Election Day was notable for a number of reasons, among them the fact that we crossed on that day into Nevada, the 39th state/province since departing our home in Dallas in March.
Why Nevada, you might ask? It’s not on the perimeter; it hardly qualifies as part of your Year on the Edges of America.
Right-o. We deviated a short ways from the perimeter for a purely record-keeping reason. The photo that leads this post provides a hint as to why.
Do you see the single Western state not colored in? That would be Nevada.
That can’t stand.
The Casita, you see, has been all around Texas, from Big Bend to Palo Duro, Hueco Tanks State Park to the Sabine National Forest. It also has been to New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah several times since it joined our family 11 years ago.
We visited five other Western states in it during a 2013 summer vacation – Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma. And on this trip we added six more Western states (among others) – North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California.
What’s missing from that list?
Nevada.
Not any more.
We crossed into Nevada just after noon on Election Day, settling into an RV spot at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River just in time for a leisurely afternoon walk before tuning into the election and watching the returns late into the night.
We’ll resume our perimeter route soon, probably heading south along the Colorado River toward the Mexican border before heading east again. We’re familiar with many of Nevada’s canyons and casinos from previous visits, sans Casita, so we won’t be venturing further into the state on this trip.
But now we get to add that Nevada sticker to our map.
A few quick interesting facts about Nevada:
- This Colorado River is grand, flowing 1,400 miles from its natural headwaters in the Rocky Mountains through seven states (forming the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona along the way and much of the Nevada-Arizona and California-Arizona borders) and Mexico before emptying into the Gulf of California. By comparison, the Colorado River in Texas is contained within the Lone Star State and is roughly half as long as this one, giving lie to the assumption everything is bigger in Texas.
- Nevada leads the nation in the production of gold, silver, barite, lithium, gypsum and mercury. It’s also a major producer of geothermal and hydroelectric power.
- Nevada is officially known as the “Silver State” because of the importance of silver to its history and economy. It is also known as the “Battle Born State” because it achieved statehood during the Civil War.
For those interested in the sorts of nerdy details about our perimeter trip that so fascinate me:
- Nevada marks our 32nd U.S. state on this trip. (We also visited seven Canadian provinces, bringing the international total so far to 39.)
- We should be able to add Arizona and New Mexico to this tally in the next few weeks/months. The Casita has visited them on previous trips, but we haven’t included them yet as part of the perimeter-trip count.
- If all goes according to plan, we should have visited a total of 34 states by the time we return to Dallas in March, 41 if you include the Canadian provinces.
Whew!
But wait, something’s missing.
Here’s what the map of stickies looks like on the door of our Casita right now. You can see Nevada colored in – no more Western island.
But what’s that island in the middle of the country?
There are just seven continental U.S. states that the Casita’s not yet visited. They are Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.
What’s up with that?
I smell a 2020 seven-state Casita tour in the making….
Postcards from the Perimeter 
Don’t have much to offer about Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, or Missouri. But have loved the canyons and lakeside camping just outside Chicago.
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Oh, Alison, that’s good to know! We have some friends we may want to visit in Chicago, but I don’t relish driving the Casita in town so it would be great to find a spot to stay a few nights just outside of the city and we could drive in w/o the Casita or maybe even take the train. Your canyons and lakeside sound divine! Thank you. Best to you and Bob….
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Keven, we’re moving to northwest Arkansas, so you and Georges and the Casita will have to come see us in the shores of Windsor Lake in Bella Vista! Gorgeous countryside. World class fishing! I can provide lots of guidance about Missouri, my home state, too — and so can Miriam Pepper.
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Oh, Jane, that’s wonderful. How exciting! We will definitely come visit you sometime next year. And we will appreciate any and all Missouri tips. We’d originally planned on doing the Seven Missing States in the summer of 2020, but we’re having so much fun, we may just tack them onto this trip (after a couple of months of downtime in Dallas to look in on my Mom). We will be discussing the timing pros and cons for weeks…. What’s the best time of year for NW Arkansas and Missouri?
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oh great!! Spring or fall. Summers can be very hot and humid, though we were in Southwest Missouri in July this year and felt very comfortable. For central Arkansas, you want to avoid tornado season; they are most common in April, I gather. But not in the northwest corner (don’t miss the Crystal Bridges Art Museum) or down in the bayou in southeast. Arkansas.
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I completely get it! That is precisely why we ended up doing an out-of-the-way side trip to Fargo, North Dakota a few years ago. Next year we will get Oregon and Washington stickers, which will only leave the New England states for 2020 while you are doing your seven remaining states!
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Ha! Great minds think alike. 😉
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Glad you got the Nevada island filled – another great read!
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Thanks, Jane! See you soon.
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Enjoying as always! I suggest you do your Midwest swing in the fall, starting with the River Valley Casita rally near Fort Smith, Ark., in September. My sister, the Casita owner in our family, is one of the organizers. It’s a lot of fun and fall is a beautiful time to travel.
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Thanks, Jo, for the great travel advice. I agree that September is a beautiful month. Re Arkansas: Also tempted by the Skyline Drive near Mena, tho the Casita rally is a fine idea too.
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I’ve read every blog post and followed since the article in the Dallas Morning News. The seven states you’ve yet to see have some amazing state parks. Keep on telling us about your travels!
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Thank you, Karen. It’s wonderful to have such an avid reader. Will definitely keep you posted. We’ve just entered Arizona….
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Keep the stories coming as they are so fun, informative & visual!
Please follow my blog which I have dedicated to the memory of my husband Jim, as I have some wonderful photos to see & buy as gifts! All taken in Colorado & Oregon.
Best
Your new friend from Berkeley
Stephanie
CarpenterDesign.Blog
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Thanks, Stephanie! So good to hear from you. Glad you’re following this blog. I love your blog, too. You have some great photos and greeting cards. I have not figured out yet how to follow it automatically, but I will renew that effort when we have more stable Internet service early next week. Happy trails!
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Great! I think you can follow me somehow. Talk later
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