Day 45 - Sparks, NV

Gotta pass on the blog tonight, had another nothing day.  Travel tomorrow, will catch up with you then.  Don't worry, be happy!

Day 44 – Sparks, NV

I have to say that I didn’t sleep too well last night.  There were big thunder noises most of the time, and they made it hard to sleep.  Some of them were so loud that they scared me, and I had to wake Don up so that he could tell me that it was OK, and that we were safe.  I wasn’t as scared after that, but it was still hard to sleep.

We all got up a little later than usual, which is OK, ‘cause we really don’t have anything we had to do today until later in the afternoon, when David (Craig) is supposed to show up.  The rain was letting up, and Don got me over to the dog run for my morning rituals, followed by breakfast.  By ten, it had stopped raining and Don took me out for a long walk down to the lake, where we met some nice dogs, including a beautiful Greyhound.  After lunch, we got into the truck for a shopping excursion to the Sam’s Club in Reno.  When we returned, we saw Craig (David)’s coach parked just down the road from us, and we went to greet him.  I was so happy to see him that I started running, forgetting that Don was on the other end of the leash; he tried hard not to slow me down too much. 

Don took me out for a short walk, and when we got back, Geri fixed my dinner.  I was wondering whether they were planning another visit to their friendly money machines, but, no, they went out to dinner with David (Craig) to one of his favorite places, which just happened to be across the parking lot from the Chinese place where they ate last night.  When they got back, they said they were really impressed with the food and the service.  So, for readers of the blog, when in Sparks be sure to eat at the Vista Grill, or, for Chinese food, the Fortune Palace!  Don’t try to eat at both of them the same night, though. 

A few treats, some work with Don on the blog, and so to bed.  Hope they turn down the thunder tonight.  G’nite!

Day 43 – Sparks, NV

Rain sure puts a damper on our activities; our walks are delayed, frequently shortened, we don’t do any touring.  That’s the way it was this morning; Don had to take me over to the dog walk area so that I could relieve myself before I could even retrieve the phony paper, and we had to do it fast ‘cause of the rain.  Unfortunately, there was a couple with two Westies in the walk already, and the two little dogs made it very plain that they wanted me dead.  You know, I’m really used to that sort of thing, it happens so frequently.  I think it’s called Small Dog Complex; many small dogs would like to be real dogs, like me, and it drives them crazy when they see a big handsome dog.  Anyway, the couple apologized for their behavior, and said they would leave so we could have some peace and quiet while I finished my business.  Don told them that we wouldn’t be long, and that they didn’t have to leave.  I did what I had to do, and we left the area with the Terriers still hurling imprecations at me. 

When the rain let up a bit, Geri and Don drove me over to the lake, where there is a grassy area and walkway along the water.  I got to do a little running and rolling, but it started to come down again more heavily, and we had to get back in the truck and head for home.  We had lunch, they read the Sunday paper, and I napped.  After a few hours, they got restless, got in the truck, and departed for who knows where.  They were back in a couple of hours, and they told me about the store they went to, called Scheel’s.  They said it was the biggest sporting goods store they had ever seen.  It was so big, it even had a Ferris Wheel inside it!  They spent a couple of hours wandering around in it, but didn’t buy anything.  Geri took me for a really good walk down to the lake and part way around it.  I got to chase some birds and do some rolling, and I felt really good.  I had dinner when we got home, and laid down to watch some TV.  They decided to go out to dinner, which was OK with me. 

They didn’t get back until almost nine, and I was getting a little worried about them.  Turns out, they had found a really good Chinese restaurant and had indulged themselves in a luxuriant feast.  They had a big bag of leftovers with them, but they didn’t offer me any.  They had also gone back to the same money machines they had gone to last night, and were apparently satisfied with the results. 

So, I got some treats, we watched one of Geri’s shows, I think it’s called Disgusting Housewives, worked on the blog, and fell into bed.  Hope the weather’s better tomorrow!

Day 42 – Sparks, NV

Don, bless his heart, hauled me over to Pioneer Park for another run and roll session before we left.  To show my thanks, I made him follow me all the way to the top of the hill, then took off running like the wind down the hill and over to the playground area, with him trudging along behind yelling for me to wait.  I found a good rolling spot, and went into a veritable orgy of rolling until he almost caught up with me, and then I took off running again.  We did a full lap around the park that way, and I think he was glad to place me back in the truck and head for home. 

We got underway at our usual eleven, heading down I-80 southwestward.  Don pointed out the course of the Humboldt River as we went along, and told us how the river was the thing that sustained the early settlers along the California Trail.  The river finally disappears into the desert, leaving about a forty mile gap before the trail reaches the Truckee River, which meant that the oxen pulling the wagons didn’t have any water to drink or much to eat for three or four days.  I imagine they got a little fussy about that. 

We got to our RV Park in Sparks about two, and the big clouds that we had seen for the last hour started dripping rain on us.  Don had given me a serious lecture while we were waiting for Geri to get us registered, about how the grass next to the site was not really grass, and the people that ran the Park didn’t want it peed on by dogs or anyone else.  So, while Don was getting the rig set up, Geri took me over to the peeing place, which wasn’t far away at all.  I think I can handle this. 

They had some work to do on the rig, cleaning one of the exhaust fans and defrosting one side of the freezer.  This kept them occupied until dinner time, which resulted in a meal of leftover seafood pasta; I’ve got to admit, though, that the plates were superb.  They took off to find some money processing machines, leaving me to have a much needed nap.  They came back just a couple of hours later, apparently having had a good time; at least, they were very nice to me.  But, then, they always are.

I don’t know how long we’re going to be here, but I think we’ll all have a good time.  It’s a very pretty Park, and I’m sure Don will find me a place to run and roll in the morning.  I just hope it doesn’t rain too much!  I’ll give you a report on all of these things tomorrow!  Bye, bye for now.

Day 41 – Winnemucca, NV

I thought I was really going to get short changed on my walk this morning.  Don took me over to a grassy area next to the road, where I could roll a little and take care of some business, then hiked me around our end of the Park for a few minutes.  Shortly afterward, he and Geri were out the door, on their way to have breakfast with David (Craig).  I made it known that I would prefer to stay in the rig and pout for awhile. 

They weren’t gone for too long, and when they returned, Don loaded me into the truck and we drove to a place called Pioneer Park, where the grass was green and glorious.  A big, hilly park, it was very conducive to running and rolling, particularly downhill.  Don let me run myself ragged, even doing a few crazy dog routines.  I guess I needed that.  I was panting and puffing when I got back in the truck. 

The Grass of Pioneer Park

On a Roll!

Taking a little rest

In the early afternoon, Geri and Don went into town to visit the Visitors’ Center and the Humboldt Museum.  They had to wait awhile to get into the Museum, ‘cause the lady who runs it was on an extended lunch break.  So they spent some time in the Museum Thrift Shop next door, where they said there were all kinds of funky things for sale.  Geri said she thought she was at the Antiques Road Show.  They finally got into the Museum, which they said was an interesting mix of stuff, like some really rare antique cars, a Mastodon fossil, clothing and furniture from the late 1800’s, and other historic odds and ends.  Don particularly enjoyed the cars.

Some great junk here

Car with a Harley engine

Mr. Mastodon

I was pleased to see them when they got back to the coach, and dug out one of my favorite toys from my toy box to greet them.  I’m always happy to have them at home when my dinner time is approaching.  They watched some TV, read some of the stuff they picked up at the Visitors’ Center, and fixed my food.  Geri took me out for a brief walk around the RV Park, and we then all piled into the truck and headed back to Pioneer Park, where I had another glorious romp.  Wow, what a day for exercise!  I was ready for a little rest in the truck, so I napped while they had dinner at a BBQ place they had eaten at the last time they were here, a place called the Flying Pig.  The name’s a little absurd, but they say the food’s great.  They stopped on the way home at one of the local money machine places, but didn’t stay long.  I don’t think they approved of the machines’ behavior. 

So, home for a few treats, a little TV, blogwork, and to bed.  Tomorrow we travel again, this time to Sparks, just outside of Reno.  I hear the RV Park we’re going to is really nice, so I’m anxious to see it.  Ciao, all!

Day 40 – Winnemucca, NV

The main thing about travel days is that they are rarely exciting.  Usually, if there is any excitement, it means that Don has done something wrong, like get us on a road that vehicles of our size really shouldn’t be on.  So, we’re really not in search of exciting travel days.  So, today wasn’t exciting, and that’s a good thing.

Geri and Don went into Elko for some last minute grocery shopping, and Don came home with his lunch; two tacos from his favorite taco dispensary, Taco Time.  Whenever he gets in the neighborhood of one of these places, he gets all twitchy until he finds a way to score a couple of their beef tacos.  He says he used to live on these things way back when he was working in Portland.  We got underway about noon, and headed westward on I-80, following the course of the Humboldt River, which really isn’t much of a river.  The landscape was mostly desert and mountains, which rapidly put me into nap time. 

We got into our Park in Winnemucca a little after two, and Geri took me for a walk while Don was getting the rig set up.  I noticed that the park was really full of RV’s, mostly fivers and trailers.  Geri said she was glad that she had made a reservation.  There’s no grass at our site, but I saw that there was no grass at any of the sites, so I didn’t feel slighted.  Back in the coach, we all just kind of hung out for awhile, watching a little TV, and Don started preparations for dinner.  He did a chicken dish with mushrooms and peas over Arborio rice, which was well received by everyone, including me.  Geri took me out for another short walk, and when we got back, it was into the truck to head for the WalMart to get some things that they had forgotten to buy in Elko.  As we passed by the next RV Park up the road, they spied something that made them turn around and go back.  They drove into the Park and stopped in front of a coach that was in the check-in lane.  In a minute or two, a guy came out of the Park office and walked toward the coach; I recognized him immediately!  It was David (also known as Craig), the oldest son!  I was very glad to see him, and very surprised!  Turns out, Geri and Don had arranged to be here at the same time Craig (also known as David) was going to be working at the hospital here in Winnemucca.  His partner Jane wasn’t here, however, she was working somewhere else.  These are the guys that I inadvertently referred to as “jerks” during last year's eastern trip, and I’ve been apologizing for it ever since.  He was happy to see me, and Geri and Don too, I think.

We did our WalMart thing, and then went back to Craig’s coach for a little visit.  The stairs up to his coach were a little steep, but I made it OK.  After a little bit, we went home to our coach down the road, had some treats, worked on the blog, and did beddy-bye.  See ya tomorrow!

Day 39 – Elko, NV

To those of you wondering what happened to yesterday, the answer is simple; nothing.  I went nowhere, and nothing happened.  The day was a big nothing.  I laid out on the grass and watched people go by, but not many.  Geri and Don messed around the rig, but I don’t see that they accomplished anything major.  Nothing.  Then they went into town to play with those silly machines.  What did they come back with?  Nothing.  So, when it came time to do the blog, what did I have to say?  Nothing.

Today was much different; after our short but brisk morning walk, Don came back and made us a proposition; how about we get in the truck early, while it’s still cool, and drive up Lamoille Canyon, which is only about twenty miles away?  Geri and I both thought that it might be fun and interesting, so we quickly agreed.  By ten o’clock we were heading up the road south of Elko toward the canyon.  The desert and ranchland landscape rapidly changed to a rocky and mountainous terrain, with bright yellow and orange tree leaves turning to fall colors covering the hillsides.  The road climbed steadily, and the scenery became more spectacular; we stopped at a turnout to read some signs about how two glaciers formed the intersecting valleys we were looking at about a quarter million years ago.  Don is always particularly pleased to read signs like this, and he marvels at how the people who lived back in the time of the glaciers left such detailed notes for our present day geologists to figure out.  We kept on climbing through the rocky landscape until we finally reached the end of the road, where there were a bunch of horse trailers were parked; the trails around here are popular with the horsey set.  Don asked Garmy what our altitude was, and she told him we were at about 8900 feet! 

Fall colors

A big piece of ice did this!

Rocky Mountains!

As we walked about the parking area, another couple were getting out of their truck, and approached us.  Geri and Don started talking with them, and found out that they were from Visalia, California, and the wife had recently been to Ventura for a meeting of the Native Daughters of the Golden West.  It also turned out that they knew the Huddleston brothers in Visalia, guys that Don had gone to High School with in Benicia; small planet!  Don wanted to know if there was a Native Sons of the Golden West, as he might be interested in joining.  She said there certainly was, but they didn’t have a Ventura Chapter, so he could actually join the Ventura Parlor of the Native Daughters.  Don looked interested.  Anyway, they had a nice chat while I laid in the shade near them.  We finally loaded back into the truck and headed back down the hill, still marveling at the wonderful scenery. 

Please hurryup!

Ruby Mountains

We drove into the small town of Lamoille, where there was a hotel, a restaurant and tavern, and a few houses.  We stopped at the tavern/restaurant, and Geri and Don went in for lunch.  I should say, on their behalf, that they had given me my lunch while we were up at the top of the canyon.  They were also nice enough to let me stay on the porch of the tavern to greet people as they entered and departed, allowing me to get a lot of adulation.  They said the hamburgers were great, and they loved the french fries.  We cruised through the village, and spotted some wildlife that were worthy of  photos.

Oh, Deer!  In the front yard!

Pet Turkeys

So, back to the rig, where Geri did the laundry that had piled up for a few weeks, and Don immersed himself on researching a lot of useless things on the internet.  I happily laid out on the grass, watching people and dozing.  It became obvious that there would be no dinner prepared tonight, due to the enormous burgers that they had consumed at lunch.  I got my dinner, my treats, and they were off to visit their machines again.  They came home fairly happy, so I assume the machines processed their money satisfactorily. 

Tomorrow appears to be a travel day, to where I’m not exactly sure, but it should be somewhere in Nevada.  When we get there, I’ll let you know!