Short and sweet

This week we were sent to Wells, NV to survey around the Bishop Creek Reservoir. Apparently the BLM is allowing a road to cut through the valley so that the damn on the reservoir can be replaced.

The Drive:
The first day was all driving. It took about 6 hours to get there. On the way, we noticed that our new 1999 Surburban's breaks were a bit mushy so we had to stop at Les Shawb to get them looked at. In the end, we waited until we got back to Reno to get them fixed.



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Wells to Bishop Creek Reservoir:
The project area was not far from the Super 8 Motel we were staying at.


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The actual project area:


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As always the area was beautiful. We lucked out too because there was a pretty good breeze and there was cloud cover for the majority of day 2.

During one of the linear surveys, I had to cross a barbed wire fence. Now usually I will go under or through a barbed wire fence. I never get stuck or hurt, but in this instance, I had to go over. As Jarred coxed me to go over the fence, telling me where to put my feet, I put my foot on a wire that was not secured to the post. So of corse, my foot slid down and I ended up stratteling the fence...thankfully I was not a guy. However, my left thigh got caught on one of the barbs. It really hurt and began to bleed. I finished out the line with blood dripping down my leg. I wasn't really sure how much I was bleeding until I got out of the car when we got to the hotel and found blood all over the leather seats in the back. I was able to get the blood out no problem. I managed to get a couple of pictures of my cool wound.




What is even more unfortunate about this is that my doctor let me know that I am overdue for a Tetnis shot, so guess what that means? I am hoping Workman's Comp will pay.

What was also weird was that my shins are completely covered in bruises. For being the shortest session on relatively easy and sparsely vegetated ground, I ended up the most abused out of all the sessions. Of course I did have my one trip and fall that has become quite a tradition, but that can only help account for very few of the bruises.

The project area managed to yield no important sites (only a couple of lithic scatters) and therefore our session was cut short by a day. Although I was sad because I wanted more money, I was glad we did not have to stay in the hotel another night. This place was horrible. In February 2008, Wells had a 6.0 earthquake that managed to destroy many of it's historic buildings. I am attributing the dilapidated state of the floors and ceilings to that, but the smells and thin walls have nothing to do with the earthquake. I must say, that the staff were incredibly nice.


Photo Album for the week...please click on picture to view the whole album:

Bishop Creek Reservoir survey

Next week (August 5th), we will be heading back out to Eureka doing more survey. Unfortunately this will be my last session. I will be heading to Uncle Greg and Auntie Sue's in Arizona on the 14th and then back to Eugene for Darby's wedding on August 23rd. After that, I am back to Gig Harbor to get ready to return to my lovely husband and kitty in the UK on September 2nd.

I am so depressed at how fast this summer has gone, but have had a blast doing what I love most, Archaeology.