Aliens - http://maxpages.com/unknowngalaxy/Middle_of_the_Fuckn_Desert

an anonymous eye on us. We soon found the start the 4 wheel drive track which
would take us closer to the restricted area. It came time to leave the dirt
road. We stopped only for a second to change the transmission from 2 to 4WD,
then off into the brush we went. The anonymous jeep behind us disappeared as
we wandered between the rolling hills. We didn't look back. I guess we didn't
want to see an anonymous jeep following us. It was easier to try and convince
ourselves that there was nobody else out here - as there should be. We sailed
along the desert landscape close to the speed we used on the maintained dirt
road until we could do so no longer. The road took us through the winding
Groom Range, dipping across dry stream beds and scraping against nearby Joshua
trees. (It was a good thing I remembered to initial the optional Joshua
tree collision section of the rental car agreement.) We continued on, as far
as we could tell, without anybody watching us. However, that feeling given to
us when we left the asphalt (now about 15 miles behind us) never quite
retreated. Yeah, we were being watched. We just didn't know who it was this
time doing the watching. Were they watching from the hilltops above us.
Or maybe following us just out of our sight. Then again there's the high
possibility that we were being monitored by video cameras stratigically
placed in the middle of the fucking desert.

We came to an illegal roadblock (conveniently pointed out to us by the "Area51
Viewer's Guide" which rested on the dash of the Montero. ("The Area51
Viewer's Guide" is written by local Rachel resident, Glenn Campbell) We slowly
crawled over the piles of boulders with our rental Montero. (Yes, I remembered
to initial the transfer case collision section also.) We soon came to the end
of the line. Actually, not the end of the line but the actual line itself.
The border to the Nellis Air Force Range. There were no electric fences or
guard towers. This line was marked by only faded, orange, steel posts which
were spaced every 30 yards or so. The outline of the posts marked the border
which encompasses tens of thousands of Nevada desert acres. (more to be
added after the government soon withdrawals another 4,500 acres of public land)
Why? Well, 'they' can't tell us why. At the point where the 4 wheel drive
track crosses the border there are many signs. "Restricted Area",
"No Tresspassing", "Photography of this Area is Prohibited." Yes, these
signs make it perfectly clear that we were not welcome here. Why? Well, we
don't know - 'they' won't tell us.

We now temporarily abandon our trusty Montero (which is becoming more and more
important to us as we get further and further away from civilization and
closer and closer to a 'non-existent' government installation). We strayed
out away from the dirt track, carefully walking along the border through the
scrub. We peered across the border, looking for anything. What we would find
as we walked was a huge chrome sphere mounted high on a steel post. This post
was in-line with the border. We cautiously approach it, thinking back to the
first time we saw H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds. Is it just a marker?
Maybe there's a camera inside recording our slow movements. (Smile!) Maybe
it's capacitors are charging as we stare into it. Possibly getting ready
to cook us from the inside out if we decide to insanely make a dash across
the border. Imaginations can easily run wild out here. There's certainly
nothing sane around to stop them.

We headed back to the Montero, occasionally glancing back to make sure the
strange silver sphere hadn't moved or change in some sort of way. We piled
back in, closed the doors and glanced at each other. Both of us wondering
if the Montero was indeed going to start. We've defiantly been conditioned
(through T.V. programs and horror movies) to believe that there was no way
in hell it was going to start. In fact, the actual program would probably go
something like this. The setting, out in the middle of the fucking desert,
two poor souls looking for excitement around secret government facilities. They
see something in the distance. Then stop the car and anxiously grab the
ignition. They turn off the car and run to identify what it what they saw.
They get only three feet away from the car when a bright, white light blinds
them from the south. They quickly turn, and flee back to the car screaming
in terror. One fumbles with the keys, frantically trying to ram the wrong key
into the ignition. Finally, orientating the correct key, the terrified
driver, crams the key in the ignition and turns. Nothing happens. Then the
film breaks and the man running the projector leans out his square window and
apologizes for the mishap - back to reality.
Our trusty Japanese, beast turned right over and gave us a roar of relief.
We then headed back a ways to the start of the 'Freedom Ridge Expressway'
(again pointed out to us by Mr. Campbell's informative viewer's guide). This
'expressway' has he humorously likes to call it is another 4 wheel drive track
which runs up the side of a fairly steep hill to 'Freedom Ridge' (also cleverly
named by Mr. Campbell). We now switched the transmission to low 4WD and slowly
begin our ascent up the side of the hill. The sun has now reached the
horizon and things are getting harder and harder to see. The faded orange
posts that is. The 'expressway' at times, runs incredibly close to the border
of the neutral zone, um, I mean restricted zone. Both pairs of eyes are pinned
on the orange posts as we wind close then away then close to the border.

The sun has almost disappeared now and our eyesight has withered away with it.
About half way up the track our new driver(a.k.a the art director, a.k.a the
Den-man) spots a few spooky objects in the distance. We grab our 40 U.S.
dollar, 10x50 binocs and try and get a better image. What we see on the other
side of the border is another mysterious chrome sphere and tripod. The sphere
was exactly like the other we examined earlier. The tripod stood there
carrying an enclosed video camera, a relay antenna and a small solar cell
obviously used to power the camera and transmitter. Unidentified movement
was spotted in the distance a little farther from the equipment. There was
defiantly something out here interested in us. Later we both assumed it was
more anonymous Jeep Cherokee guys. We cruised by the camera (smiled!) and
continued up to 'Freedom Ridge'.

Once on top of the ridge we had a clear view of the non-existent installation.
We could see the dry lake bed (a.k.a. Groom Lake), several huge hangers,
satellite communications equipment, a whole city of buildings along with the
7 mile long runway (one of the longest in the world I might add). We watched
as a pair of Cherokee Jeeps drove away from their latest contraption which
stood on a nearby ridge on the other side of the border. Even with the 40
U.S. dollar binocs we couldn't really tell what they had left behind to
monitor us with. All we could see was another tripod setup with something
of some sort pointed directly at us. Was it a camera? A new security device
perhaps? It was also draped with camouflage netting. Actually, it looked
like a really bad attempt at mimicking a Joshua tree. This particular tree
was made out of aluminum and had three shinny trunks instead of one dull
brown one. Nice try. It was also up here where we met another curious person.
Please forgive me but neither of us can seem to remember his name and no, we
didn't get a chance to interview him on the 29 U.S. dollar recorder. I know,
I know, pretty lame. I can tell you though, to us, he seemed quite genuine
and friendly. He was a man from Las Vegas who had heard the stories and
rumors also. He had read articles and seen pictures of the non-existent
base, as had we. Basically, he wanted to see if this non-existent nonsense
really did existent. He wasn't here to look for UFOs (although that's what I
like tell people who ask me), but just to see something that our honest
government says isn't here. Mr. Campbell sums it up nicely by offering you the
"chance at espionage without ever breaking the law". We talked with the
gentleman for awhile, exchanged backgrounds and recited stories which we had
heard. We then returned to the comforts and high tech amenities of the
built-in Montero observing deck. (Our observing deck consisted of the roof
of the fabulous Mitsubishi Montero, a pillow or two and our 40 U.S. dollar,
10x50 binocs - very plush I know). There we stayed, watching the stars
appear from their light draining sky. Of course we also kept a close eye
the non-existent base as it tightened down for the night.

We stayed up on top of the roof for quite awhile. We tracked numerous
satellites, saw several bright shooting stars and simply enjoyed the now
lowered temperature. Actually, the wind was kind of howling and it was
getting pretty chilly out. Another extreme was the desert itself. During the
daylight hours, the temperature easily burst past the hundred degree mark.
At night, it quickly cooled to the low sixties or even fifties. The extreme
temperature difference was responsible for the wind. A few beers, some left
over Fritio crumbs and a non-existent desert base. Yes, it was a weird kind
of way to enjoy a Thursday night. However, the change of pace was actually
kind of nice. We scoped out any movements we saw around us, which I must say
were many. Behind us, looking back towards Groom Lake Road, every now and
then we saw a bright light turn on and drive around the valley below. It
looked as though it came towards the dirt road, traveled on it for awhile,
then off the other side. All we could see were the bright, white lights
tooling around the valley. The valley was lit only by the moon (which was
not full) and the stars (O.K. and maybe the glow of Vegas in the distance).
Was it a another Jeep Cherokee guy out on patrol? Maybe. Possibly setting up
more surveillance equipment? Probably. The odds pointed in that direction
anyway. We saw this light all night long. There was also another strange light
closer to us. It was a small, white strobe light of some sort going off just
to the northwest of us. One odd thing was that it's delay between flashes was
not consistent. It didn't flash at regular intervals. Sometimes it would stop
as we tried to make out what it was through out 40 U.S. dollar binocs. We
could tell, from earlier viewing of the border that it was positioned on the
other side - in the restricted area. It was located a little below us on a
nearby hillside. It was also close enough to make us a little uneasy. Strange
unidentified lights near anybody's campsite would probably do the same. On
the south side of us, near the beginning of the four wheel drive track which
lead us here, we saw another Cherokee patrol. This one drove around, pretty
much all night also. It's headlights illuminated the barren hills,
feeding our imagination with more vague information which would later be
used to build instant horror movies in our minds. The secret base below us
and to the west sat quiet most of the night. Occasionally, a bright spot light
at the base would come on. Defiantly, much brighter and whiter then the amber
lights which outlined the hangers and buildings. This light would come on for
ten or so minutes, then turn off. I must say during the night I was battling
with my imagination. Trying to keep it from running away with all the
lights and movement which took place close to our campsite. In the middle of
the fucking desert. I thought about the many times, as a kid, when I'd
draw the drapes or close the door in my room after watching the violent
10:00 news with my parents or after viewing a scary movie. Having that
same feeling that I had now. There's somebody watching me. Although, I can't
see who or what it is. Feeling a little spooked we then decided to head in
out of the wind to the plush interior of the Montero.

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