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On the way home from Alaska, we did sort of a reverse Playa run, beginning at our friend's home across the border in California, then heading home through Gerlach, Fallon, Beatty, Vegas, to here, west of Phoenix. If anyone wants to know of some good free Northern California soaks that are open during BM, let us know and we'll be happy to send directions.

Since you'll be heading north, we'll reverse things to that perspective. Having sliced this thing about 100 times in fifty different ways now, though still BRC Virgins, we recommend the following as the best route from Phoenix, which would also mean it's the fastest from Arizona.

From Phoenix, take Rt 60 (Grand Ave.) to Wickenburg, then Rt 93 up to I-40;it cuts off more than 100 miles from taking I-17 to I-40. It's a prettier ride and nearly as fast. Besides, it goes through Nothing, Arizona, pop. 3 (give or take) which has necessary supplies, a rock shop, a "museum" and a free advise center. Be sure to have a "Nothing" pun or joke ready, such as, "You know, if you had anything here, people wouldn't call this place Nothing!" or "Somebody told me you can't buy anything here for Nothing." Get it?

Then there's a free dump station and water fill at Burro Creek Campground, just up the road. Head north a few miles to free, dreamy Kaiser Warm Spring, shaded for great hot weather soaking with free camping too; ask for directions to this and any other hot springs en route. All hot springs we mention are suitable for clothing optional (read nude) use, otherwise we wouldn't mention them and virtually never go to any where bathing costumes are required. 14 miles farther up is Wikieup, the Rattlesnake Capital Of The World with all services. For a great meal and the chance to see some of the best Native American crafts you've ever seen, stop Lucia's, four miles north of town.

After leaving Wikieup, go north to I-40/Rt 93 and head west to Kingman where the cheapest fuel was $174.9 at Woody's heading north out of town on Rt 93. Just south of Woody's is a Chinese restaurant with a buffet that's sinfully delicious and inexpensive. Other great food and fast food (suppers in a sack -- 99 cent heart attacks) available as well as free dump stations at Flying J, Pilot, TA, and other fuel stations in that area, all with prices below $1.80 for gas and lower for diesel.

From there, take Rt. 93 north to Las Vegas, via Hoover Dam, passing more free nude hot springs along the way; generally at that time of year, those half a dozen hot springs, all in Black Canyon below Hoover Dam, are not a good daylight soak because the weather, more so than the water, is too friggin' hot. At night, they're nice, but are rather dangerous to access then, so we don't recommend them unless you're a well seasoned veteran.

The only vehicles that are searched going over Hoover Dam are RV's or vehicles with trailers. Large trucks aren't allowed at all; don't even bother. In the several times we've crossed in a motor home towing a car, the "searches" were hardly that and we went right along. They didn't ever even look in our towed vehicle and only quickly glanced in the various compartments of the motor home. Crossing in a car is a breeze. You don't even have to stop. We've never seen any dogs or scanning devices.

Not only is the trip across Hoover Dam the shortest way to go, it's also much easier on your fuel bill and braking system -- going from Kingman to Laughlin, then up to Vegas involves a 12 mile steep downhill, then a miles long steep 2700 foot ascent, then a 1500 foot descent to Las Vegas. Naturally, returning home that's reversed. It's brutal on vehicles in hot weather. Taking Rt 93 is much flatter and slow vehicle passing opportunities are much better.

Vegas is Vegas, so put up the shields, hold your breath, and keep right on going. For a special treat, stop at the south end of Indian Springs, west side of the road and into the sagebrush a few yards to see the Desert Temple of Goddess Sekhemet. It was a neat, serendipitous discovery we just made.

Then, 120 miles north of Vegas is Bailey's Hot Springs, 5.5 miles north of Beatty, Nevada. No dump station. Water fill and electric only, for a small charge which includes soaking. It's a neat place; we stopped to visit with manager Jixto Jinojosa for a while.

After leaving Bailey's, north of Goldfield is free soaking and camping Alkali Hot Spring. For the second time, we saw a herd of wild mustangs, including a colt! Neat! In the area is also Fish Lake Hot Well for free soaking and camping. A bit farther north is the warm springs east of Tonopah, Nevada. There are water fills all along the way and the next dump station and water fill is the rest area north of Tonopah on the east (right) side of the road. Free camping can be done there too.

If you experience a true emergency while in the Alkali Hot Springs/Tonopah Nevada area, we suggest contacting our good friend and fellow HAM, Kris Dean, KC7ICH, 775-482-5106, Tonopah, Nevada. He can be reached on the local repeater or by the land line above. He knows all there is to know of the area and is very helpful. Please give him our best. If possible, don't call him before 10 in the morning.

Heading up the road, Playa Bound from Tonopah, Nevada, Coaldale, Mina, and Luning all offer huge spaces for free camping. Also, practically any spot off the highway, in turnouts, a few yards down the hundreds of dirt roads, just about anywhere, there's a good spot to get a good night's sleep, we know well after having done it for 16 years.

Then there's Hawthorne which has everything any Playa bound Burner needs, including free camping, water fill, and dump station at El Capitan Casino on the right, shortly after coming into town. We should add that, at nearly all casinos along the way, as soon as one enters Nevada, you can park overnight and use the toilets 24/7 because they're all open all the time. More casinos than we know of (because we haven't stopped at all of them) have free dump stations and water fills.

Note Bene: DO NOT TRASH the toilet and wash rooms of casinos that offer free 24/7 access, else it be cut off. The deadheads did that to (too many) toilet rooms near Dead Concerts and it brought BAD results, much the same as the mindless who have trashed rental vehicles for BRC, bringing negative results to we all. "We must band all together or be banned altogether.", as we used to say in the 60's. An alternative was, "We must all band together or be altogether banned." Leave No Trace and we'll all benefit. Thx.

An added bonus of the Hawthorne area is incomparable Walker Hot Spring, 4wd access ONLY; free camping and free soaking in a canyon with scenery to die for.

After Hawthorne, there's Walker Lake with about 575 places for free camping; near the lake nude bathing would also be OK. Then there's the hamlet of Schurz with free overnight parking in many locations, a free dump station, and water fill. On the east (right) side of the highway is a huge, wide and long (at least 1/4 mile) free overnight camping area.

Oh, one more thing -- a little ways east of Fallon is Hard Dunes Hot Springs with free camping and soaking.

 - El Dorado Hot Springs