travelogue with ‘pointers’ on where to go and what to do.

How Do You Define Adventure?

With this in mind one wonders when adventure, discovery and exploration happens…

Ticking Boxes

If all we do is tick boxes on a list from someone else.

Amazing And Incredible

In fact my sense is social media and modern technology have made the practice of telling everyone else about ‘amazing’ and ‘incredible’ places very common.

Leave Something To Discover

In the final analysis we should be leaving something to discover for the new travelers.

Not That Hard

In addition these same people stress that Nomad life is extremely complex and difficult.

In summary it’s not that hard.

Sooner or later we all discover the world is a big place and there’s a lot to see.

Maybe some experiences are still pristine.

Keep It To Yourself

If you find one…Keep it to yourself.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

Oversharing-Nomads-Ruin-Travel-Bob Davis Podcast 1158

Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157

Life at an Off Grid BLM Camp near Yuma is an acquired taste. Details in Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157 .

Firstly I have been traveling and camping at some spectacular National Forest campgrounds,

And National Parks.

Even more at some amazing Bureau Of Land Management campgrounds which are well maintained and fantastic.

But the so called Long Term Visitor Areas are a different story.

Certainly my listeners and subscribers have followed my tribulations through the LTVA experience in Quartzsite, Arizona.

Above all Yuma isn’t much better.

By the same token the vibe in at Yuma is a little more chill than a hundred miles to the North in Quartzsite.

Basically I ran into some first time RV people; the other day and they expressed their displeasure with these LTVA’s run by the Department of The Interior.

Overall this is a great place to wait out the final few weeks of what we call cold weather down here.

In fact with temperatures in the 80’s as I write…

It won’t be long until I start spring travel into the higher elevations.

Undoubtedly first time RV people have their concerns.

It’s important to realize that these places have no power or water hook ups.

Nevertheless there is garbage service and fresh water.

In the same fashion bathrooms are provided.

Unfortunately sometimes they don’t work.

Another point overlooked is the BLM isn’t very good at fixing things…

Or cleaning things up.

In contrast to nearby military bases with five bars of 5G…the US Department of the Interior cannot seem to figure out how to get cell service into these LTVA’s.

On the other hand once you accept all those drawbacks life can be pleasant here.

Secondly one of the things about this environment is it tends to be more social.

All things considered I am changing my requirements when it comes to camping.

In fact these days I prefer more solitude and emptiness.

For that reason I will generally avoid these kinds of places.

For the time being though this is a good place to wait out the final few cold nights and plan for future travel.

On this occasion one takes the good with the bad.

Sponsored by 36 LYN

Off-Grid-Yuma-BLM-Bob Davis Podcast 1157