I agree, that's why the debit charges are critical. But don't forget to step back and look at the big picture too.
Why was he in that area to begin with? Please don't say religious or philosophical jaunt....1200 miles? Broke. Something very 'important' to him in my book.
ITA. I also exclude the "touring graveyards for geneaology" excuse. There's no real reason to research his family history; likely everyone else in the family has done the same research and performed the same baptisms for the dead, over and over and over.
He went to the growing-up home of a woman he'd dated in 2008, where he'd spent a spring weekend, with a group of people. Did he want a job on the ranch? Did he hope to see AN there? Did he feel the need to talk to her parents? Did something that happened at the temple the night before, drive some curiosity?
Even IF he went to Ruby Valley as a side trip (rather than the actual destination) , it's a long way off the road for a side trip.
I'm curious whether he regularly visited those people or not. Whether he'd been there since he broke up with AN. OR...was this such an out-of-the-blue unexpected visit that it took them by surprise?