The empty spaces of northern Nevada only break into more emptiness in southern Oregon and Idaho.
On the way up north I went off the beaten path to investigate Paradise Valley, NV. The map I had seemed to indicate this road as a scenic route promising views worth exploring in the desert. It’s not much more scenic than what I saw coming in to Winnemucca, still it was worth an hour of my life. I probably won’t ever go there again, but I said shit like that before. Paradise Valley is a cute used-to-be town. If you want to call it that. Rustic. Visions of the old west permeate. They got a post office for the time being so I suppose that makes it still a town? Got back on the 95. Oregon bound.
The phenomenon of the border town is weird and wonderfully pointless. The sometimes arbitrary drawing of lines on a map are the only reason these places exist. Their charm or lack thereof is always at least curious. Border towns in Nevada are the most curious, and pointless. The town of Mcdermitt is as weird and out of the way as any I’ve seen. I’ve been through a few times. It’s equal parts Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Maxim Hotel Casino. As with most of Nevada this settlement landed in a place where people probably shouldn’t have stay too long, and yet a cluster of people decided to live here to make it a town. Not nearly as well financed, or as well traveled as Wendover, Nevada but I’d call Mcdermitt overwhelmingly it’s equal in the glitz/trash ratio. Love it. Every time I enter a creepy spot like this my first reaction is almost always one of wanting to move there. These flights of fancy are always fleeting. I’m sure I’d love it to pieces for about two months then I’d tear it to pieces and flee. No question.
I thought I’d make my way through the Alford desert or pass near the Steens Mountains. I was lost in thought or I must have read the map wrong because I didn’t see either. Got to the crossroads and had to make a decision. Taking a left meant I’d be home within a day, maybe two. I didn’t want to go home just yet so instead of camping that night at Crystal Crane Hot SpringsI headed east. I made for Boise in the hopes I could see the eastern side of Hells canyon in Idaho. 
Stayed as the Boise Inn in Boise. They required a $50 CASH deposit. I only had $30 on me which they accepted. The second I gave them the cash I knew this was a part of their business model. Sure enough in a rush to get to a pancake house the next morning I forgot about the deposit. Fucking bastards. Ate at a Japanese benihana style restaurant that night. It wasn’t bad, just dated.
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