Area 51 - A look at a place I've never been to because that's how I roll....

Regular readers of my blogs will probably expecting a blog on Area 15 and not Area 51. Then I realised I'd not been to Area 51 either and so it would be clever of me to look at two totally different places with similar names that I want to go to. The other reason is my draft blog of Area 15 is on my USB pen that I've left at work. Whoever accused me of being a competent human being was lying.

There's not many of us who haven't heard of Area 51, it's synonymous with the belief of extra-terrestrial life and the Roswell incident although in reality it's just a top secret military base where they test experimental military hardware like the SR-71 Blackbird jet. There is no real proof aliens have ever been held and experimented there and I'm not just saying that in case the American Government are reading this blog.

We've never hired a car in Vegas, we did in Orlando but Jane's brother drove it and when we hired one for my very first trip to the US and Orlando only one of us was old enough to drive it so it all rested on my friends girlfriend at the time. That was all fine and dandy but did cause a few issues as there was 7 of us and just one driver so it was easy to hold us to ransom. One of my mates had convinced her the girls at Hooters were topless so she initially refused to go and then when when she finally relented she conveniently got lost so we never made it. Before anyone asks, there was no internet and mobile phones, nor was there a Hooters in the UK (i think) so she couldn't check if my mate was telling the truth. In New York there was really no point as it's quicker to walk or just jump on the subway. However, as I look to seeing more of Vegas and Nevada I'm thinking a car is in order for a road trip or two.

Area 51 has been vlogged many times but none quite so epically as Matt Bridger and his mate Colin.

It was watching this video I found out about the place called Rachel and I think I'm actually more excited about going there than Area 51. It has its own website Rachel, Nevada Home Page (rachel-nevada.com) - and can be found along Highway 375 which was officially named the Extraterrestrial Highway in April 1996. Whilst researching for this blog and looking through the Rachel website it mentions numerous mines and Ghost Towns in and around the area. Who doesn't love a good Ghost Town, just jump into the Mystery Machine and see where our adventure takes us, just leave Scrappy Doo behind - no-one likes Scrappy Doo...

As always, I've gone off at a tangent. There I was saying how I really want to go to Rachel and Area51 and now our road trip is including Ghost Towns and abandoned mines!

There's not much in Rachel anymore, you'll find Alien Cowpoke – Gasoline and General Store and the Little A'Le'Inn, even with just those two things it sounds far more interesting than West Bromwich.

At Area 51 there's a lot of fencing and when you go down Groom Lake Road to the Warning Signs you are as close to Area 51 as you can get on public land. However, you are still about 15 miles away, and you can not see the base from there. Not even the Guard Shack, which is about 0.85 miles down the road around a curve. All you can see is the security vehicle of the Cammos and the surveillance cameras - Thanks to https://www.dreamlandresort.com/ for that info - it's a really informative Area51 website information including how to get there, numerous FAQs and tips and tricks for visitors.

Directions to Area 51 and Rachel From Las Vegas

• Take I-15 North from Las Vegas

• Take exit 64 for US-93 N/Great Basin Hwy toward Pioche Ely

• Turn left onto NV-318 N/NV-375 N

• Continue on NV-375 N/State Hwy 375 (Extraterrestrial Highway)

• Continue 39 miles to Rachel, Nevada

(Source : Feeling Vegas.com)

A quick Google and it's around 2h 20mins to get to Rachel from Vegas and 3 hours to Area 51

Fingers crossed, one of the trips in the future we'll actually do this - hire a car and visit Rachel, Area 51 and try and fit in a Ghost Town or two. Gas (Petrol) and mobile reception are my biggest concerns although Rachel now has a functioning gas station and there is some mobile reception. Worst case scenario and we're stuck in the desert but who knows, we might get rescued by an alien with a strange penchant for McDonalds......

After that obscure movie reference I'll bid you adieu and I'll try not to forget my USB pen for next time where I'll be looking at Area15 - a place that I also want to see but is far closer to the Strip.

And remember....