An easy start today (On the road by 8:15, after filling up the gas tank).
The last of scenic rout 395, but worth a drive-through. Paused to take photos of the "Now Entering Nevada" sign. First state-line crossing of the trip :). Stopped on the way to Reno at a place called the Chocolate Nugget in Washoe city to take a photo of the Miner (one of those huge plaster men so beloved of old road-side stops). Then on into Reno.
Reno was worse than I expected. Traffic-y and torn-up from construction, it was such miserable going that I decided to skip getting lunch there (it was only 11:30 when I reached it, maybe?) and get lunch further on the road.
Fortunately this was not a catastrophic mistake (although it could be, if you are hungry and about to start down I-80, for the love of all that is holy, STOP AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT, vast swaths of I-80 are desolate, un-inhabited wastelands.
Aaand, according to the rest stop near the Carson Sink, it always has been so. Funny, because before I saw the signs at the rest stop I thought, "Gosh I hope no one ever tried to cross this place." Evidently LOTS of people did, and, as a result, LOTS of people (and animals) died.
Ohhh right, I thinks reading the sign, I've heard about the California Trail, I guess I just never heard about this particular part of the California trail. Desolate isn't even the word, it's almost grimmer than that. So little resources that even the rest-stop didn't have running water. Looking at the map I decided that there was as good a place as any to have lunch, so I dug in the cooler and grabbed my lunch and ate it at a table, then climbed back on the road.
There really wasn't much to see along I-80 except for afore-mentioned wasteland, so my next stop wasn't until Winnemucca, where I visited a charmingly tiny museum and stared in wonder at all the 50's style hotel & casino signs.
The road between Winnemucca and Elko prettied up some, climbing up into the mountains, taking on more character. So, though i'm quite tired, I have to say i'm still really enjoying my roadtrip. Let's hope I can keep it up a bit longer.
Abbey Love!
ReplyDeleteIts been far too long, and even though we are friends of facebook, we can't seem to keep connected! ARG! Must be a better facebook! Glad to be following your roadtrip, lord knows I need one :) Ill send you a proper message on FB a bit later, but a hearty hello is long due from me :)