Virginia City, Nevada to Port Kells, BC in two days…
November 23We left Virginia City at 7.30 in the morning with terribly high winds blowing on the mountaintop where we spent two great days. Advice from a resident was that the wind would not be on the side of the mountain that we were descending, down to Reno. He was right, although the wind was much above my comfort level.
The rest of the day was a series of adventures that just kept going. As we crossed over the Sierra Nevada Mountains heading to the coast, we went over The Donner Pass. The weather was overcast at the bottom but got progressively nasty as we went up. At the summit there was blowing snow and sleet. That soon dispersed as we started our steep, seemingly endless descent to the Sacramento Valley. There was, however, an endless stream of tractor-trailers that seemed to delight in screaming down the grades far exceeding the speed limit.
We made it to I-5, that infamous long boring Interstate that goes the length of the USA, around noon.
As we approached the north end of California, the rains started about the same time as we started to climb through the Siskiyou Mountains and the summit on the route. Then we hit fog about the same time as it got dark. Around six, we made it to the town that we had our selected as our campsite for the night. We could not find it at first, however after asking locals we located it in the middle of a highway detour. A blind-mans-bluff tour of the camp finally unearthed a terse note, “CAMP FULL”. It was one of those places that you read about in paperback novels, decrepit trailers and junk everywhere. We were somewhat pleased we would not be spending the night there.
That led us to have our first and last night camped in a Wal-Mart parking lot! (A sort of camp-of-last-resort). We were in the middle of nowhere except this town and going back on the highway was not in the cards. We had four other campers in the lot with us, but it seemed a little eerie, it just does not feel right.
At 3.30 AM, we got up, had coffee, porridge and were on the road by 4.20. Fourteen and one half hours later, we were parked at the Farm. 980Ks is a lot of mileage in one day folks, but that big bed, big shower, big bathroom and big kitchen was calling to us! (Not to mention our big family, many of whom were happy to greet us in the incessant drizzle.)
That’s it folks. Back to the real world. I hope you got a kick out of being a Gypsy as we were for a while.
By the way, we traveled just under 12,000 Kilometers and did not have one flat tire or mechanical malfunction.
The gas prices ran from a low of 59 cents, [Texas], to a high of 86 cents, [California], Canadian, a litre.
Photo is of Grandad and three girls on an early morning Missing Hamster Hunt!
The Richest City in America
November 20 The route from Las Vegas to Reno is basically scrub desert with the occasional small mountain range. It is also quite far, over 700 Ks.
We set our sights on Virginia City, in the mountains 21 miles south of Reno. We arrived at 5.30 in pitch darkness. We had not realised it but our northward trek had reduced our daylight hours, quite considerably. To make it more exciting in the mountains at night, we had to take an alternate route because of the sharp curves during the ascent to over 6000 feet.
We set up in the dark, which is never fun. During our unhitching process, the trailer lurched to the rear on us, the first time this has happened. It was only in the morning that we realised that we were backed up to a drop-off that went down to Virginia City's massive cemetery.
In the morning there was the most beautiful sunrise we have seen this trip...
We decided to stay for another day and explore Virginia City. I was here with my friend Andy 45 years ago, and was eager to see if my memory had any recall at all. Nope, other than the boardwalk, and some very long bars in Saloons. The city has cleaned up and is one of the neatest little western towns we have visited.
We did a load of wash and fixed a few items with the trailer and strolled the town. Around 1860, gold and silver was discovered here. Massive amounts of silver. In 26 years they took over $700,000,000 out of the mines. The ground below the city is honeycombed with tunnels. It is better known as The Comstock Mine.
The miners and promoters became very, very rich. The city was the wealthiest in America and possibly the world for a short time. The American Civil War was to a large extent financed by this wealth. [For the Union side at least.]
We had lunch in a cafe that would have one-tenth of a Michelin Star if it was rated, however the hamburger was good. Then back to the trailer for a Nap for Doug, [the first since Atlanta], and scrabble for Fellette. GREAT day.
The roads appear to be clear of snow between here and home so that is good news. Our nemesis right now is the wind. It shook the trailer most of the night but the forecast is for it to drop off in the morning. Getting out of the mountains should make a difference.
Wish us luck as we start the journey home please, we have a few mountain passes to get through and the areas are overdue for winter conditions. We have travelled over 18,000 Ks and have about 1600 to go.
Las Vegas, Day Two...
November 18/19
Fellette had a plan! It was a very optimistic exercise involving taking in two shows, and seeing several special events and places that people had told her about. It also involved five miles of walking and taking either taxis or buses. [Oh yes, we also had to go shopping for groceries and get the truck serviced as well].
We almost accomplished her wish list. After shopping and servicing the truck we returned to the trailer park and walked to one end of the strip. We toured a bit, then had a bite to eat before taking in a show called Viva Las Vegas. It is really a bit of a worn-out presentation as things go in LV. That didn't matter, we were going to see Rita Rudner later that evening even if it meant full-price tickets. I really did enjoy the show however, remember we have never been here before.
After the show we took a cab to the other end of the strip to Mandalay Bay. We started our trek, going into the various hotels/casinos. They literally blow you away, they defy description with their opulence and over-the-top architecture and decoration. It seems that the various hotels compete with each other regarding theme, cost and outrageousness. What was new and fantastic two or three decades ago will be torn down for something bigger and better [?].
Inside, the hotels all seem to be filled with mindless people, some like us. The smell of tobacco smoke hangs everywhere in the hotels, and there is a certain din of noise caused by gambling machines and their associated dinging and donging. Again we are dumfounded by the number of Mexicans in Las Vegas, with their kids as well. What's up with that? I thought that "The Mexicans" took the low paying jobs, I must be misinformed. They are a very happy and friendly bunch of people. The only nasties we saw were white guys that had too much to drink.
We went to Rome, [Caesar's], Venice, [The Venetian], Camelot, [Excalibur], The Far East, [Mandalay Bay], Egypt, [Luxor], etc., etc. We watched the dancing fountain at the Bellagio and the auto collection at The Imperial Palace, and the lions at the MGM. It was really mind-boggling.
After the dancing fountain show we decided it was time to firm up the show. Unfortunately Rita Rudner closed the day before we got there! No fear, our legs had given out and our stomachs were growling. No taxis were available, [Saturday night!], and the buses were loaded. We trekked closer to home, it seemed to take forever and ever, and eventually had another well deserved meal. We staggered into our trailer completely exhausted. I was in bed within minutes.
All in all, a great day. We will likely never come back to Las Vegas. We are glad we came and did as much as we did, even if we don't feel comfortable with all that Las Vegas stands for in society. I am quite sure that there are some lovely homes in Las Vegas, and I do realise that everybody doesn't live on The Strip.
Pictures are a smattering of our day.
Las Vegas...
November 17 Well, after all these years, here we are in that much talked about city in the desert.
Our journey up to Las Vegas from the Arizona Highway that follows the old Route 66, was a bit of a journey. First we missed some signs that stated "No Trucks, Trailers or Rental Trucks Allowed Across Hoover Dam" [Terrorism I suspect!]. We backtracked a bit and next we found ourselves on "The Truck Detour", no problem except the grinding hills and potential boil-over problems. So, no Hoover Dam, thank you Bin Laden.
The campground, right off "The Strip", was our choice rather than on the outskirts. Our navigators, Fellette and Jane got us here, no problem. The last 30 miles was on elevated concrete freeways that I was not expecting. What happened to that City in The Desert?
As we pulled into our designated spot there were three half naked types sipping beers by their RV with a neon palm tree beside them. They said, "you don't want to park here!" How right they were. It turns out they are OK, just folks attending the KOA Convention here.
After showers, and a bit of a read of the literature we were given we decided to head out to see what it is all about.
Las Vegas is not our kind of place. "The Strip" is bizarre, noisy, decadent, smoky, shallow, and devoid of anything worth preserving. I am not being funny, that is how we both feel. We are not Puritans or Quakers, but it is just not our cup of tea. We strolled through the casinos and hallways of hotels and casinos. [There is no difference, casinos are hotels, hotels are casinos.] We had a inexpensive steak dinner and then strolled some more, before calling it quits for the day.
Las Vegas gets 35,000,000 visitors a year. Some are folks, like us. Some are gamblers, [and gamblers seem to be smokers, drinkers and often overweight]. Some are in town for a blow-out. Some are in town for a wedding.
It appears that gambling, booze and prostitution are the main money makers in town. We did not feel intimidated on the streets at night, however. Everybody seems to mind their own business, more concerned that they don't spill their drink as they walk the strip.
I am puzzled by the mix of people in town both tourists and employees. By far the majority are of non-white ancestry. Spanish is heard as much as English. Practically all the wait staff is Hispanic, as the cleaners and lower end workers.
We are not disappointed with Las Vegas, it merely affirms why we have not been here before. Today and tonight we will further stroll and observe, then take in a show and dinner and head out.
The roads leading north are fine so we will likely go up to the Reno/Carson City area and then head west through the mountains there. I think we may go through the Donner Pass where in the 1800's a wagon train got stuck for the winter and many died. There was a suggestion of cannibalism there. We must remember to check the weather forecast and take some food with us! My how times have changed.
