Nomad Life - Day 356

I'm sort of getting in a rhythm at the Tahoe Ridge Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations) - it will be hard to leave...  This morning, I woke up at 0400 (with alarm) and started teleworking in my room at the Plaza Villa.  For the first time this week, I saw a different kind of sunrise - the clouds and lingering rain definitely dimmed the colors and stark contrasts.  The day then turned rainy and foggy - kind of dreary...  As the morning progressed, I skipped breakfast (although I had some snacks) and powered on through my work day.  At about 1030, the weather suddenly started to clear and I was treated to a different kind of spectacular view through the windows of my room - there was snow on the peaks to the east!  This development made me wonder if I should reconsider my schedule for the week; I'd initially planned to stay on the Ridge until Friday or Saturday but now the weather in the Carson Valley below was so good I thought about visiting David Walley's (to use my "comp" hot springs pass and dinner voucher).  Another consideration: Resort Shuttle Service (limited from Monday to Thursday) expanded over the weekend.  So it was settled - I'd drive down the Kingsbury Grade after work and relax in the hot springs!  At about noon, I made and ate lunch in my kitchen.  Otherwise, I didn't take any breaks and finished my telework day at 1345.  Beyond that, I did some travel blog catchup before getting ready to depart my Villa.  At 1430, I departed from Tahoe Ridge; despite the improved visibility and lack of precipitation, the temps were in the 40s and it was VERY windy.  Riding down the Kingsbury Grade into Genoa felt very comfortable and familiar - I'm definitely sold on this route for getting to and from Lake Tahoe...  I arrived at David Walley’s Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations) by 1500 and was able to quickly get inside with my voucher - score!  For the next two hours, I relaxed and enjoyed myself.  For some reason, the water didn't seem as warm as it had the week before, even in the "hotter" pools - I chalked up the problem to the early morning rain causing the pools to cool but I don't know for sure.  As I soaked, I met a series of older people who came and went during my visit.  One of them was a pastor's wife, who had a LOT of stuff to tell me.  It was interesting to see, however, when several other older ladies arrived and started talking about the 1960s - they all claimed to be "flower children" and told many interesting stories about life in the Bay Area back then.  The pastor's wife chimed in a few times and it seemed that her own life was not very sheltered...  Outside of the hot springs, it was windy and cool - by the end of my time there, pine needles from the trees above started raining into the pool.  So, at 1700, I went into the changing room and returned to street garb.  Phase two of my visit to David Walley's was to use a food voucher I'd been given during the timeshare sales presentation on Monday; I next headed to the 1882 Restaurant and ordered a local beer from the bartender lady and then got some food (a healthy club sandwich).  There weren't a lot of people in the bar with me when I started eating but, later, two middle-aged buys sat down and we started talking.  It turned out that they worked in an interesting field of "recycling manure".  I'd never thought about all the applications (methane, water, fertilizer, bedding, etc.) and the conversation was kind of mesmerizing.  As a result, I stayed until 1830, long after I'd finished my beer and food.  After saying goodbye, I drove back to Tahoe Ridge (via Kingsbury Grade) - it was just getting dark when I arrived at the Clubhouse (1900).  Since I hadn't reached my step goal for the day, I did some walking near the buildings higher on the Ridge and found the wedding venue I'd been told about (by Laura in the gift shop).  Nearby, I located a (golf) driving cage and putting green, along with a jacuzzi.  I continued seeking amenities in the immediate area and, in this way, reached one mile of walking for the day.  Happily, I could tell that my heel bursitis was healing.  At 1910, I went to the Fitness Center and worked out on stationary bike (20 minutes, 4 miles).  As usual this week, there was no one else there.  Before leaving the Clubhouse, I picked up a new Activities Guide for the resort (1930) and then drove back to the Plaza Villa.  By that point, it was dark, windy and cold (high 30s) - brrrr...  With my step goal completed, I looked forward to a nice evening of relaxing in my room.  When I arrived, however, I found that I had the first "neighbors" adjacent to my room.  This had an unexpected (and welcome) impact - for the first day all week, my room was not super warm!  Feeling much more comfortable than I have during my stay, I spent the rest of the nigh reading, doing Duolingo exercises and watching movies.  Bed time was at 2300.  What a therapeutic day!

Nomad Life - Day 355

Sadly, yesterday's adventures weren't kind to my stomach - for the first time in recent memory, I was awoken with stomach upset and, as a result, got very little sleep.  No matter - my alarm range at 0400 and I started teleworking.  Very tired...  On the plus side, my foot was feeling better.  This morning, I made breakfast in the kitchen of my room at the Tahoe Ridge Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations) and made my way through several important meetings.  Along the way, I skipped lunch and just powered on through my work day.  When I was finished with telework (1350), I tried to catch up (I'd gotten woefully behind) on my travel blog.  At 1500, I was finally ready to leave my room at the Plaza Villa.  By then, it was cloudy (overcast came towards the ridge from the east) and 51 degrees.  For the first time in days, I wore real shoes (i.e., not Crocs).  However, I did drive my car from the parking garage to the Clubhouse.  My goal was to visit the Ridge Bistro, where I hoped to use my "comp" food vouchers during their Happy Hour.  Things worked out great and I was able to get two appetizers for the price of one and a $5 beer.  The bartender (young man) was very friendly and we watched a classic car auction while I was eating - interesting!  The apps were satisfying enough that I didn't order anything else.  Instead, I went back to the Fitness Center to try to continue my street of days with workouts (arrived at 1600).  As before, there was no one there and I was able to complete 4 miles in 20 minutes on the stationary bike (wore street clothes).  Finished by 1630, I noticed that it was raining steadily.  Hoping to stay dry, I wandered through the Clubhouse in search of amenities hunt.  Along the way, I Lola (20s) and Laura (50 years in area) and they helped me interpret the maps, activity handouts and other other Resort Guidance.  I learned that I had access to many more hot tubs that were scattered all around the property, including one in the Ridge View building that featured a spectacular view of Lake Tahoe.  As I'd been seeing during every day of my visits (both last year and this year), the people who I encountered were almost universally friendly.  So, I drove back to the Plaza Villa (my building) feeling uplifted and filled with ideas for the rest of my stay.  After dropping some items in my room and changing into Crocs (to avoid any injury to my healing heel bursitis), I took a walk around the building to try to finish up my step goal for the day.  Outside, the rain and wind had gotten very strong and I was glad that I hadn't tried to get too far away from comfort and safety.  By 1720, I'd reached my goal (1 mile) and returned to my room to wind down my day.  Actually, it felt good to have nothing else left to do for the day...  It felt like a guilty pleasure for me to read, do some Duolingo exercises and watch movies all evening.  Still recovering from the stomach upset of last night, I felt very ready to go to bed at 2215.  Not the most exciting day of my visit to Lake Tahoe but I'm glad I learned so much about my time share benefits.  Hoping tomorrow's weather will allow for more adventures outdoors, especially now that my foot is feeling better!

Nomad Life - Day 354

With the time share meeting out of the way yesterday, I looked forward to a relatively normal and relaxing day in my room at the Tahoe Ridge Resort by Holiday Inn Club Vacations (Stateline).  Things started out well: I easily woke up (with alarm) at 0400 and started teleworking.  Even better, my heel bursitis (left foot) was feeling better!  Still, I knew I needed to keep babying it...  Along the way, I skipped breakfast and watched another spectacular sunrise.  Outside, temps were in the 40s F but the sun (and vigorous heaters) seemed to override that fact.  At around 1100, I ate an early lunch (leftovers) but, otherwise, didn't take any breaks in my telework day.  Since I'd made an appointment to have my Subaru serviced in Carson City, I logged off of my work computer at 1330 and departed the Resort.  By then, it was 58 F (with partly cloudy skies) and I started to get ideas about other activities I might be able to do when my important Nomad Life errand was finished.  In fact, I'd left earlier than I'd expected when I made the appointment and was crossing my fingers that everything would go quickly.  More important at that moment, actually, was my first drive down the Kingsbury Grade and into Genoa.  Each time I've tried to cross the Sierra Nevadas, I've worried about brakes so I was very cautious all the way.  Cruise control definitely helped, as did the lack of traffic heading in my direction.  My dash board gave me a tire pressure warning light on one of my wheels but things seemed normal.  About 10 miles after leaving the Resort, I was off the Grade and, a short time after that, I got on US-395 and headed north towards Carson City.  For some reason, I encountered a lot of traffic going in the same direction and then had to contend with LOTS of traffic lights.  I guess I'm spoiled...  Ultimately, I arrived at the (Michael Hohl) Subaru Dealer at 1415.  This was actually my second or third visit in the last 12 months - the staff had previously helped me with questions about chains (for my tires), engine codes and tire pressures in the mountains.  Arriving early seemed like a very good idea - there was a long line to check in my car.  After that, though, I had great service.  My service person, Felicia, seemed familiar but I didn't realize that she was the same person who had helped me last year (I found this out when I checked my emails later).  Perhaps the most important part of this visit was that I finally learned why my Subaru had reported (maybe two) incidences of an engine misfire.  One had actually been on Tahoe Ridge last November and the mechanics brought me into the garage to see some burn spots on my muffler and some melted plastic from one day when gasoline had apparently gotten into the muffler.  (Note: the metal panel I'd recently noticed dangling under the car might have been connected but it couldn't be reconnected.)  Yikes!  The advice I received, though, was that I should be OK if I didn't overdo my engine tachometer readings during high mountain driving.  Whew...  After receiving a good military veteran discount and a fond farewell from Felicia, I departed the dealership and began the "fun" part of my visit to Carson City (1530).  First, though, I needed to fill up my gas tank (almost completely emptied during my jaunt to Marin County).  Returning to a Valero gas station that I recalled (from last year's visit) had the lowest prices in the area.  I was not disappointed: the $4.79/gallon I paid was nearly two dollars less than in South Lake Tahoe and Marin County and even cheaper than in Minden or Gardnerville.  However, I encountered the same frustrating issue of my credit card getting stuck in the reader.  Today definitely felt like it had a lot of Deja Vu...  Finished at 1545, I drove further north on US-395 (South Carson) and stopped at the Fox Brewpub, where I got a free beer that I'd earned through their loyalty program.  I think the bartender was disappointed in my short stay but I did leave him a tip.  Not wanting to waste a lot of time indoors, I was on my way again soon - using some city streets, I made my way to the Carson Hot Springs, which I'd learned about from a local during my first day in Carson City this month.  After arriving (1620), I bought a day pass (used a 55+ discount = $16 for two hours).  There were private room options but I opted for an outdoor experience in the four pools that they offered.  Locals later told me that almost everything I was seeing was very new ("within the last few years") and it was very nice.  Along the way, I met some interesting people (including an older couple from South Reno, one was a veteran and the other was a teacher).  The water, which was full of lots of minerals (a list was provided) seemed slippery but good on my skin.  My bursitis seemed to be improving even more - bonus! Before I was finished, I tried all four pools, remaining in the warm water even when sprinkles scared almost everyone else away.  Part of me was tempted to stay longer but I only logged just over an hour in the hot springs.  There was more to do!  After changing back into my street clothing, I walked next door to (the nearly attached restaurant) Sassafras,  They weren't very busy and, surprise, they didn't have digital poker screens on the bar.  At 1740, I ordered dinner (a Muffuletta sandwich and homemade potato chips) and drank lots of water  The ambiance was good and I enjoyed talking to the bartender lady.  When I was done eating (1825), I decided to get a beer at the taproom next door: Shoe Tree Brewing.  That venue was much more crowded than either the hot springs or the restaurant and I had to get my beer "to go" and sit on a picnic table outside to drink it.  This had one benefit - I got to watch the sunset, which was enhanced by the clouds that were building in the sky to the west.  When I was done (1845), I returned to my car and made my way to I-580.  The Interstate route around the city helped me make very good time to light-infested US-395 and I was soon headed south towards the Kingsbury Grade.  Since it still seemed early, I decided to detoured to Genoa so I could again visit the Genoa Bar & Saloon - I was hoping to see Thom/Tom (who I met last week) and hear the impromptu musicians who had just wrapped up when I arrived the week before.  When I was parking my car (1900), I was surprised to hear VERY loud sounds of nearby lowing cattle.  Inside the saloon, I learned that the music group had decided not to show up and that Thom wasn't there either.  Since I'd already had nearly every beer in the place, I despaired of finding a new one for my Untapped app.  With help from the bartender (Emmy, who told me she was working the bar for the first time in 10 years), I identified a tall can that claimed it contained the official beer of the Knight Monsters.  The lager ended up being OK but it was also the only beer I tried.  In fact, I paid at 1945 and was planning to leave.  However, I ended up spending more time talking with Emmy, two older ladies who were very interested in my beer and a guy named Eric (local law enforcement or forest service?).  Even with very few of us at the bar, we had a very nice conversations and, as usual, I received several enticements for me to move to the area permanently.  We'll see...  After I finally did depart (2045), I got on NV-206 and drove south (past David Walley's) to the Kingsbury Grade.  My drive downhill had been relatively uneventful but it seemed like a completely different drive in the dark...  Still, I arrived safely at Tahoe Ridge by 2115.  Instead of going to my Villa, I parked at the Clubhouse and visited the Fitness Center, where I logged another 20 minutes (4 miles) on the stationary bike.  After three days of visiting the gym, I've concluded that everyone else must be skipping their workouts while on vacation (I've only seen one other person in all of the visits I've made).  Workout complete, I returned to my Villa - because inclement weather was forecasted, I parked my car in an "Owners Only" spot in the parking garage.  Back in my room (2145), I spent the rest of the night watching videos, reading and doing Duolingo exercises.  As has happened several times recently, I got carried away with an AI search and didn't get to bed until 0015.  What a day in the Carson Valley!

Nomad Life - Day 353

For the first time since I was regularly staying in one place for a week during the summer (in New Hampshire), I had a full week at the Tahoe Ridge Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations).  My room, which had the appearance of a "corner office" on the edge of the Sierra Nevada Range, was quite spacious and comfortable but I continued having trouble with the temperature controls.  Since I like a much cooler environment to sleep well, I didn't sleep as well as I'd hoped.  Still, I was rested enough to start teleworking when my alarm woke me up at 0400 this morning.  Sadly, the heel bursitis I'd been feeling for the previous two days got progressively worse as I made my way around the small apartment.  I did have a small measure of success when I put ice on the bursa but I really wished I had some pain medicine with me...  As the morning progressed, I was stunned to see such a beautiful sunrise in the east (over the Pine Nut Range).  The views of the valley were very pretty but my old iPhone was not capable of truly capturing the colors.  At least I have the memory in my head...  The temps (40s) were much colder than I'd been seeing at lower elevations during the last few weeks but the Plaza Villa (where I was staying) was cozy and warm.  While teleworking, I ended up skipping breakfast but made a large lunch in the kitchen of my unit just before noon.  By then, the temperature outside had risen to 58 F and the sun was shining brightly through the many windows of my rooms.  Since I'd set up an "Owners Review" when I was staying in David Walley's Resort last week, I took a break from teleworking at 1230 and made my way (with some detours) to the Preview Center.  After I arrived (1245), I didn't have to wait very long before a sales representative, Ciro ("Cito"), came out to greet me.  He told me he was responsible for working with owners of the Holiday Inn Club Vacations time shares and we talked about how I'd enjoyed my first year in the program.  Nearby, I noticed Thomas, the man who had originally sold me my "entry level" version of the time share last November.  Since I was still kind of new and had not even finished using my points for the year, I told Ciro that I was not really wanting to spend a lot of money.  However, I did leave the door open for upgrading to the VIP level I'd been "test driving" in 2026 and, after about 45 minutes, we came to an arrangement (with help from his boss, Josh).  In the end, I got a huge series of perks and benefits for holding my ground initially.  Hopefully, this upgrade in my points will greatly augment the quality of my Nomad Life and make get togethers with my daughters even more special.  Unfortunately, the fact that I made this decision then led to the kind of lengthy paperwork delay that I'd seen when I was in the same building last year.  In fact, it took another several hours to complete all paperwork.  The Quality Assurance lady, Sarah (from New Hampshire), had replaced Desiree (from last year) and was very personable and helpful but was effectively swamped with reviews of the other people who had made similar decisions as I had.  I tried to pass the time with snacks (which later constituted my "dinner" and trying to rest my foot.  For this latter effort, I found that wearing my Crocs had just the right impact and I was able elevate my aching foot.  I read and did some puzzles but was getting very bored.  Eventually, it was clear to everyone working there that I really wanted to leave as soon as possible.  This didn't hurt me, though, because Ciro, Josh and Sarah ended up giving me some additional "comps" (meal coupons at Tahoe Ridge and David Walley's, as well as another chance to visit the hot springs in Genoa) to thank me for my patience (and spending, I'm sure).  Finally (1645), I was freed up to depart and I gladly raced back to my Villa.  In my room again, I wrapped up my telework day (at 1715) and then went up to the jacuzzi that I'd heard about on the 8th Floor of my building.  The day was sunny, the wind was calm and temps were still in the mid 50s - this made for a relaxing 30 minute soak.  Best parts of all about this experience were that nobody else came to interrupt my quiet, my heel bursitis began to feel better and I got to see Lake Tahoe from this high vantage point.  When I was finished (1745), I returned to my room and spent over an hour resting my foot and catching up on email.  Later, I drove to the Clubhouse (foot was not feeling well) and did some printing in the Business Center.  Before departing, I also visited the Fitness Center and completed a bike workout (20 minutes, 4 miles) in my street clothes and Crocs.  Finished with my day outside my room (1915), I returned to the Plaza Villa and spent the rest of the evening doing laundry, watching movies,  reading and completing Duolingo exercises.  I was definitely ready for bed when I turned out the lights at 2230!  Hope my timeshare decision today turns out just like I hoped it would...

Nomad Life - Day 352

My visit Kerith came to an end this morning and I felt a bit sad - she and her dogs been great hosts!  Hopefully, we'll be able to meet up again soon... With the earlier bed time last night (and no interruptions in Kerith's guest room in San Rafael), I woke up at 0500 and didn't try to go back to sleep.  Instead, I spent some time reading, doing puzzles and working on Duolingo puzzles.  On the downside of the ledger, my right foot (heel bursitis) didn't feel good at all and I was concerned about being able to do any walking (or hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail) later in the day.  During this time, I built a strategy to avoid strenuous walking, wear some tight socks and only use my Croc shoes for the next few days.  This, of course, would limit my options - but it might also shorten the delay in recovery.  At about 0630, I heard Kerith stirring downstairs so went down to join her.  Apparently, Maverick hadn't slept well and she hadn't meant to get up but we took advantage of the situation and made plans for the rest of the morning.  The previous night, I'd hinted that I wanted to go Mass before I started driving back to Lake Tahoe but had thought I'd go at noon (on my way out of town).  Since Kerith was still tired, I changed the plan and decided to attend a service at the Mission San Rafael Arcángel, where I'd gone to church during my December 2025 visit.  I ate breakfast while Kerith gave Maverick his eye drops and she then went back to her room for some more sleep.  By that point (0715), it was getting really sunny and clear - temps were still lower (49 F), though.  I departed Kerith’s at 0745 and followed some city streets (including Lincoln) for just over two miles until I reached San Rafael's - I was familiar with the strange parking lot so was sitting in the pews by 0755.  Mass was good and the Homily was even better - the priest talked about "Render to Caesar" but had some interesting thoughts on how to live that way today ("we all belong to God")  When the service was over, I drove back to Kerith's (reverse direction from earlier) and realized this (Lincoln) was the same road I'd used to drive her car two nights before - much easier this time.  I reached her home by 0855 and took Enzo for a walk around Los Ranchitos Park - he seemed to like that because we weren't constantly waiting for Maverick.  Meanwhile, Kerith was busy with more eye drops; while watching her perform this task during the last few days, I could really understand the source of her exhaustion.  When I returned from the walk, I got the sense that it was time to depart.  Actually, I'd planned to leave by 1000 so I'd gotten some bonus time.  Still, it would have been nice to stay a bit longer.  Like I said, I hope we get another chance to visit in the near future.  After saying goodbye to Kerith and the dogs (1030), I made sure I'd packed up all my stuff and departed from San Rafael.  As I was driving north on US-101, I actually hadn't fully decided on a route to my lodging for the night (timeshare stay at Tahoe Ridge Resort).  The day was sunny and warmer (68 F) by this point and it seemed like the choice would make itself as I drove east...  When I arrived at CA-37, I got back on the causeway through the Napa-Sonoma Marshes and, just like on Wednesday, had an opportunity for great birding.  The traffic in the other direction (also like Wednesday) was very slow and backed up - I think an accident had caused this.  By 1055, I reached Solano County and, shortly after that, I was able to get on I-80.  Along the way, I listened to SiriusXM channels and enjoyed the scenery.  Traffic wasn't too bad and I didn't have issues with my fellow drivers.  After passing through Dixon (1130), I made the decision to stay on the Interstate rather than taking US-50 to South Lake Tahoe.  This was a harder decision than it should have been because I was trying to satisfy three goals at once: save mileage (because I'd soon need service), save gas (because it was so expensive) and see new places.  The latter goal overrode the others and I was soon past Sacramento and its suburbs.  Just after that, I started steadily climbing into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range - the drive was very beautiful but challenging.  When I reached the town of Colfax (1240) and decided to stop for lunch at Taco Bell.  By this point, I was actively weighing options for hiking on the PCT and I consulted lots of maps while I was eating inside the restaurant.  When I finished my meal (1310), I thought I was ready to go straight to a trailhead near Donner Pass.  On the Interstate again, I made my way east towards Truckee and had to dodge a lot of slower (e.g., trucks) traffic on the way up into the high peaks.  Just before I arrived at the Donner Summit (7220ish), I made a mistake and didn't exit at the official PCT parking lot.  Instead, I counted on an internet rumor that the trail was accessible from the Rest Area.  When I arrived there (1350), I found that the Department of Transportation for the State of California had decided to crush those hiker's dreams (and, probably, prevent hitchhiking from there) with extensive fencing across the entire rest area.  It was all inaccessible and I couldn't backtrack to the PCT Trailhead easily.  Oh well - time to keep moving...  Only about 10 minutes later (after I'd exhausted all options for a hike), I was back on I-80 and started my descent into Truckee.  Faced again with choices about my route, I decided to exit the Interstate on to CA-89, which took me into the Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) Ski Area.  While driving, I found many pieces of evidence for the (1960) Winter Olympics.  My iPhone started acting up and I wasn't able to fix it (I didn't have any cell signal anyway).  For this reason, I was rather relieved when I arrived in Tahoe City, which gave me familiar options (CA-28 or CA-89) for driving to Stateline (NV).  By 1420, I was on CA-28 and I made my way into the built up area of the town (I'd never visited Tahoe City before).  I found a parking spot at Commons Beach and walked around on a bike trail (Tahoe City Lakeside Bike Path) there - there were also kayaks available on the beach and I was very tempted to rent one.  Hoping to take advantage of some amenities at Tahoe Ridge before it got dark, though, I decided to return to the junction of CA-28 and CA-89 - I then followed the latter around the western side of Lake Tahoe.  It was great to see that the bike trail continued along the side of the road and I wished my foot felt better... Along the way, I passed through Meeks Beach and got great views of Emerald Bay (which I'd visited last year during my November visit).  Eventually, I was able to get on US-50 and was soon driving into South Lake Tahoe.  At 1530, I stopped to do some shopping at Safeway and picked up a lot of food so I could cook in the kitchen in my timeshare unit.  After I was done (1545), I drove into Stateline (NV) and got on NV-207 (Kingsbury Grade) so I would reach Tahoe Ridge Resort.  I forgot to mention that, by this point, I'd started to get some annoying phone calls from a man at the resort - he kept asking when I would arrive so he could "send staff home".  I took this "sales call" tone to mean that he was one of the folks who try to get you to upgrade your timeshare and started to think about ways I could politely tell him I was not happy to be rushed.  When I reached the main building for Tahoe Ridge (where I'd bought my time share last year but had never stayed overnight), I was able to complete the check in process rather easily.  After that, though, I encountered the annoying sales guy.  Fortunately, I was (by then) ready for the discussion and never needed to employ any of my "Work Jim" strategies on him.  Instead, he was visibly deflated when I told him that I already had a preview meeting scheduled for the next day (it was set up last week at David Walley's) and that his enticements didn't even approach the benefits I'd already been promised.  His reluctant surrender (he had to give me my room key) was rather satisfying, I'll admit...  I was in my room (the Plaza Building) by 1625 and was ready to relax for a while.  However I then encountered my next challenge: the head (forced water heaters in the baseboards) was on full blast and I couldn't figure out how to shut it off.  The reservation stressed that the room had no air conditioning but I didn't expect to be in a furnace!  I called the front desk for for help but had to wait for about 30 minutes for a maintenance man to arrive.  By then, I had started a (previously scheduled) phone call with Brenna - we ended up talking for about 75 minutes and caught up on a lot of good stuff.  The heat scenario wasn't completely resolved, even though I did get help in reducing the temperature.  I'd opened a window during the call with my daughter but was warned to close it again due to an infestation of bees (visible all over the walls of the building).  Somehow, I didn't let the situation kill the buzz of being in another spacious and comfortable room - this one even had a spectacular view of the Carson Valley to the east.  Hoping to get some relief from the heat, I started a walk around the Resort property at 1845.  This was basically an amenities check and I talked to a female colleague of the annoying sales guy (he had left) and learned a lot more about the things I could do during my stay.  I located the pub (Beartrap Lounge) on resort property and learned about their daily happy hour that should be good!  Along the way, I stopped at the Fitness Center and (in street clothes) road on the stationary bike there (four miles in 20 minutes).  Finished at 1935, I walked back to my room, enjoying the views of the lights in the valley below.  I will admit, however, that my short sleeved shirt may not have been a good choice for the descreasing temperatures at 7500ish elevation... In my room again, I did some Duolingo exercises and tried to sooth the angry bursa in my foot - even though ice helped a little, it REALLY hurt.  This sucks...  I spent some time reading and watching YouTube before knuckling under and preparing a (very) late dinner in the kitchen in my room.  Bedtime for my eventful day was at 2230.  It was nice to have a weekend break in Marin County but I'm glad to be able to do some more exploring in Western Nevada!  Pacific Crest Trail Today = 0.1 miles / Grand Total PCT = 14.4 miles

Nomad Life - Day 351

One of the perks of having a dog is sometimes that they want to snuggle in bed.  On the other hand, Enzo woke me up a few times during the night and, when I went to use the bathroom, he took over the entire bed.  When I tried to move him out of the way (0500), he must have decided he'd have better luck with Kerith and left the room.  With a dog free guest bed in San Rafael, I managed to sleep until 0730 and then did some reading and puzzles.  At about 0800, I went downstairs to eat breakfast and then started getting ready for a morning dog walk.  Just then, though, Kerith texted to tell me she was doing her "morning rituals" and wouldn't be ready to go anywhere until about 1000.  This was fine and I spent time catching up on some computer stuff.  It factors into my Nomad Life later so I'll mention that I felt some Achilles tendon tenderness during this time but thought nothing of it.  I became so engrossed in my work and somehow lost track of the time - as a result, Kerith came down to the living room and didn't find me.  And, when I did realize it was almost 1000, I started getting ready, thinking I'd time her arrival and Maverick's eye drops just right.  Somehow, though, she departed on the walk with the dogs and I "missed the bus".  That was OK but I'll admit that I had wanted to go.  Oh well...  When Kerith and her dogs returned from their rounds in the neighborhood, she told me how they'd taken the longest walk they'd done since Maverick's surgery.  That seemed like good news so I consoled myself that she had promised me another Kerith/Jim hike.  After she felt good about leaving the dogs home alone again (1120), we departed from her home and drove (via US-101) to Mill Valley.  The day was already sunny and warm (mid 60s).  Unlike our earlier attempt to get gas, Kerith was able to reach the Arco Station in Sausalito where I'd poured gas on the pavement back in December 2025 (ugh...).  The prices where were much lower there than anywhere else nearby and I (once again) thought about how expensive it must be to live in the Bay Area...  Kerith admitted that she didn't like the pumps very much either and asked if I could fill the tank.  After agreeing, I was VERY careful and we soon were ready to continue to our adventure for the day.  While making our way to turn north on US-101, I got a brief view of Alcatraz Island - wow!  Kerith eventually got us to some back roads that led into the downtown area of the town of Larkspur and, soon after that, parked her car in a residential neighborhood in the Baltimore Canyon.  Almost immediately, I started asking her about whether we'd been there before - the swanky homes and ubiquitous redwood trees were so familiar,  Kerith pointed out that we had hiked on a similar trail in Mill Valley the previous year and that this (the Dawn Falls Trail) was one of her favorite hikes.  We started hiking, armed with water bottles this time, at 1210.  Like yesterday, the temps were very high (high 80s) but we were able to stay cool in the shade of the redwoods.  During the course of our walk in the woods, we hiked through neighborhoods, a dry river valley and up a steep slope that led to the falls.  We encountered lots of dogs and Kerith wanted to greet every one of them.  My legs and feet felt good (in the newer boots) and we had more good conversation.  Kerith, who had just returned from a multi-day hike in the Dolomites, stayed in the lead and I was content to stay behind, especially since I had no idea how long we'd be going.  It was a wonderful walk and I really felt comfortable with Kerith's pace and upbeat energy.  We turned around after seeing the dry falls and returned to the car - when we finished (1440), my pedometer said we'd hiked about 5.8 miles.  Next, we drove into Larkspur again.  Feeling hungry, we stopped at Zonda Meats (a place Kerith's friend, Amy, liked to eat) and ordered some food (empanadas and a Milanese chicken sandwich) to go.  The staff were very friendly and we definitely got a good meal deal (1455).  I had to laugh when Kerith told me she wanted to find a good beer.  I suggested that we stop at a nearby grocery or liquor store but we went back to her house instead, where she opened up the second bottle of Pliny the Elder and poured two glasses.  Within minutes, though, she asked if she could have mine and I opened a bottle of wine from her extensive collection.  For the next hour, we relaxed on Kerith's patio and enjoyed the endorphins we'd created during our hike.  The temps were very warm (high 80s) but we stayed cool in the shade.  Overall, the vibe was really great and I felt even more certain I'd made the right decision to drive over to the Bay Area from Nevada.  Eventually, we ate the dinner we'd brought home (very good).  At about the same time, Kerith gave Maverick more eye drops.  After that, we took the dogs back to Los Ranchitos Park and then called an audible - I ran back to get the folding chairs and we spent another 45 minutes resting in the shade while watching a young family playing with their frisbees on the grass of the park.  It would have been very easy not to move from this spot for the rest of the night but, as it got dark, Kerith suggested we return to her house for some movies.  She'd never seen it so I suggested we watch “The Way” - she really seemed to like it.  Unlike last night, she was not ready to go to bed early and we ended up finishing the last two episodes of “The Rainmaker” series (Season 1).  I tried one of her delicious vodka drinks in a can and was feeling pretty relaxed until I suddenly discovered scary evidence for heel bursitis on my other (right) foot.  Ugh...  Hopefully, the terrible two year ordeal with the left foot will help me get back to health again soon.  At 2200, Kerith finally told me she was ready for bed and we said goodnight.  I was tired (and a bit worried about my foot) so only did some Duolingo before going to bed at 2230.  It's been a wonderful visit to San Rafael and I'll be sad to leave in the morning...

Nomad Life - Day 350

With the earlier bedtime, I work up at Kerith's home (San Rafael) much earlier this morning (0630).  Since it was another vacation day (I took PTO), I didn't get on my computer immediately.  Instead, I spent time reading, working on Duolingo exercises and puzzles.  Outside, the early morning air was cool and the air was very misty.  At about 0800, I went downstairs and found Kerith giving Maverick his morning eye drops - he seemed like he was doing much better than when I'd arrived and this made my friend very happy.  While she was busy, I ate breakfast and then joined Kerith on her couch for her morning routine of watching YouTube videos (mostly financial).  We ended up in some good conversations about investments, taxes and decisions after retirement.  Since she has just embarked on that new life, I learned a lot from her.  At 0900, I joined Kerith and her dogs for another walk around Los Ranchitos Park.  By then, it was sunny and pleasant (63 F).  During this stroll, my friend told me she really wanted to take a longer hike with me but couldn't bring the dogs.  As a compromise, she suggested we leave Maverick with Enzo (who she said was always a good sitter for his "brother") and drive to a nearby park for a hike - just the two of us.  So, about 20 minutes later (1005), we arrived at the parking lot for the Terra Linda Sleepy Hollow Ridge and started out on the trail in the beautiful Marin Highlands.  Almost immediately, we met one of Kerith's friends, who turned out to also have gone to High School with me in the 1980s - what a small world!  Beyond that encounter, we had a nice walk on pavement and dirt through shady trees.  However, we soon came out into the open and it was clear the day was going to be very hot.  I'd forgotten to bring any water and was also walking in some new hiking boots.  Still, the pretty views of the (San Pablo) Bay from the rolling hills we were hiking on were amazing.  Along the way, we started talking about medical treatments and nutrition - Kerith is amazing in her knowledge of such things.  Things were going well but it soon became clear that finishing the entire walk (which would have taken hours) was going to turn into a miserable, sweaty slog.  As a result, we turned around early and headed back (via some different trails) towards the car.  By the time we finished (1130), my pedometer said that we'd already walked about three miles.  I'll admit that I'm glad we stopped at that as the temperatures continued to climb.  From the trailhead, Kerith headed south on US-101, hoping to fill up her gas tank.  With prices looking scary ($6.50 and up), I didn't blame her for trying to reach the best station - sadly, the traffic was horrible and we missed a turn and ended up on I-580.  Before I knew it, we were exiting at San Quentin - only a short time after that, we might have seen the actual ocean...  But, I then understood that Kerith wanted to return to her dogs as soon as she could and sat, quietly, as she drove us home.  After verifying that Enzo and Maverick were doing well, she served me some of her homemade split pea soup - it was good (even though she kept apologizing for the salt).  Feeling full, I was definitely up for another walk with the dogs when Kerith suggested it (1400).  This time, though, we brought some folding chairs and ended up sitting in a shady place in the corner of Los Ranchitos Park.  By then, temps were in the high 80s; fortunately, the humidity was low and I didn't feel uncomfortable.  I'd brought a book but we ended up talking for most of the 45 minutes we spent in our comfortable spot.  By 1500, we reluctantly returned to the house so that Kerith could take Enzo to get his nails clipped at a roving Vet Clinic nearby.  Meanwhile, I sat down at the table in her kitchen and logged into my computer (for the first time in nearly two days) so I could catch up on eBird and blog entries.  Surprisingly, Maverick (who was definitely still unsettled due to his surgery treatments) stayed with me and fell asleep at my feet.  Kerith returned at 1625 and let me know that she wanted to take a break (I read that as "nap").  For once, I guess the dogs read into this and didn't follow her up to her bedroom - instead, they stayed with me and relaxed while I continued working on my computer.  The time passed quickly and I was genuinely startled when Kerith appeared again at about 1725.  I think she was really surprised that she'd been able to have such a nice break and that the dogs hadn't reacted negatively.  One thing, though - she was completely ready to go out for dinner and I had to hurry to get ready.  At, 1735, she drove me into downtown San Rafael, a place I'd only been when I visited in December 2025.  When we arrived (1745), we parked on a side street and walked to The Burren House. which had a nice Irish Pub vibe.  It was very loud, however, and I had trouble with the conversation at first - fortunately, it quieted down about halfway into our dinner.  We ended up sharing a few dishes (salmon on brown toast, chicken wraps); I also tried some Oktoberfest beer and Kerith had a cocktail.  The food was good, our conversation was very nice (as it had been through the whole visit) and we learned more about each other (including details about our time on Cape Cod when we were very young and barely knew each other).  Dinner finished up at 1930 and we headed back to the car (I reached about 3.5 miles for the day during this walk).  By prior agreement, I drove us back to Kerith's home - I'm glad that I had my full faculties because the road was a series of strange cross-walks, side streets with people trying to enter, barriers along the shoulder and cars parked oddly in the thoroughfare.  We made it home unscathed and, while administering the last round of Maverick's eye drops, Kerith turned on another episode of "The Rainmaker" - we had definitely caught the bug of liking the series.  In fact, we actually started a second episode but then Kerith started falling asleep.  Like last night, I promised to wait until she was awake before continuing and we said goodnight.  At about 2100, I went up to the guest room to read and watch YouTube videos.  I was just about to turn out the light (2300) when I suddenly heard some noise in the hallway.  At first, I thought it might be Kerith but then the door opened "by itself" and I heard some huffing and puffing.  It was Enzo, who had forsaken his normal bed in the living room (downstairs) for a chance to sleep in the guest bed.  This welcome development delayed my sleep a bit but I was able to get to bed by 2345.  What a nice day with Kerith and her dogs!

Nomad Life - Day 349

Vacation!  For the first time in a while, I took two days off during a work week and it felt great (but strange) to sleep in late (0730).  Of course, part of this was the fun I'd had with Kerith until very late last night...  At about the same time that I first started stirring, I received a visit from one of Kerith's dogs, Enzo.  Even though I was on a high bed, he was very creative in using a ramp to join me while I was reading, doing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  It's nice to be around dogs again!  At about 0830, I went downstairs and settled down on the couch of Kerith's home in San Rafael.  She had left the patio door open and the pleasant, cool air was quite rejuvenating.  Looking around (Kerith had said to make myself at home), I soon found the food she'd bought for my visit and I took my time eating breakfast in the kitchen.  Shortly after I finished my morning meal, Kerith and the dogs appeared and I got to watch another round of eye drops for Maverick (recovering from his surgery).  Just after 1000, I joined my friend and her dogs for a walk around the neighborhood.  The sun was brightly shining, birds were singing loudly and it was still relatively cool (65 F, although hotter temps were forecasted).  We ended up meeting a lot of other dogs and friends of Kerith's and the dogs genuinely seemed very pleased with the exploring.  One of the largest features they enjoyed was (Los) Ranchitos Park, which offered a large area of green grass for them to roll-around in and smell.  During our walk, Kerith admitted that she did not normally stay up as late as we had the previous night (nor drank as much) - she felt very tired and unmotivated.  I apologized for disrupting her schedule but she assured me that she'd enjoyed our time together.  However, her admission did mean that we would spend the rest of the day in her home.  That was fine with me - driving all day and keeping myself busy with "YOLO" activities can be exhausting...  Back at the house, we rested in the living room (more eye drops for Maverick) and then spent time on the patio.  She had lots of flowering plants and fruit trees - I convinced her to pick some limes and I think she was surprised to find they smelled so nice and fresh ("I never do anything with them").  Another highlight of her private area was the number of (Anna's) hummingbirds that frequented the Dahlia bushes and "straw flowers".  I felt very relaxed in the green space and may not have moved for hours.  However, Kerith suggested that we head over to the local Farmer's Market and we departed (by car) at 1225.  She drove to one place, where I guess the event was usually held, but she then remembered that the market had moved over to the Marin Civic Center property.  There were lots and lots of tents and it took a while to find all the food options.  I might even have kept looking but Kerith mentioned that the booths were all going to close within about 20 minutes.  When I started trying to order, however, I found that most of the tents had already run out of food.  Eventually, I found a vendor (Ultimate Souvlaki) who offered a kind of gyro-wrap - that seemed like a good lunch and they even had some cold tea that Kerith liked.  We ate the food while we walked until I spilled a nice-sized chunk of meat on the ground - after that, we sat down to finish.  There was barely enough time after that but we walked through the other stalls before leaving (1310) - it was really great how they had so much fresh (and organic) produce but Kerith told me it was very expensive.  However, she raved about how popular the market was ("It's even bigger on Sundays").  When we arrived back at her home, Kerith had to give Maverick more eye drops but then we started watching the streaming service series "The Rainmaker".  Along the way, Kerith prepared some nice bowls of chips and a tasty dip for us.  During one break in the show, we got into an intense conversation about our childhoods on Cape Cod and I thought maybe I'd really upset my friend (she might have thought the same thing).  Fortunately, we were able to defuse the situation and returned to a happy equilibrium of relaxation and friendship.  At about 1700, I went with her and the dogs for another walk in/near (Los) Ranchitos Park - by then, it was much warmer.  I reached two miles of walking for the day and, when we got back to the house, Kerith started working on dinner; she went all out and made a delicious  skirt steak in her air fryer, sautéed cucumbers on a skillet, and rice in a special cooker.  The food was wonderful and we had some great conversations while enjoying our time together.  Normally, I don't binge watch shows but "The Rainmaker" was very interesting - we ended up viewing about half of the Season 1 episodes in the course of the day.  After it got dark, the temps dropped quickly and we opened the windows to cool down the house.  Kerith ran out of steam at 2145 and suggested I keep watching the series - I told her I would wait until we could see it together.  After that, I said goodnight and adjourned to the guest room.  There was time for Duolingo and a bit of reading (one of Kerith's books) before I went to bed at 2230.  What a pleasant, lazy day in the Bay Area!

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.  One of the best things I noticed as I turned off the car was that I had well over a half tank left and had only driven about 230 miles.  This good fortune will help me to avoid filling up at the expensive stations I've been seeing ever since I arrived in California.  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 even 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!