My husband and I are utilitarian travelers seeking destinations that others often elude.  So while most visitors to Rye Patch Reservoir enter the State Park where amenities such as picnic tables and showers are plenty, my husband and I skirt the east end of the reservoir for secluded spots where we can reflect and enjoy a quiet afternoon.

The Nevada High Desert is as enchanting as any place on earth.  Although it lacks the architectural spectacle so seductive in our southwest deserts, a willingness to patiently observe silence and moods that drift across the sky will be rewarded.

Every desert traveler dreams of an oasis.  When we first began exploring the Imlay area a couple of years ago, the east end of Rye Patch had been extracted by drought.  Last year’s rains replenished its water levels but this year’s moderate rainfall could foretell a reversal.

It’s best to herald it while it’s here.