2004 08, Nevada

2004 08 18 Picnic Table, Derby Dam

Well, today was mostly a bust, although I did go back and take some panoramic photos of the dry lake out in the middle of nowhere with my favorite picnic table.  I think you will remember that from a couple of days ago so I will not include another photo.  I also realized that my map book is correct after all, and I had made a wrong turn when I could not find the Nightingale Mine on one of the first days out.  That is when I found the picnic table by mistake.

I also drive past the Derby Dam on the Truckee River today.  It's on I80 about 20 miles east of Reno.  It is the place where the Truckee River is split and half or more is sent to Fallon to grow corn and melons in the desert.  Makes sense to me.  Anyway, this dam is the most unassuming little dam you could imagine.  It's not much at all.  But it is now surrounded by shiny new tall chain link fence topped by barber wire!   I guess the bad guys won't be blowing up the Derby Dam!  If anyone would consider blowing it up I would think it would be the Paiute, and they would probably be justified.  They'd maybe get that 100 feet of their lake back.

This is what you can see of the dam now.  Seeing the rest does not make it look any more impressive.  Sort of reminds me of the Grand Coulee Dam.  Maybe Glen Canyon.