Nomad Life - Day 348

It's been a great visit at my time share at the David Walley's Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations) but it's time to move on again.  I'd hoped that my friend from Cape Cod would have been able to join me near Lake Tahoe but one of her dogs required emergency surgery on his eye.  As a result, our discussion about a "rain check" led to a replan of our get-together: I agreed to drive to Marin County (California) today!  This morning, I was awake at 0400 (with alarm) and online, teleworking, within minutes.  It was still dark and the temperatures had apparently been under 32 F (frost on my car when I went outside briefly).  Sadly, I had more  problems with my work computer but got them fixed with help from the IT Help Desk.  Ugh - I hope this is the end of the frustrations...   After working for a little while, I took a break (0700) and went to the main building so I could work out in the Fitness Center.  I felt good about my discipline during this stay - I was (again) able to spend 20 minutes on the stationary bike (4 miles).  After that (0725), I returned to my room for some work meetings.  Along the way, I made/ate breakfast in the kitchen of my suite.  When the meetings wrapped up (0830), I got changed and drove (because it would be quicker) over to the spa for some more relaxation in the hot springs.  By then, it was sunny and cool (low 40s).  When I arrived, I found a large crowd of older women participating in a water exercise class in the large pool.  Other than them, though, I had the whole place to my self and this allowed me to try out every single pool at the spa.  The one closest to the entrance, which I'd never tried before, was ultra warm, especially as it contrasted with the colder ambient air temperature.  I enjoyed myself until 0945; I then had to return to my room for my last meeting of the day (1000).  When that wrapped up, I made/ate a light (early) lunch.  During this time, the cleaning staff started to knock on my door - it happened three times (and one time the lady even opened up my door) before I got them to stop with a little explanation in Spanish.  In the end, I teleworked until 1145 and completed my work week (since I planned to take PTO for the rest of the days).  Just after that, I finished packing up my car and checked out of David Walley's Resort.  It was a great visit!  I departed Genoa by noon and got on NV-206, which I used (driving south) to access NV-88.  From there, I crossed the CA/NV border (1210) and continued on CA-88 into Alpine County, California.  Almost immediately, I hit a construction zone and had to wait for a bit.  Secretly, I was crossing my fingers this would be the only delay...  There was a little traffic because of the construction delay (everyone accordioned) but I was able to stay at the speed limit, thankfully.  Almost immediately,  I could see why nearly everyone I met had recommended this route - it was beautiful scenery!  Near CA-89, I climbed above 7000 feet and lost my cell signal for a while.  At 1230, I reached Carson Pass (8574 feet) and stopped to check out the National Forest structures at a parking lot there.  Actually, I was tempted to keep driving because I saw a sign about 20 minute delays (more construction) ahead.  In the then, though, I'm glad I didn't miss the chance to walk on the Pacific Crest Trail, which crossed the pavement nearby.  If I'd had cell signal, I might have figured out there was a longer section that paralleled the highway.  I settled for following some signs and blazes in the area (about 0.1 mile of trail but maybe half a mile of walking).  There was light snow on the ground but it was also very dry.  After I got back in my car, I had to pay with a long delay in a line of cars waiting for the pilot car and some active construction.  Fortunately, I was at the front of the line and was able to really get going as soon as we were released.  By then, there was a huge crowd of cars following me.  It wasn't long before I separated myself from the group and I didn't catch up to anyone else for nearly an hour.  Landmarks along the way included the Devil Staircase, Caples Lake and Kirkwood Ski Resort (in Amador County, which I entered just after 1300).  Beyond that, though, there were multiple construction zones and I kept having to stop.  Still, I felt good about my progress until I got near the town of Red Corral - only then did I get stuck (along with many others) behind a slow truck.  I tried to be patient and was rewarded with an "escape hatch" when I arrived in the town of Jackson (1410).  Feeling hungry by then, I turned south on CA-49 and stopped for lunch at Taco Bell.  I ate in the restaurant and planned a slight detour (for birding) away from the regular traffic routes.  I was ready for the road again by 1445 but, just after I got moving, Mollie called; since I knew I was about to lose cell signal again, I stopped and parked just west of town.  Surprisingly, there were a large number of birds for my eBird list - they played and flew very close to my parked car.  Meanwhile, I kept talking on the phone and didn't hang up until 1515.  When I resumed my route towards the Bay Area, I followed Stoney Creek Road towards the southeast.  This narrow, poorly maintained road passed through rolling hills with yellow grain - it was very picturesque!  Before long, I turned on to Buena Vista Road and tracked across more hills and some large reservoirs.  One of them was called Camanche Lake and I soon found myself driving west again on the Camanche Parkway.  At 1540, I entered Calaveras County and got on CA-12.  By this point, the temps had risen all the way to 75 F - it felt very warm in my car.  My route took me into San Joaquin County by 1550 and I must admit that I found a large number of birds - the detour was worth the effort!  Plus, I saw some really different and new views of the foothills of the Sierras...  Continuing west, I reached the (big) town of Lodi.  My plan had been to stay on CA-12 all the way to I-80 but I somehow lost my way as I got stuck at traffic lights and Google Maps kept trying to tell me different routes (I guess because of traffic).  As a result, I ended up on (busy) CA-99, Turner Road and I-5 before I was on CA-12 again.  Dang...  The day wasn't done with heating up - it was 80 F as I made my way west across extremely flat land that seemed to be dotted with retaining ponds and estuaries (of the Sacramento River, I think).  I crossed a large drawbridge at 1630 and entered Sacramento County about 10 minutes later.  Ater that, I started seeing signs for "The Delta", which was mostly barren zone that looked just like something out of the Mississippi River Valley flood zone.  Solano County was next (1645) and, suddenly, I reached the area near Travis Air Force Base and Vacaville (although I drove through Suisam City).  Sadly, I must have been caught by every single light during a five mile stretch of the highway...  However, it was all worth the effort when I was finally able to get on I-80 - this was the same route I used to reach the Bay Area back in November 2025.  At 1720, I entered Napa County briefly but then turned on CA-37 and headed west across a long, two-lane causeway through an estuary on the north end of San Pablo Bay.  A highlight of this drive, which featured a major traffic jam in the opposite direction but mostly good speeds for me, was the Napa-Sonoma Marshes. During this time, I had my first sightings of the American Avocet, Clark’s Grebe and White-faced Ibis.  At 1735, I reached Sonoma County and got another "first sighting" (Sabine’s Gull).  As the traffic slowed near the border of Marin County (1740), I passed the Sonoma Raceway - I'd seen it on TV but it was located in a much prettier location than I'd imagined.  Eventually, I reached the merge with US-101 and headed south.  Traffic was good all the way until I reached Kerith’s exit but I still reached her home in San Rafael by 1755.  I was initially surprised that she wasn’t there but she soon showed with her dogs, Enzo and Maverick.  It actually felt like no time had passed since I'd last seen her (December 2025) and we easily settled into visiting.  As if she could read my mind, I offered to share one of her Pliny the Elder bottles and some light snacks (I ended up skipping dinner but wasn't hungry).  When the beer was gone, we opened one of the wine bottles from her extensive collection.  At times, Kerith had to give Maverick some eye drops but we kept on talking and catching up on life all the way until it was after 2300.  When she showed me her guest room, we ended up in a longer talk about her library - she gave me some books to read before I left.  The reunion kept us up very late (2355) but I was glad for the extra time.  Looking forward to the visit!  Pacific Crest Trail Today = 0.1 miles / Grand Total PCT = 14.3 miles

Nomad Life - Day 347

This morning, I woke up at 0400 (with alarm) and started teleworking.  My weather app said it was 27 F outside at the David Walley's Resort by Holiday Inn Club Vacations (Genoa) - yikes!  Comfy and warm in my spacious room, I made and ate breakfast in my room.  After working for several more hours, I made and ate lunch in my room.  I then stayed online (working) until 1545 and then went outside.  By that point, the day had turned sunny and pleasant (51 F) and it was great to be able to get some walking in and around the resort.  Like yesterday, there were plenty of birds for my daily eBird checklist - the hot water must be some kind of a magnet for them.  In a little while, I stopped in at main building so I could get a workout at the Fitness Center.  I was able to do my regular 20 minutes on the stationary bike (4 miles).  Just after I was done (1620), I stopped by the Reception Desk and asked for (and received) a late checkout the following day.  Next, I walked over to the Spa area and spent some time in the rejuvenating hot springs.  This time, I tried five of the seven pools - each was similar in temperature but I found the ones closest to the mountain (west of NV-206 and the Resort) seemed warmest.  Along the way, I met a couple from Oklahoma that were making their first visit to the area.  We had a nice talk and they confirmed that it was, in fact, snow that was visible on the high peaks towards the south.  Afterwards, I walked back (did some birding on the way) to the Canyon Building; I was in my room at 1745.  During this window, I made the final decision to skip the 4th Annual Mark Twain Days (which I've heard about from a bar-buddy) because I wanted to check out nearby Gardnerville instead.  So, at 1750, I left the Resort and drove (via some local streets) to another place I'd heard about from the locals: Jethro's Oven and Grill.  I arrived just after 1800 and happily joined in with their weekly "Taco Tuesday".  The menu for the restaurant was very complex and I wasn't sure what I wanted to eat anyway - fortunately, my server was wonderful and I completely took her advice.  In the end, I had two plates of three "street" tacos (chicken, beef, pork) and enjoyed some more local brews.  Seating was at a premium so I felt very lucky to be eating at a table.  When I was done (1900), I went out into the parking lot and was treated to a spectacular view of the High Sierras, silhouetted in the dimming light of the day - a crescent moon, rising just above the ridgeline, made the scene even more beautiful.  I think I could actually see Tahoe Ridge Resort, where I hoped to stay during the next week.  Back in my car, I took the "scenic" route back towards David Walley's and explored the towns of Gardnerville (surface streets and US-395) and Minden (more US-395).  I'd last traveled through on this same road back in November 2025 but I had no context on anything at that time - now, everything seemed more familiar and relevant.  Along the way (1925), I stopped at one of the cheaper gas stations in the area (Smith's, which also offered a Kroger discount) and I filled the tank of my Subaru in anticipation of my travel day tomorrow.  Once I departed from the last vestiges of civilization, I found myself on the lonely part of US-395 that transits towards Carson City.  After turning west, I was able to reach the Resort quickly but then made the decision to continue north towards Genoa.  During my earlier visit, I had seen a place called the Genoa Bar & Saloon, which claimed to be the oldest bar in Nevada (1853) and I wanted to try it out before my time in the area ended.  There was a fire pit outside but I went indoors initially to see some of the American Kitsch they had (e.g., Raquel Welch's bra, the huge "diamond dust" mirror, etc.).  The place reminded me of the Haunted Mansion from Disneyworld (lots of cobwebs, dust and an "ancient" vibe).  The bar was moderately busy and the people at the fire pit came in/out while I was sitting there.  I befriended the young bartender, Gabbie, but also got into an interesting local named Thom/Tom, who had originally hailed from Germany but was now retired in Genoa.  He told me so many more things to do and see and made me feel very welcome.  It wasn't the first time I've had this happen but it almost seemed like he was making a pitch for me to become a permanent resident of the area.  He sweetened the pot by offering me a free pass to a cross country skiing report to the north of Lake Tahoe "if you are in the area during the season".  Gabbie gave lots of ideas on the same subject too.  Maybe...  The visit was very nice and I was invited back for the following Tuesday.  After I said good night to everyone (2120), I drove back to David Walley's (arrived 10 minutes later).  It was dry and not too cool so I finished up my walking for the day (1.5 miles).  In my room again, I didn't have much time for anything before bed - I did some reading, Duolingo and watched YouTube videos before turning out the lights at 2215.  Great day in the Carson River Valley!

Nomad Life - Day 346

Last night, I had not set an alarm because it was a holiday (Columbus Day).  However, since I was permitted by our contract to work, I kept an open mind about whether to get online when the day started.  So, when I awoke early anyway (at 0415, on the cusp of a satisfying dream that ended abruptly), I decided to do some teleworking after all.  While it was still dark at the David Walley's Resort by Holiday Inn Vacation Club (Genoa), I did some laundry (there was a machine right in the room!).  Over the next few hours, I had some great views (to the east) of the Great Basin as the morning glow and full-on sunrise arrived.  When I looked at the weather for the Minden area, I found that it was in the mid 40s.  Throughout the day, I was constantly reminded that I was getting a very swanky resort experience.  For example, I tried the jacuzzi tub in the "master suite" of my set of rooms - very nice!  While I skipped breakfast, I did make and eat a light lunch.  Otherwise, though, I stayed online all the way until 1330 and completed a full work day.  After that, I spent time working on my travel blog and building an outline for a research paper that I've dabbled with over the years.  I was very engrossed in these projects and lost track of the time.  Fortunately, I had a few (iPhone) reminders and managed to join the Monthly Knights of Columbus Council Meeting (with my brother Knights in Lebanon, NH) on time at 1500.  Like I'd felt last evening, the mix of solitude on the Nomad Life and the fancy accommodations reminded me of how much I wished someone else was there to share in the experience.  The discussions about life back in New Hampshire did not improve my mindset on this topic, either...  As a result, I was rather relived when the meeting ended at 1545.  Hoping to get some time in the amenities again, I made and ate an early dinner in the kitchen (1600) before departing my room about 15 minutes later.  Fortunately, the temperature had been rising since the last time I'd checked it and they were in the mid-50s.  Hoping to avoid the effects of the strong wind, however, I wore a short sleeved shirt with jacket when I departed on a walk around the Resort Complex.  Along the way, I did some birding and then got the idea to follow the California National Historic Trail to the north.  Up until that moment, I'd assumed (from road signs) that the trail followed the pavement that cars use today.  However, I fond that there was actually a paved path that started near David Walley's Hot Spring and tracked all the way back (to the north) into central Genoa (I believe it ended at the Mormon Station State Historical Park).  Eagerly, I walked most of this trail.  Beyond the start of this phase of my walk, I found 18 more bird species, some of which I hadn't seen during this entire year.  In this way, I passed 300 birds sighted in 2026 (a 159 day streak) and 225 US species this year alone.  Interestingly, though, I only found one completely new one: I sighted my first Sora (bird).  Other features of the walk included passing large fields with contented cows, watching interesting sun patterns on the mountainsides at both ends (east and west) of the Valley.  There were some threatening clouds at time but I never got wet.  Instead, I had to contend with windy and dusty conditions.  All this was still welcome as I made my way through a roughly three mile walk. After I was finished (1735), I entered all the bird species into eBird and took care of some other internet stuff.  There was even time for some planning with Kerith.  At 1805, I got ready to go back into the hot springs.  By then, it was sprinkling so I drove to the southern end of the resort complex.  This time, I was also more efficient with changing clothing.  For the second night in a row, I spent just over an hour in the water, checking out a different spring in the process.  It was (I thought) a bit warmer and had a distinct sulphur smell.  Along the way, I met up with some people from the Central Valley (near San Jose) and had a good conversation with them.  More interesting, though, was that the four people hadn't known each other and only later apparently realized they were from the same area.  One of them was named Ernie and he worked in a gun shop - I found that fascinating because I'd not expected such a backstory from California.  He told me almost the entire tale of his life and the other people in the hot spring started talking amongst themselves.  Meanwhile, the sky opened up a few times and brought down light, cool rain.  No matter - I was already wet!  I was finished with my "bath" at 1915 - after changing, I drove over to the main building do I could do my workout in the Fitness Center.  Just like I did yesterday, I spent 20 minutes on the stationary bike (4 miles).  It's nice to have the chance to get a bike workout!  I was done with my exercise at 1945 and returned to my room.  By then, it was raining a bit harder but I was able to mostly stay dry.  In the comfort of my luxurious suite, I did some more catchup on my blog, eBird, etc.  A bit later, I was able to get my Duolingo exercises done.  During this time, I lit the fireplace in my room (fancy!) and continued to try to catch up on hydrating.  It's hard in the high desert...  I then watched movies until 2245, when I turned out the lights.  I could definitely get used to this Resort - too bad the stay is only through Wednesday...

Nomad Life - Day 345

Time to move again...  This morning, I woke up at 0630 (no alarm) and was glad to feel like I'd had a good overnight rest (after the first night in the Motel 6 in Carson City, I haven't been bothered by loud neighbors or smelly weed smoke).  Since it was a Sunday, I spent the morning relaxing (reading, Duolingo, puzzles).  Along the way, I skipped breakfast but later made an early light lunch.  At 1045, I checked of my hotel and drove south on US-395.  The day was cool (low 50s) with a high overcast.  For some reason, there was a lot of traffic as I made my way to a nearby Walmart.  Once I finally reached it, I picked up much needed groceries, supplies and shoes.  In the case of the latter items, it was high time for some new hiking boots and black walking shoes - I tossed the old ones in the trash when I finished shopping (done at 1130).  During this time, there were some sprinkles but then sun eventually emerged from the clouds.  Next, I drove to nearby Corpus Christi Catholic Church so I could attend Mass at noon.  This service seemed like the best one to me (in terms of the time I had available between leaving the one hotel and checking into the other) but it was also the Parish's weekly Spanish Mass.  To reach the church, I drove through what looked to be a brand new neighborhood (The Village South at Valley Knolls) on the east side of US-395 south of US-50 - it seemed like a nice place to live.  When I parked, I had time to go inside and look up the Missal in Spanish - later, I figured out that I might have chosen a more formal version (Castilian ?) and the readings had more slang or local colloquialisms.  Still, it was very nice to be able to mostly follow what was happening.  In this, I think I may have had good company - the priest must not have been a native Spanish speaker because he read the exact same version of the readings while the lay people helping him read "more relaxed" versions.  In fact, a lay person also delivered the Homily (which he actually read and I believe was about some sort of charity).  The service was over at 1255 and I next headed towards a place I'd seen on the map that I hoped would be good for my lunch: the Taildragger Cafe at the Minden-Tahoe Airport.  After about a 10 mile drive on US-395, I arrived at my destination (1310) and was not disappointed by the lunch specials they had.  Sadly, though, there were no airplanes flying.  Instead, I ate my lunch and drank my beer while watching a football game.  Meanwhile, around me, there was talk of a weekend air show (“Skyfest”) and I kicked myself again about leaving the Carson Valley when so much was going to be happening.  I reminded myself, though, that I'd changed my plans intentionally so I could visit with a really good friend.  There will always be airshows...  I wrapped up my meal at 1415 and made my way to the town of Genoa ("Nevada’s first settlement"), which was located to the southwest of the airport and was nestled up against the base of the Sierra Nevadas.  After arriving (1430), I parked and wandered around on the quaint streets - there were lots of old businesses (and others that purported to represent old businesses).  One of the main highlights was finding Mormon Station State Historical Park, a stop along the California Trail.  By this point, the weather was wonderful (64 F and sunny).  There were plenty of markers placed in memory of colorful local characters. One of them, Lillian Virgin Finnegan, was the founder of the famous Genoa Candy Dance, which was created in 1919 to fund streetlights for the town.  I'd heard about this event when I was in Carson City and, apparently, just missed it.  Another statue was placed in honor of John "Snowshoe" Thompson, the famous "mailman on skis" for the town.  For some reason, my visit to Genoa was full of the sights and sounds of lots of California Quails...  I was done exploring at 1500 and next drove to David Walley’s Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations), where I planned to stay for the next few days.  I arrived at 1510 and was able (after a brief delay for other guests in the queue) to check into my room early.  Sadly, I had to go through some representatives of the Time Share company - they regaled me with details about a "checkup" appointment during my stay and sweetened the pot (financial incentives) for me to attend.  I was able to "Heisman" them off a bit and delay the appointment to the following week (maybe I can cancel it) when I hoped to be staying in a sister property in Stateline.  That seemed to satisfy them and they gave me my room key and parking pass.  I was in my room by 1535 - whew!  Actually, I should say "rooms" because the setup was huge and included two units.  One was giant with a living room, fireplace, full kitchen, jacuzzi tub and giant bed while the other was smaller but had nearly everything I could ever have wanted. It was clear I could have slept six people in the room and I had a twinge of regret that no one (daughters, Kerith, etc.) couldn't be there to share the experience.  I consoled myself with nice views (towards the east) of the Great Basin.  In a further attempt to distract myself, I spent some time unpacking my car and getting set up for the next day of work.  At 1630, I felt ready to take advantage of some of the amenities of the Resort and walked over to the Hot Springs.  I should be clear that it took a little while to get there (my room was almost on the other end of the complex).  When I arrived, I changed in the locker room and then went outside and selected one of the seven natural hot springs that were available.  Actually, there were a lot of other people in the pools and I didn't feel like losing all my personal space - fortunately,  there was one with only two people in it and I asked if I could join them.  They agreed and I was pleased that they turned out to be very nice.  For more than an hour, I sat and talked with Jim, an IT engineer who once worked in the B-2, and his wife Nadia, while enjoying the hot water.  We actually had a lot in common.  Perhaps I might have stayed for a lot longer but I'd learned that the on-property restaurant was only going to be open until 2000 - and only for this one night of my stay.  After saying goodbye to my new friends (1800), I quickly changed back into my street clothing and made my way (on foot) back to the Main Building (to check out the Fitness Center).  On the way, I noticed that the temperatures had noticeably dropped (probably low 50s) as the sun had started to set.  Since no one was in the gym when I located it, I decided to try to workout on the available stationary bike - I logged 20 minutes and 4 miles there before finishing my walk to the "Canyon" building (where my room was).  I spent a little time reading and relaxing for a bit but made sure (by 1900) to walk over to the "1862 David Walley's Resort Restaurant and Saloon" before they closed.  For most of the visit, I was the only guest and that gave me some local insight (through the bartenders) on good beers they had available.  In the process, though, the two beers that I requested ended up kicking the keg.  Perhaps feeling bad about this, the staff let me try a few of the newer ones (and replacement kegs).  Along the way, I also ordered an apple cobbler with ice cream ("dinner").  The vibe was good and I enjoyed my time in the bar - wish they would have been open seven days a week.  Just after 2000 (the time when they closed), I walked back (in the dark) to my room.  My pedometer said that I'd reached three miles of walking for the day - not too shabby without a major hike...  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies.  Bedtime was at 2215.  Very excited to be trying (for only the second time) my Time Share; so far, it's definitely exceeding expectations!

Nomad Life - Day 344

I slept much better last night (no nasty smells or annoying noises).  Since it was a weekend day, I hadn't set an alarm and my body clock woke me up at 0600.  Since I wasn't in a hurry, I did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  After that, I made/ate breakfast in my hotel room at the Motel 6 (Carson City).  Much of the morning focused on travel planning and catching up on my travel blog.  Just when I thought I was going to finish things up and leave the hotel, I ended up in a long talk with Kerith, who told me she couldn't meet up with my at my timeshare in Nevada.  As a result of her persuasive arguments, I changed my plans (i.e., staying in Nevada) to visit with her in the Bay Area during the coming week.  Beyond that conversation, I had to take care of some administrative stuff, including canceling a stay and then talking with my timeshare Customer Service to resolve some unneeded charges - success!  After all that, I managed to get fully caught up on travel blog (finally).  Before I got ready to depart my hotel room, I made and ate lunch in my room.  By 1240, I was ready to go outside!  The day was a bit different from the previous one, especially as it relates to the wind (it was VERY breezy).  The un and 72 temps made for a nice adventure in the outdoors, though, so I drove (via city streets and US-50) to the Morgen Mill River Access Park.  After I arrived (1300), I started walking south on the Carson River Trail - I'd hiked the southern end in November 2025 and wanted to finish it.  For some reason, there were LOTS of soaring ravens near the trailhead...  Initially, my walk into the Empire Ranch area took me past a large golf course - there was some good birding in the water hazards there.  The trail was very dusty, though and I had to contend with a lot of loose (or unsupervised) dogs along the way.  From memory, I managed to find the place where I'd turned around during my last visit to Carson City (roughly the mid point of the trail).  While I was backtracking, I started to feel a very annoying blister on the back of my heel.  That settles it - I need new boots!  When I finished with my (four  mile walk) at 1435, I'd completed the trail as I'd hoped.  With exercise and exploration completed, I drove west into Downtown Carson City.  I was able to find a place to park in the shade (I love the free parking in the Capital!) and then walked to the Fox Brewpub, where I hoped to redeem a free drink I'd earned during my visit last year.  I sat down at the bar at 1455 and immediately encountered a problem with the rewards (the bartender said she couldn't honor it).  Oh well...  I got a drink that looked good and later learned that I'd had it during my last visit (still OK).  When I was about to depart the bar (to try a different place), the bartender lady told me she'd found a way to add the free drink and that enticed me to order a second beer.  She didn't wait to figure out if I wanted to try something else and had already poured a repeat brew when I gave her my preference.  As a result, someone else at the bar got a free beer.  During this exchange, I started talking to a guy at the bar near me - his name was Alan (US Army veteran & local chef) and we chatted for a while about local activities, eating establishment, hot springs and an overall assessment of Carson City.  It turned out that Alan shared my view that Carson City was very nice and we then continued talking about places to go and things to experience.  For example, he mentioned that there was a Mark Twain Festival during the coming week - maybe I can attend some of it!  Alan then departed and I finished my second beer.  After that (1615), I stopped to listen to a street music festival (fundraiser in support of Huntington's disease) that was happening in the square next to the Fox Brewpub.  The band was pretty good and I might have stayed longer.  Hoping to get a bit more exercise, though, I started a tour of the Capitol District and ended up finding the locations for the three branches of the Nevada State Government.  On the way back to my car (1645), I spied a sign for the Great Basin Brewing Company and walked over to check it out.  I was able to get a flight of beer and the bartender lady there stayed on the same page with me...  The drinks were each good and she let me try a new pour of something she really liked.  While sitting in the brewery, I watched college football and texted with my friend, Bob W, about the casino games that were at the bar (he told me not to play them because the odds were bad).  After I was finished (1745), I walked back to the area with the street festival and listened to the music again for a little while.  When I'd had my fill, I drove back to my hotel (arrived just after 1800).  It was only then that I realized I'd skipped dinner because lunch was so big (that's OK).  During the rest of the evening, I exchanged lots of texts with Brenna and Erin and watched movies, did some reading and completed my evening Duolingo exercises.  Once again, I was so tired that I barely made it to 2200 bed time.  Very glad I was able to get another nice day outside and complete another trail!

Nomad Life - Day 343

Sadly, I was awoken several times during the night by some smelly weed wafting through the cracks (visible light) in my door jam and strange noises in parking lot.  Fortunately, I still managed to sleep OK and ultimately woke up (no alarm) at 0530.  After that, I teleworked for a few hours (used PTO for half of the day) at the Motel 6 (Carson City).  Along the way, I skipped breakfast (although I ate some snacks.  By 0930, I'd finished both my work day and week.  Beyond that, I made and ate some lunch with the microwave in my room.  Also, I caught up on some blog and birding entries.  The main reason I decided to take leave for part of the day was that the weather was awesome outside (76 F, sunny, clear blue skies) and I wanted to take advantage of this.  So, at 1105, I departed Carson City and made my way towards Lake Tahoe.  For some reason, there was lots of traffic on US-395 as I drove south - the volume thinned out when I got on US-50 and headed west.  The climb into the Sierras was pretty easy (no chance of ice with the temps) and I was soon crossing over Spooner Summit (7146 feet).  Just after that, I entered a major construction area but got away from that quickly when I turned on to NV-28.  My target destination was Spooner Lake State Park and I arrived at the entrance by 1130.  They had a little automated park pass machine at the gate kiosk and the price wasn't bad.  As I paid, I realized that I could take advantage of the situation even more than I'd planned - when I was in the same area last November, I had avoided state parks because of the cost.  Now that I'd paid today, I had a green light to visit as many of the nearby parks as I could.  Back to the present, though - I wanted to take a stroll around Spooner Lake and had to gear up for the high elevation hike.   The parking lot was pretty busy so I initially despaired of having any solitude.  Fortunately, I found that the further I went from the Visitor Center area, the fewer other people I saw.  As a result, I walked deep into the park and was soon on the opposite end of the lake from where I'd started.  Sounds from US-50 were louder in that area but I still found a large number of interesting bird species as I tracked through the trail system.  At one point, I saw a sign for the Tahoe Rim Trail, which could apparently be accessed using a connecting trail.  As much as I wanted to head in that direction, I resisted the urge and continued my walk.  The day was warm and dry and my body was not used to the higher elevation.  Somehow, I'd forgotten to grab my water bottle so I soon started worrying about my hydration levels.  Needless to day, I drank a LOT of fluids when I reached my car (1250).  Since it was still early, I decided to drive further north on NV-28 so I could visit Sand Harbor State Park, a place I'd gotten close to (during a walk on the Tahoe East Shore Trail) in 2025.  This time, I went right into the queue for park entrance and was pleased when my pass worked to get me inside.  It did take a bit of patience to find a place to park but I eventually found a spot (1310).  From there, I walked around near the sandy beach on the south side of the point and even checked out the "harbor" area (and another sandy beach) while walking on a new part of the Tahoe East Shore Trail.  However, my main goal soon became to locate the kayak rental area because there were signs that said they were open!  Once I realized I needed to get to the farthest southern point on the beach, I walked back to my car and moved to a new parking spot in that area.  Next, I walked to where I saw a tent for "Clearly Tahoe" and got in line.  While waiting, I noticed that very little English was being spoken nearby.  It was also clearly a popular day for rentals because, by the time I reached the front of the line, I found they would only rent "sit on top" kayaks or stand-up-paddleboards for one hour (mostly because they'd run out of inventory but also because they were worried about incoming high winds/waves).  Undeterred by these limitations (and the prices), I rented a kayak by 1335 and, after a short safety brief (lots of rules, including "we have to be able to see you"), I was on the water five minutes later.  With a recommendation from the staff, I paddled south to the famous Banzai Rock formation.  The water was very clear, even when it was deep but I spent much more time fighting the wind (which was coming from the south) and unfamiliar boat/paddle.  Regardless of these difficulties, though, I was so glad to be out on the water on such a wonderful day - and it was LAKE TAHOE!  Near the rocks, I found a lot of other people some in clear bottom boats) and spent time taking a lot of photos as I paddled through some narrow channels between the huge rocks.  There was one tall rock with some sprigs of evergreen growing out of them, which I recognized from some photos.  Sadly, my own photos were marred by another kayaker who climbed up to the top so I could get photos (he did offer to take a photo of me but I declined).  Mindful of the limited time I had to finish my paddle, I turned around and headed north again.  This time, I stayed much farther out from the shoreline and was rewarded by an unexpected treat - there was a PBY flying around and landing/departing on the lake!  I watched him for a long time and wished I was a bit closer to his "landing strip"...  Meanwhile, I paddled towards the point that extended out into Crystal Bay (close to where I went hiking at the Incline area in 2025).  There was enough time to nearly reach the point before I had to turn back towards Clearly Tahoe in time to return my kayak.  My rental period was finished by 1440 - even though I would gladly have accepted another hour on the lake, the staff of the rental company secured paddling (closed down the rental queue) due to rising wind, which they said could be identified by the dark blue line that was visible on the California side of the late.  Altogether, I'd logged 2.5 miles of paddling - score!  After stopping by my car to dry off (my pants were soaked), I did a little exploring inside the Visitor Center and walked some more nearby.  I finally departed the State Park at 1500.  Back on NV-28, I had a good drive back to US-50 (which was fortunate because I'd seen a blocked lane on the way to paddle); however, I started to have problems when I re-entered the major construction zone just west of Spooner Summit.  Just at that moment, Brenna called and we played a kind of phone tag (poor signal for each of us) for about 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, I made it through the long drive through the construction on US-50 and arrived at Stateline (NV) by 1525.  Just as I reached the Bally's Casino (where I'd stayed in 2025), I was swept into TONS of traffic - it got even worse as I entered South Lake Tahoe (CA).  On top of this annoyance, I was floored to see that gas was nearly $7 a gallon - ugh...  By this point, I was getting very hungry and decided to stop for some dinner.  After checking out a few places with lots of visitors and/or that were closed, I chose to park next to Big Daddy’s Burger.  Inside, I found some great menu selections and ended up having a very delicious burger.  I ate inside the restaurant (which was not busy) and was ready for my next adventure by 1605.  From there, I drove west towards El Dorado Beach, where I'd walked on a trail before.  Sadly, I found more construction when I arrived there - the parking lot where I parked last time was closed.  Somehow, I located an alternate spot - because I was nervous about parking tickets, I started checking out the rules.  This investigation also yielded a sign about Happy Hour at a little building called the Paddle House (noticed at 1610) and I went inside to find they had a great selection of drinks for great prices.  I tried several of the local brews they were offering and sat outside on a nice Adirondack chair.  At one point, though, I got a huge amount of sap on my ark (from the tall evergreen trees all over the property) - I guess I'm really in the Sierras!  My visit wrapped up at 1640 and I walked (using the South Lake Tahoe Bike Path) down towards the beach.  Even though the beach was closed (more construction), I still got beautiful views of the whole lake and saw evidence that the wind/waves that were mentioned at Sand Harbor Beach had finally arrived.  Beyond this beach area, I  ended up exploring some of the neighborhoods nearby (including several between US-50 and the Heavenly Ski Resort) before finally stopping at the parking lot of  Van Sickle Bi-State Park (arrived at 1710).  By this point, the fact that trails and road access was closed (more construction) made me ready to depart for Carson City.  I headed back (via US-50) through the construction zone, over Spooner Summit and back to my hotel (arrived at 1755).  Before going into my room, I walked near the Motel 6 so I could get the last steps for my day; in the end, I logged four miles total (3 in NV and 1 in CA).  In my room again (1815), I made reservations for later in the month (including a timeshare deal & room upgrade) and exchanged communications with Kerith.  Beyond that, I spent time updating eBird (lots of progress and new species for Nevada) and watching movies.  I struggled to stay awake but eventually made it to my "normal" bed time of 2200.  What a great day on Lake Tahoe!

Nomad Life - Day 342

Time to move again...  With my business (VA Medical Center) completed yesterday, I was ready to reposition back to Carson City, a place I'd really enjoyed visiting in late 2025.  I even made a reservation at the same hotel there to increase the familiarity.  Before reaching the new location, though, I still had my regular telework day to complete.  This morning, I woke up at 0400 (with alarm) and got online immediately.  Like the previous day, I skipped breakfast.  At 0900, I took a break to pack up my car and do some birding in the parking lot of the SureStay Plus by Best Western (Reno Airport).  Back in my room (after requesting a late check out), I teleworked some more and managed to nearly complete my full work day before I had to check out of my hotel at 1145.  During this break from my telework day, I departed Reno and headed south on I-580.  My gas tank had been hovering on nearly empty since I'd arrived a few days earlier so I was very mindful of the need for some fuel.  However, the prices everywhere in Washoe County had been close to $6 a gallon (with some about $0.50 cheaper towards the northeast, i.e., where I'd come from).  So, I was counting on the prices I'd seen on Google Maps being almost $1 lower when I reached Carson City.  Before that, though, I stayed at optimum speed (65 mph) as I made my way through the Guinn Pass (5300ish feet) and past Lake Washoe.  This was my first drive in this area and I was struck by the varied views of the high desert, rugged terrain and low valleys.  Before long, I found myself in the northern part of Carson City and exited the Interstate on to US-395 Business.  The gas prices were lower, as advertised, but a few stations had run out of the lower octane options.  Eventually (1220), I stopped for fuel at a Sinclair station, where I found the price was just under $5.  This was a relief, because I needed almost 19 gallons and it cost me almost $100 to fill my tank.  Ugh...  At least that's one less thing to think about this week!  Afterwards, I drove a few miles south on Carson Street and found the Fox Restaurant & Brewery, which I'd visited when I was here in November 2025.  I parked close to the State Capitol building and walked to the restaurant, which featured a statue of Samuel Clemens on a bench in front. By 1240, I had found a place a the bar and ordered some lunch. Feeling dehydrated, I drank glass after glass of water before I ever ordered a beer.  The food (Caesar salad and a Southwest grilled chicken wrap) was very good and I thought about staying longer.  However, I wanted to finish up my work day and make sure I had time for some outdoor exercise before it got dark.  So, at 1400, I drove south on US-395 to my hotel (Motel 6, Carson City).  I was able to check in and got almost the same room I'd had when I was last in town. From 1415, I resumed teleworking and only finally logged off for the day at 1540.  Beyond that, I worked on my travel blog and caught up on eBird entries.  Finally succumbing to the afternoon lethargy which seems to crop up every day, I took a nap from 1630 to 1800 - this gave me a second wind.  Hoping to complete my goal of completing the 2.5 mile bike trail that runs along the "Miracle Mile" of US-395 in front of my hotel, I got ready to go outside.  When I stopped by my car (to retrieve something), I noticed that a little metal plate under my car (which had appeared previously from time to time) was finally hanging down enough for me to disconnect it and put it inside my car.  Hopefully, it wasn't important...  After that (1815), I went walking on the Route 50 Bike Trail (southern half) and, as hoped, finished the entire trail.  The weather was still great while I was walking and the sun set along the way.  In the distance (in nearly every direction), I had great views of the silhouettes of the pretty mountains.  The walk seemed very nostalgic at times and I kept remembering places I'd stopped during my last visit.  Comparisons between Reno and Carson City came into my head too.  The former city seemed grittier and busy while the latter seemed more like a family town.  Needless to say, I like Carson City a lot and could easily imagine living there.  After finishing the bike trail, I walked around a bit in some neighborhoods near my hotel.  By the time I returned to my room (1935), I realized I'd walked about four miles for the day.  Not bad!  Only later did I realize I'd skipped dinner - no matter.  I spent the rest of the evening watching movies, reading and doing Duolingo exercises.  The frustrating internet (which I remember from my last visit to the same hotel) forced me to get creative (iPhone hot spot).  Also, the smelly weed use by others in the hotel was another unpleasant memory.  Finally, when I went to bed (2215), I had trouble sleeping (probably because of the nap).  Hoping to reset my body clock for good, I didn't set an alarm before turning out the lights.  Glad to be back in Carson City!

Nomad Life - Day 341

It's not a routine yet but today I woke up again at 0400 (with alarm) and started teleworking.  Because I wanted to finish up my day as early as possible, I skipped breakfast and, later, lunch and stayed online through several morning meetings.  I wasn't entirely fasting, though - I ate snacks.  For the second day in a row, I had trouble with my mobile phone service (very little signal) and this seemed strange because I was staying in the SureStay Plus by Best Western (Reno) right by the Airport...   I should note that my service has been just fine (lots of bars) in other parts of Reno so maybe it was the hotel building itself.  When my work day finally wrapped up (1345), I departed from the hotel and was glad to see that I had another spectacular day of good temps (82 F) and a clear blue sky.  Score!  On the other hand, hydration has definitely become an issue and I've had to be mindful of drinking LOTS of water...  Over the previous few days, I'd coordinated a visit to the Reno VA Medical Center so that I could get a flu shot and assist the VA with their research as a volunteer (blood draw).  My appointment was scheduled at the nearby facility at 1415 so I made my way there on city streets.  Along the way, my boss called and wanted to talk - even though I was at the VT by 1400, I couldn't actually enter until it was almost time for my appointment (whew!).  Even without this delay, I had trouble finding a place to park - fortunately, everything worked out OK.  As I was heading inside the building on the sprawling (rather urban) medical campus, an older veteran asked if I could help him get a wheelchair.  He directed me inside to some volunteers in red coats and they rushed out to get him.  After checking into Primary Care, I waited for a bit for my on-site contact (Flo) to arrive.  When she did, she directed me to a desk where I was able to register my VA card locally.  After that, it was an easy matter to get my flu shot and an even easier matter (because Flo did all the work) to complete the blood draw.  Flo and I talked for a bit afterwards about my options should I ever decide to reside in the Reno-Tahoe area (which is still a possibility).  Altogether, today was another positive experience with the VA - I was in the VA Medical Center for about an hour and completed all required tasks.  Oh, and on my way out of the building, another older veteran asked me for help in getting the attention of the staff.  Even without my shirt, I guess I look like a Volunteer (which I am)!  At 1515, I departed and drove north (again on city streets) in search of two breweries I'd seen on Google Maps.  Neither were open yet when I arrived but I found a place to park (for free) on the street near one of them (10 Torr Distillery).  From there, I walked north and west into downtown Reno - this time, it was only a half mile walk.  Hoping to learn more about the Strip, I initially checked out the inside of the Cal-Neva Casino.  All I can say is "meh".  I'd hoped to find food in their (you know, the stereotypical casino meal) but there weren't a lot staff working at those venues and I soon gave up on waiting.  Instead, I departed that Casino and walked around a bit more near the Reno Arch.  I was going to return to the El Dorado but suddenly saw a sign for $6 beers.  Even better, they even listed the selections and, unlike at Cal-Neva, they weren't just Coors or Coors Light.  So, at 1545, I entered Siri’s Casino and - jackpot - discovered they were having happy hour with $4 beers!  There were so many to choose from but I found a few local brews (including some I'd never tried).  While watching baseball again, I watched patrons come into the building and sit down at the bar so they could use the video poker machines that every guest had access too.  For some reason, though, they didn't have a drink...  I would have ordered food but the Casino didn't have a cook in their kitchen.  I'd forgotten that smokers love casinos (had to weather the storm on one guy until he left).  One beer I ordered "Li'l Sumpin' Sumpin'" was unfamiliar to the bartender and we ended up in a "Who's on First?" type of exchange before he felt some embarrassment.  At 1655, I decided to depart Siri's and head back towards my car.  With some extra exploring, I reached two miles of walking for the day.  Before going back to the hotel, I visited the 10 Torr Distillery and had one of their house beers - it was good but I started feeling the time zone fatigue again and decided not to order another one.  Instead (1750), I got in my car and drove (via some city streets but also I-580) back to the SureStay Plus (arrived at 1805).  Like last evening, I had a problem with my room key again but the desk clerk quickly fixed it for me.  Already tired, I forced myself to make/eat dinner in my room.  Again like yesterday, I eventually rejected the idea of going to Fitness Center.  Instead, I watched movies dozed (unintentionally) - I actually barely made it to 2200 before going to bed.  Very glad I was able to check out some more of the Washoe Valley infrastructure that would be part of my life if I decided to move to Nevada permanently...

Nomad Life - Day 340

Back to "normal" teleworking during my Nomad Life!  This morning, I woke up (with alarm) at 0400 (Pacific Time Zone, ugh) and started teleworking.  At one point, I made and ate breakfast in my room at the SureStay Plus by Best Western (Reno).  Otherwise, I took no breaks all morning and skipped lunch (although I ate some snacks).  My work day was finished at 1310 (1610 Eastern Time Zone) and I then took care of some finances stuff (printed items using the printer I carry during my travels).  By 1400, I felt ready to depart from the hotel and head out to explore!  The day was warm (85 F) and sunny and it seemed like the perfect day for outdoor adventure.  Somehow, I managed to notice (often I don't feel the vibrations and I keep my phone on silent) that I'd gotten a call from someone at the Reno VA Medical Center (confirming my appointment for the next day).  With that task completed, I got on I-580 and headed north to Walmart, which was located inside the boundaries of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.  During my visit, I bought a lot of groceries in an attempt to reduce the need for me to go out for every meal during the coming weeks.  Afterwards, I ate some of the food I'd bought (light lunch) and started looking at the map in hopes of finding a nearby bike-path.  I got lucky and spied one called the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail (Truckee River Path) and I then headed towards a trailhead I noticed in Fisherman's Park.  To reach it, I had to cross the Truckee River into the town of Sparks - when I arrived at the turn Google Maps was recommending, though, I found the road closed.  Despite several attempts to get there, I never was able to find a way through a maze of one way streets and constructions zones.  Instead, I returned to the bridge over the Truckee River, where I'd seen several cars and large trucks parked.  By 1440, I was ready for my walk and was able to get right on the trail on the east end of the bridge.  Walking west, I enjoyed the views of the mountains and river - the shade from the trees was also very pleasant.  My research on the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail showed that it was more than 100 miles long and I assume that most of it was in a less urban setting.  Sadly, this Reno section was heavily populated by lots of homeless people - there were camps nearly everywhere.  I tried to avoid confrontations but this was difficult and I soon wondered why the police were not enforcing the many signs I passed about not camping or loitering.  My only conclusion was that I was walking through a part of the trail inside the Indian Colony - many enforcement is different there?  Otherwise, the walk was pretty nice and I encountered a lot of birds.  The trail crossed the Truckee River on a narrow foot bridge about 1.5 miles into my walk and the trail immediately transitioned to being synonymous with the Reno Riverwalk.  The further I walked into the Downtown area, the fewer homeless people I saw (although they were still visible at times).  I found an old Reno Arch (which I later learned was one of the earlier ones that was retained when a new one was built) but still had to walk for a little while before I reached Virginia Street, which was the "main drag" for the town.  After that, I walked back and forth (north and south) on this road, stopping to visit historical markers and memorials.  Eventually, though, I stayed on the north side of the Truckee River for good and found the famous Reno Arch ("Biggest Little City in the World").  The last time I saw this was in July 2007...  I checked out the entrances for several casinos along the strip but eventually (at the three mile mark of my walk) went into the El Dorado, which I'd been told (by the manager of my hotel) was a really good one.  Inside, I explored the gaming floor and visited the shops and restaurant area.  Before long, I found a place that looked good: Brew Brothers Taproom.  They had a large selection of house brews and specials for their daily happy hour - what great deals!  I ordered a sandwich and a couple of drinks (all good).  There were video poker machines in front of nearly every bar stool but there was also Major League Baseball (playoffs) being televised so I enjoyed the ambiance.  Finished with my early dinner by 1630, I then walked (via 2nd Street) all the way back to my car (about two miles).  This route wasn't as scenic but it was actually more direct.  After leaving my Subaru on a bridge in an unfamiliar city, I did feel a bit relieved to find it was fine when I arrived...  Overall, I'd walked five miles total and enjoyed a nice meal in the middle - too bad all my hikes aren't like that!  In my car again, I drove back to my hotel (via I-580) and arrived at 1715.  Had trouble with my room key (frustrating) and also had to contend with strange hallways, stairways that only led outside (or into the interior courtyard) and lines at the busy (because of the airport) front desk.  Fortunately, I got help and was soon in my room.  It was very early on the clock but my body was still stuck in another time zone.  I passed the time watching movies, reading and doing Duolingo exercises.  A few times, I thought about working out in the hotel's Fitness Center but ultimately decided against it.  As a result, the evening ended with movies and YouTube videos and I finally went to bed at 2200.  This was my first visit to Downtown Reno in nearly 20 years and it was an interesting experience!

Nomad Life - Day 339

Officially, I had permission today to complete the Travel Day that was not possible on Saturday (due to Contract limitations).  This gave me an opportunity to reposition about eight hours away from Salt Lake City (the range of my travel authorization) and I gladly took it - Lake Tahoe, here I come!  Anticipating the drive and hoping to see my friends, Rich and Dana, before they left on their trips, I woke up (with alarm) in the guest room of my friends' home in South Jordan at 0500.  Even though it wasn't required, I got on my work computer and made sure that everything was in order.  There was enough time for me to say goodbye and thank you to my invaluable Nomad Life "Pit Crew" and we agreed that we should get together again soon.  By 0620, I'd loaded up my car and was headed out of the Daybreak Community.  It was still dark (temps in the low 60s) but there were some indications in the east of the sunrise.  Hoping to take advantage of the lowest priced gas I'd seen near Salt Lake City, I drove east for a little bit until I arrived (0630) at a Chevron station that was about $0.30 cheaper than everywhere else.  Finding fuel that isn't overpriced is becoming as complicated as looking for lodging...  When I finished pumping (and cleaning more bugs off the cracked windshield of my car), I drove north to a McDonalds I saw on the map and got some breakfast to go (0635).  By this point, the area had awoken in earnest, with lots of rush hour traffic and lines of school buses - I was greatly motivated to depart from the urban area and get moving on the Interstate.  So, I next made my way to UT-85 and used that to reach UT-111; I passed through the town of Magna just as the sun came over the Wasatch Mountains.  After that, I followed UT-201 until it merged with I-80.  Along the way, I got some beautiful views of the Great Salt Lake with the sun shining off the water surface. There was definitely not as much water in the lake and the salt flats, which were very extensive when I last visited this part of Utah in 2011, seemed to be everywhere.  The speeds on the Interstate opened up considerably but I tried to maintain 70 mph for fuel economy as much as possible.  This was mostly easy because there wasn't much westbound traffic.  Of more concern, actually, was the steady sun glare that shone brightly in my mirrors - it took some creativity to make block it.  I crossed into Nevada at 0840 and, immediately after, had to reset my clock to the Pacific Time Zone.  Soon after, I crossed the Silver Zone Pass (5900ish feet) and felt like everything was going smoothly until the traffic abruptly stopped moving as I approached the town of Pequop (Elko County).  At first, I couldn't understand the reason but I later realized that I (along with lots of other vehicles) was following three wide-load vehicles under State Police escort.  Thank goodness, then, for a truck lane that opened up soon after this - most of us were able to pass the convoy and resume standard speeds.  During this slowdown, I had one interesting birding experience: I got to see my first Sagebrush Sparrow in the median of I-80!  The road meandered a bit while I was in terrain but was mostly flat and straight otherwise.  I entered Eureka County at 0935 and, soon after, crossed Emigrant Pass (6100ish feet).  I then passed through Lander County (1000) and Humboldt County (1020) while wrapping up my latest audiobook and listening to SiriusXM.  At 1030, I stopped at a rest area for about five minutes - beyond that, I found myself starting to see a lot more traffic.  Dang...  I briefly considered stopping in Winnemucca (famous from the Johnny Cash "I've Been Everywhere" song) but decided against it.  Instead, I continued on I-80 into Pershing County (1120) and Churchill County (1220).  By this time, temps had risen into the mid-80s and the day seemed decidedly hot.  Sadly, my great time and gas mileage was soon interrupted by more than 20 miles of road construction.  At first, I was held up a lot (40 mph) by a truck involved with the work. Fortunately, he pulled off the highway after about five miles and I was able to speed up - the RV that had been following me was soon the rearview mirror (thank goodness I wasn't behind him too).  By 1250, I was in Lyon County and, about 15 minutes later, I stopped at a Love's Truck Stop near the town of Fernley.  Again, I only tarried about five minutes and felt pretty glad I didn't need fuel yet (the prices had continued to rise).  Just after I got back on the highway (1310), I passed a sign that said I was entering Storey County - right after that, though, I entered Washoe County as the Interstate crossed the Truckee River.  From that point, I-80 became a rather disconcerting race track as it wound it's way through the valley.  There didn't seem to be nearly enough lanes and the large trucks were just as aggressive as the little cars.  Needless to day, I felt very relieved as I rolled into the town of Sparks at 1325...  Soon after that, I reached Reno and turned on to US-395 (AKA I-580) towards the south.  By 1350, I was checked into my hotel, the SureStay Plus by Best Western (Reno, located at the Airport) and was back on my work computer.  By that point, it was 1630 on the East Coast so I was relived to find that nothing significant had happened while I was driving.  Without really thinking about it, I had missed lunch (although I'd eaten some snacks during the drive).  Honestly, about the only thing my body really craved by this point was sleep - hoping to improve my overall well-being, I took a nap from 1600 to 1900.  In a rather ironic twist, this caused me to also miss dinner.  However, I didn't really feel hungry.  Instead, I got online again and spent about two hours reading, updating social media, adding eBird entries and checking on some financial stuff.  At 2100, I decided to go downstairs to the lobby of the hotel, where I'd seen signs for a bar/restaurant.  When I arrived, I found that the Lemon & Lime Cuisine venue was in the middle of a transition from Indian food to Mexican food (all new staff too) and was not serving anything that evening.  No matter - I enjoyed two local beers (including one called "Reno as F@ck") and had an interesting conversation with another patron (Edgar the trucker), the young bartender girls (it was their first night working at the establishment), bouncer (who doubled as an airport shuttle driver) and the restaurant manager.  Overall,  this was a good introduction to Reno (I'd only been there once before, back when I was in the Navy).  I wrapped up my visit to the bar at 2130 and went exploring in the hotel.  Along the way, I reached one mile of walking for the day (pretty surprising, considering how I was stuck in the car all day).  When I found the Fitness Center, I decided to just ride on the stationary bike in my street clothes.  Somehow, I got my usual 20 minutes (4 miles) without too much sweating...  Back in my room (2200), I took care of more finances and admin and did some reading and Duolingo.  Bedtime was at (the new) 2300.  Hoping for a great visit to the Washoe River Valley this week!