Nomad Life - Day 364

Today's plan was to finish my work day early and do some hiking on the Continental Divide Trail!  Since I didn't need to start as early as usual, I set my alarm for 0640 - however, I woke up at 0540 and then started teleworking immediately.  At 0740, I took a break (door lock started working) to walk over to the main building of the Gunnison Inn at Dos Rios (Gunnison) for breakfast.  There was thick frost on all of the vehicles and the temps by then were only at 33 F (partly cloudy).  There was a great selection of food (surprising due to the low cost) and I was very satisfied by the time I returned to my room (0800).  As I continued working, I discovered that I was underneath the flight pattern for the airport - lots of people were practicing landings.  When I reached 3.5 hours for my work day (1030), I took a break from my computer and checked out of my hotel.  Thankfully, by then it was sunny and 45 F.  With all the research I'd done to make sure I had good conditions for a hike, I felt like I'd hit the jackpot.  I should also mention that I had wrestled with which route to take (US-50 or CO-114) and ultimately concluded that the lower pass (North Cochetepa) would make for better conditions and help me avoid an extremely steep descent on the east side of the Rockies.  As a result, I only used US-50 to drive through Gunnison and then switched to CO-114.  By 1055, I crossed into Saguache County and entered a narrow canyon which initially contained the climb.  Later, the canyon expanded in width and I found myself in the Gunnison National Forest; fortunately, the grade wasn't too dramatic.  As has happened several times while I have been looking for the CDT, I didn't see any obvious signage or blazes.  As a result, I climbed too high on CO-114 and ended up at the parking lot on North Cochetepa Pass (10135 feet).  Backtracking a bit, I carefully made my way west and back down the mountain until I noticed a tiny CDT sign at the entrance of CR-31.  Even though this road looked more like a trail, I drove north in the dirt for a little while.  About a half mile from the pavement, I found a CDT sign that indicated that the trail branched off the track (which continued towards the northwest).  (Note: later, I figured out that I'd been at mile marker 1039.25 for the CDT.)  After executing a tough three-point-turn in thick mud, I drove south to the place that most looked like a CDT parking lot (this was mm 1038.0); along the way, I'd driven about 1.2 miles where the trail was synonymous with a road.  At 1150, after gearing up for my hike, I walked through the gate at the trailhead and headed SOBO.  The conditions were pretty good - I was crossing through a big dry meadow; only later did I think about the elevation and realized I'd been hiking above 9.5K feet!  The temps were in the mid 50s and the trail was comprised of squishy mud.  I saw a lot of horse/cow patties and large elk prints (only then did the ubiquitous signs for "Elk Hunters" make sense).  Eventually, I reached what looked to be a semi-drivable dirt road and followed it (still going south) until it crossed Pine Creek.  (Note: this was mm 1036.25).  Uncertain about how long I might have to walk before seeing another landmark - or even a CDT sign/blaze - I turned around and walked back towards the car.  When I reached it (1320), my pedometer reported that I'd hiked 3.6 miles (1.8 new miles of CDT).  If I could the 1.2 miles of driving on CO-114 and CR-31 north of parking area, it meant I'd had a three mile day of new CDT miles.  This was also, I noted, the first time I'd recorded any miles in the State of Colorado and I felt pretty good, all things considered, after the scare with my heel bursitis.  Bonus: this section was coincident with the Colorado Trail (my first hike on that too) and I shared some photos with my finish friend, Inka, about that accomplishment.  My boots were very muddy so I changed out of them (and clapped them together, hoping to dislodge the dirt) before departing the trailhead at 1330.  Continuing east on CO-114, I crossed North Cochetepa Pass and entered the Rio Grande National Forest.  I could see a long row of high snow capped mountains ahead of me but, in my immediate vicinity, had a gradual descent into a wide, expensive valley.  There were lots of cattle and a small, meandering creek that dominated the low-lying terrain nearby.  Later, I saw cowboys rounding up cattle with four wheelers and horses.  Beyond that, I passed the Trickle Mountain (BLM) parking lot (and access road ?).  At 1405, I entered the town of Saguache (7697 feet) and switched to US-285.  From that point onward, the terrain was almost completely flat but this belied that I was still in the 7K range of altitude above sea level!  Hoping to continue the excellent conservation I've been seeing this month, I slowed down below the speed limits and let everyone (including some big trucks) pass me.  The area had beautiful long views of snow covered peaks in all directions.  In a few places, I crossed the Rio Grande River, which looked quite small.  At 1455, I arrived in the town of Monte Vista (about 100 miles of driving since Gunnison) and turned west on US-160.  Three miles later, I reached my hotel, the Best Western "Movie Manor", which featured two drive-in screens behind it and movie themed room names.  During the summer, the rooms get a great view of nightly movies, with sound available through speakers in the room.  After checking in (1455), I made it to my room (named for Cary Grant, with the Sally Field room next door).  This was the earliest I’d checked into a hotel in a while and I loved having the extra time - I spent the rest of the afternoon finishing my telework day (30 minutes), catching up on my travel blog.  At 1745, I went back outside and took photos of the property (wish I could have seen a movie presented there...) before walking to Eduardo’s Mexican Grill (next to hotel).  Inside, I ordered some good food (enchiladas) and beer.  Like so many places I've seen over the last 15 months, this was definitely a local watering hole.  During my meal, I was fascinated while listening to local ranchers talking about flooding across the valley (including on their own property).  I appears that I got VERY lucky to have used the route I did - I avoided massive flooding in the Southwest corner of Colorado...  When I was done eating (1820), I walked back to my room and spent the evening making social media posts, doing some more blog catchup, finishing Duolingo exercises and watching movies.  I was finally ready for bed at 2330.  What a great day of mountain hiking!  Continental Divide Trail Today = 3.0 miles / Grand Total CDT = 47.0 miles

Nomad Life - Day 363

Since this trip began, I've been trying to verify (though old notes and this travel blog) if our family went to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in 1984.  Try as I may, I didn’t have direct evidence and hadn't taken credit for that NPS Unit.  Still, the feeling that I'd been there as a youngster was pretty strong (it was likely the North Rim because we visited Rocky Mountain National Park just before driving to Grand Junction)...  Earlier this week, I decided to resolve the issue once and for all by visiting the park this afternoon - the entrance to the South Rim was only about 20 minutes from downtown Montrose.  With this goal in mind, I woke up at 0500 (with alarm) this morning and started teleworking.  At 0730, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Econolodge (Montrose) before returning to my room for more teleworking.  With the blessing of the hotel staff, I kept working until 1200.  Even after I checked out, though, I stayed online (in my car) for another hour, although I took a short break to order lunch from the Arby's right next door.  The day was sunny and pleasant (50s) and I was able to keep the windows open while I worked.  When I was finished (1300), I left Montrose and drove east (via US-50 and CO-347) to the National Park.  At the entry gate, the Park Ranger suggested that I should check out "something unique for this side of the Canyon": the East Portal drive to the edge of the Gunnison River.  I eagerly accepted this suggestion and made my way down into the eastern end of the Black Canyon.  The road had a 16% grade at times (yikes) and I could see my destination for most of the drive.  After I reached the bottom and found some shade in the deep canyon, I rested my brakes and then gradually made my way to Crystal Dam (end of road) - by then, I was over five miles from the entrance.  By that point (1330), I switched into birding mode and found lots of interesting species, including my first sighting of a Pine Grosbeak.  The river was full of fly fishermen and I enjoyed all the shade and silence of the deep canyon.  After checking out some short trails nearby, I started the climb back up to the South Rim Road - I was very careful during this drive...  Once I was on the main road through this part of the park, I drove west along the canyon.  Like I'd seen in the East Portal area, there was significant fire damage along the route.  It was still pretty sunny and getting warmer (low 60s).  On the other hand, there was almost no wind and the high, dry elevations made short sleeved shirts an option.  For the rest of the afternoon, I stopped at several places and hiked on the available trails there: Tomichi Viewpoint; Visitor Center (found a spectacular view behind the building there at 1430); Pulpit Rock; Cross Fissures (from there, I got a view of North Rim visitors on the opposite side of the Canyon); skipped areas closed due to NPS construction; Chasm View; Painted Walls; Cedar Point (I encountered an NPS crew of young folks working to restore area damaged by fire and enjoyed reading the tree ID signs); kipped Dragon Point; and High Point (end of road cul-de-sac).  At this last location, I could see out of the canyon towards the Northwest - the horizon in that direction was dominated by the Elk Mountains.  Taking advantage of this stop, I hiked about 100 yards of Warner Point Trail and reached two miles of walking for the day.  One thing that happened at nearly al of the places I stopped was I had an extreme feeling of falling off the steep cliff edges - other folks commented on the same thing.  I think the difference between this park and others with canyons was that Black Canyon was formed differently (sheer drop off of huge slabs).  At 1545, I made my way back to the park entrance (first time with cell signal for a long time) and descended down CO-347 to US-50.  From there, I headed east - almost immediately, I had a big climb over Cerro Summit.  Beyond that, I stopped in Cimarron, which was part of Curecanti National Recreation Area, and checked out the Morrow Point Dam (1620).  Hoping to visit some more sites for this NRA, I continued east into Gunnison County (1640) and then climbed over Blue Mesa (AKA Blue Creek) Summit (8704 feet) and then descended into a deep.  When the terrain opened up again (1700), I stopped at the Lake Fork (a boat launch area for the Blue Mesa Reservoir) unit of Curecanti NRA) and took another hike.  The water was way down and there were tons of mosquitos.  It was actually a steep descent to the water's edge but it was well worth the effort, birding-wise.  When I was finished (1715), I continued east on US-50 - the road followed the reservoir for many miles and was quite beautiful.  Just after I passed the Bay of Chickens (1725), I stopped at Elk Creek Visitor Venter (7500 feet).  Even though it was closed, I found some good signage and did some more birding.  Along the way, I reached three miles of walking for the day.  There was a large RV Park at this location but I also saw several others as I continued driving east through the Gunnison River Canyon.  At 1755, I arrived at my lodging for the night, the Gunnison Inn at Dos Rios.  It turned out to be another Booking.com gem: the very nice property west of town was situated on on a golf course and price was very reasonable.  After checking in at the main building, I found my room (accessed with an old fashioned key) and, five minutes later, had resumed teleworking to wrap up my day (one more hour online).  Hoping to find some food and local beers, I left my room at 1900.  For some reason, I couldn't figure out how to lock my door - in the end, I took the risk and left anyway.  Next, I used US-50 to drive into Downtown Gunnison and found it to be a nice, outdoor sports kind of place.  I saw signs for Crested Butte and other nearby ski areas.  Eventually, I stopped for dinner at the Sherpa Cafe (Indian food).  My meal consisted of some delicious fried rice and naan.  Since there was no one else at the bar, I didn't tarry long - after finishing my meal, I was in my room again at 2005.  I watched movies for the rest of the evening and went to bed at 2330.  It was great to see the Black Canyon today!

Nomad Life - Day 362

First full day in Colorado during my Nomad Life!  This morning, I woke up at 0500 (with alarm) and started teleworking.  For some reason, I was feeling very tired.  While working in my room at the Red Roof Inn (Grand Junction), I skipped breakfast.  Along the way, I also did some cleaning in my room, which didn't seem to have been thoroughly checked before it was deemed "ready" for a guest.  Speaking of the staff, they knocked on my door before checkout time to see if I was leaving (meh).  Sadly, a late checkout cost almost 50% of the overall price for the room...  At 1100, I gave the desk clerk the key and went out to my car, where I worked for the next hour.  It was another beautiful day (sunny and in the mid 60s) so I rolled down the window during this phase of my telework day.  The view from my parking spot included a panorama of Colorado National Monument and I started thinking about driving up on to the top of that plateau (for the first time in over 42 years).  Taking into consideration the gas prices (although they'd dropped a bit since Nevada), the mileage on my car (and a hope to avoid costly maintenance) and a desire to get some exercise outdoors, I decided against a trip into the park.  Meanwhile, I started thinking about doing errands while I still had a good signal for my iPhone hot spot.  So, I drove next door to the Conoco gas station and topped off my fuel (1120).  As I mentioned, the prices were dropping (although it was for 85 octane) and I was pleased to see that my fuel conservation efforts had been successful (31.6 mpg).  Next, I drove (on US-6/US-50) to the southeast, looking for a lunch venue. Freddy’s and Chick-Fil-A were too busy and Panera was too far away - but then noticed a Sonic, which had no lines (1140).  I got some of their interesting "drive-in" food and relaxed in the shade while eating and continuing my telework day.  At 1200, I left Sonic and drove to nearby Las Colonias Park, where I parked at boat launch on Colorado River ten minutes later.  For the rest of the hour (through 1300), I teleworked in my car.  When I was finished, I had already logged 7.7 hours and felt confident about taking a break (it was 1500 on the East Coast).  Since I was parked at a trailhead for the Colorado Riverfront Trail (Riverside Park Section, Green Route), I eagerly changed into my hiking boots and started walking west.  I chose this location because Google AI suggested I'd have good luck with birding.  Along the way, I watched three paddlers launching their boats into the swift current of the Colorado River, was passed by lots of courteous (and fit!) bikers, walked through the edge of the Botanical Gardens and (just after crossing under US-50) reached the junction of the Colorado and the Gunnison rivers.  At intervals, I saw the three paddlers again - perhaps it was the route of the bike trail versus the route of the river but I was surprised that I could keep up with them...  At CO-340, I turned off the trail and (on the Purple Route) crossed the river towards the Redlands area.  By this point (just over two miles from my car), the birding had mostly been a bust so I decided to turn around.  The only other thing I'd like to note is that there were LOTS of homeless encampments along the whole trail - I could see why; the weather and the plentiful tree coverage made the area look very appealing for camping.  Using the Green Route again, I made it back to my car by 1455 (just over five miles on my feet).  Best news of all: my foot felt very good after the distance!  Though I've grown to mistrust AI (including after the birding bust this morning), I was convinced that a better birding opportunity might be possible near the East Entrance of Colorado National Monument, which was only about seven miles away from Las Colonias Park.  Filled with hope, I drove west to CO-340 and crossed the Colorado River - after that, I used Monument Road.  After entering the park (1515), I parked at the Devil’s Kitchen Trailhead and took a short walk there.  Using my binoculars and Merlin App, I did find a few species (although nothing like was touted by AI).  The area was very dry and the edge of the trail was lined with cacti.  Meanwhile, I managed to identify from “American Flyers” (1985 cycling scenes) in the distance.  The most prominent of these was the area used to film the Stage 2 climb (with the time bonuses) of the "Tour of the Moon" section of the "Hell of the West" race.  It's strange to think of how vivid my memory of Colorado National Monument was - in 1984, I hadn't heard of the park, didn't know any of the actors in the "American Flyers" movie (it was actually being filmed on the day we visited) and there were so many other moments of that trip that might have risen to the top.  But, like so many other stops recently, I had a strong sense of Deja Vu today.  With my (less than successful) birding efforts complete, I stopped at the Picnic area (across from from the trailhead) and then departed the park at 1545.  With thoughts of heading to my next hotel, I turned on an audiobook and drove back to CO-340, which connected me to US-50 and a routing towards the south.  The road turned into a spacious four lane highway and I entered Delta County at 1620.  Shortly after that, I had to follow a detour around the town of Delta but later ended up back on US-50.  At 1645, I reached Montrose County; I rolled into busy Montrose itself about 15 minutes later).  At that point, I was only about five minutes from my hotel but I decided to use the remaining daylight to explore the mountainous terrain to the south.  Actually, I really wanted to drive all the way to Telluride but it didn't seem that I'd have enough time (I was also reluctant because of the distance involved).  As a compromise, I used US-550 (two lane) and drove south in heavy traffic towards the tall peaks covered in snow.  At 1715, I passed through the town of Colona (Ouray County) and suddenly entered an area with rolling hills and lots of curves.  I reached the town of Ridgeway (6985 feet) and its one traffic light at 1730 and changed to CO-62 (westbound), which was the route to Telluride.  To the south (my left), I could see a long ridge of the majestic San Juan Mountains - wow!  The sun had already started to set behind taller peaks to the west so I got some amazing lighting effects.  Below the tall mountains, there were pretty green farms with cattle and crops - the whole thing looked like something from a movie about the Alps.  Meanwhile, a goal had formed in my head: if I could just reach the town of Sams, I'd enter San Miguel County and could get some more new birding statistics.  The idea worked out even better than that - I was able to stop at the Dallas Divide (county line) at 1745 and park along the side of the road there.  During a 10 minute break, I only saw one crow but it still counts for my eBird updates...  After feeling satisfied that I'd done all I could do to learn more about Southwestern Colorado and locate bird species, I  backtracked towards Montrose.  For some reason, there was lots of traffic in that direction too.  After reaching Montrose and turning east on US-50, I reached my hotel (Econolodge) by 1845.  In my room, I teleworked until just after 1900 (work day completed) before getting ready to visit a brewery I'd noticed on the way into town.  I then drove to the nearby Horsefly Brewing Company and ordered a flight of 6 of their beers.  Even though I hadn't really planned on eating dinner there, I noticed that they had a special for the night: a Navajo Taco!  It had been years since I ate one of those so I took advantage of the opportunity.  Meanwhile, I watched World Series Game 5 on the TV.  There were other Milwaukee Brewers fans near me and I got to talking with one, Mike (a "cement pourer").  He was so interesting!  It turned out that he was pouring cement for new buildings at Telluride with a truck that used a long, metallic "hose" to direct the stream.  We talked about construction projects, the mountain weather, life in Colorado and baseball.  It ended up being a very enjoyable evening.  Finished with my fun, I was back at the hotel by 2100.  After that, I used AI to research lodging and other travel options that I needed for the coming weekend - as a result, I was able to make hotel reservations through November 2.  The rest of the evening included reading, Duolingo, YouTube videos and texts with friends. Bed time was at 2315 and I felt very ready for the next day, when I planned to drive across the Continental Divide and take a hike on the Colorado Trail (AKA, in this area, the Continental Divide Trail)!

Nomad Life - Day 361

With the drive across the Great Basin mostly finished, I was able to settle back into a regular Nomad Life rhythm.  This morning, I woke up at "the new" 0500 (alarm required) and started teleworking immediately.  At 0800, I went to eat breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Richfield) but was back online by 0815.  Otherwise, I teleworked until my late checkout time (prearranged)  Outside, the day was sunny, with temps in the high 50s.  After leaving the hotel (1200), I drove across UT-120 and topped off my fuel tank at the Flying J at noon.  My fuel conservation skills had yielded 32.2 mpg and I was pleased with the rather good price.  Next, I resumed teleworking (in the shade) in the gas station parking lot.  I was able to finish a productive day by 1300 and then departed from Richfield on I-70.  Hoping to prepare for driving over mountain passes with extreme grades, I spent some time during this drive playing with the manual options on my Subaru.  Hoping to find some more birds in yet another Utah County (especially after so much success yesterday), I got off the Interstate and followed UT-24 to the north - later, I used US-50 and US-89 to reach the town of Axtell (Sanpete County).  I parked at the Post Office in the tiny hamlet (which was apparently founded and is still heavily populated by Mormons) at 1325.  While I didn't ultimately see any new bird species, I was able to record a few of the usual suspects before departing (1335).  I used US-89 to return to the I-70 interchange but stopped at Love’s to pick up "lunch" (snacks) before getting back on the Interstate (1350).  As I was leaving the area, I noticed a Love's RV Park (I need to research that!).  Back on the Interstate (AKA US-50), I noticed that we turned noticeably east (we'd been headed more northerly before that) and reentered the Fish Lake National Forest.  Like the previous few days, I started trying to save fuel (slower speeds, cruise control, etc.).  This is much harder on the Interstate with big trucks and lots of terrain but I was mildly successful.  Along the way, I saw signs for the Old Spanish National Historical Trail.  I started noticing trucks with triple trailers - I haven't seen those very often...  SiriusXM helped me pass the time.  At one point, I climbed over an unnamed summit (7886 feet) but then descended into a series of pretty canyons.  As if anticipating my needs, the Interstate designers had placed a series of Vista / Viewpoint pullouts in this area - they continued all the way to the Colorado border and I stopped (and walked on "trails") at almost every one.  Highlights included: Salt Wash (1440, Emery County, ravens soaring); Castle Valley (Wasatch Plateau, red sandstone hoodoos & Navajo art for sale); Devils Canyon (1455), Eagle Canyon (crossed on bridge) and Ghost Rock Rest Area (1510, 7270 feet, San Rafael Swell).  After that, I started down a 6% grade that was also very curvy.  Hoping to rest my brakes, i stopped at the Spotted Wolf Canyon View/Rest Area (1535), which featured a spectacular view of the Interstate passing through a narrow canyon below (feat of engineering).  While there, I reached one mile of walking for the day.  The whole place gave me a 1984 Deja Vu feeling - I think I remember this place...  Continuing east, I finished the descent.  At the bottom of the grade, I got an amazing "gate view" in my rearview mirror; the westbound lanes had a rest area with a better vantage point and, again, it seemed familiar.  Beyond this, the land was flat for a long time - I was soon following a Tesla, my first drafting on the highway in quite a while.  Along the way, the Interstate joined US-6 (near Green River).  I entered Grand County at 1600 and started to notice terrain that reminded me of the Badlands of North and South Dakota.  At each bridge crossing, someone had spraypainted “Trump is Stealing from US” - otherwise, there wasn't much else to note about this part of the drive.  I crossed into Colorado at 1655; at the border, I passed a little obelisk as I entered Mesa County.  Soon after that, the hills started again and I noticed several Colorado River crossings.  I arrived in Grand Junction, where I planned to stay for the night, at 1720.  Just after I exited onto US-6 & US-50, I reached the Red Roof Inn - I was checked into my room 10 minutes later and resumed teleworking.  Finished with my work day by 1745, I left the hotel and drove to a trailhead for the Colorado Riverfront Trail (Monument View Section) - I'd noticed this cement pathway when I was driving into town.  Later, I learned that it had actually started in the town of Fruita (located just north of Grand Junction).  Starting at 1800, I walked west and got to witness a beautiful sunset over Colorado National Monument.  This hike stayed between mile marker 10 and 11.5 and I managed to get about three miles of walking in this section alone (coupled with another mile I'd done while visiting the Vista points on I-70, this gave me four for the day).  There was also come good birding to be found in the twilight.  Finished at 1915 (completely dark), I drove back to hotel and went to dinner at the restaurant, El Mescal, attached to the hotel.  While eating my Enchiladas Suizas, I watched a lot of World Series Game 4 and tried a Mexican beer.  When I was done (2015), I finally used up the annoying debit card (yay).  Back in my room, I used AI to plan more of my visit to Colorado (I would like to hike some of the CDT and make good choices in crossing the high passes).  There was also time for Duolingo, movies and more of the World Series Game 4 (extra innings).  At 2330, I finally went to bed.  This was another great day of working and driving in the afternoon - I should be well positioned for some outdoor adventures during the coming days!

Nomad Life - Day 360

This morning, I woke up at 0400 (with alarm) in the Jail House Motel & Casino (Ely) and started teleworking immediately.  Outside, it was sunny and cool (mid 30s).  Since it wasn't provided by the hotel, I skipped breakfast and, instead, worked until checkout time (1100).  At that point, I went outside to continue working my in car.  By then, the temps had risen to 53 F and it was shaping up to be another great weather day!  While working, I kept hearing loud noises near the hotel and later concluded that these were train whistles, probably related to the historic steam engine that runs during this time of year.  Back to my telework effort: I've been instructed to use my iPhone hot spot (i.e., no more Wi-Fi in hotels or restaurants) and this has mostly been seamless; however, I sometimes have unexplained drops (frustrating).  During one moment when everything was working correctly (1120), I moved my car about a half mile and filled up my tank at the Shell station on US-50 (on the east side of town).  Once again, I had great gas mileage: 32.1 miles to the gallon!  Next, I drove to the place where Google Maps said I'd find The Corn Dog Company.  When I arrived, I found only an open gravel parking lot.  A further search revealed that the business was a food truck, which never showed.  Instead, I drove to the nearby McDonalds and picked up lunch (to go) at 1135.  After that, I ate my mid-day meal in my car while wrapping up my telework.  Feeling like I'd made enough progress to take a break, I departed Ely at 1200.  Though I continued east on US-50, I was pleased to see that I'd found US-6 (which also drives on to Cape Cod).  Highlights of the drive included passing the Ely Elk Viewing area and several other interesting State Parks - sadly, most were a significant drive away from US_50 and I declined to take the bait.  Meanwhile, I entered Humboldt National Forest and, a bit after that, climbed over Connors Pass (7722 feet).  The flat area that followed definitely helped with my fuel conservation efforts and, bonus, there was very little traffic.  About 40 miles east of Ely, I started a very long climb that took me up and over Sacramento Summit (7155 feet).  After that, it was downhill and flatter as I made my way to the junction with NV-487.  Since I wanted to visit a new National Park Service Unit, Great Basin National Park, I took this latter road, saying farewell to US-50 ("Loneliest Road in America").  By 1305, I'd arrived at the Visitor Center at the entrance to the park.  Inside that building, I found an interesting little museum, which included a cross section of an ancient Bristlecone named "Prometheus".  On top of the display, visitors were allowed to look through a super-strong microscope to see the tiny rings.  Nearby, I found an interesting artifact: someone had, long ago, left behind their rifle (inside the park boundaries) and rangers had found it, still leaning against a tree, more than 100 years after it had been misplaced/lost/neglected.  Leaving the Visitor Center, I drove through the town of Baker (5318 feet above sea level) and got on NV-488.  During the drive deeper into the park, I toyed with the idea of taking a tour of the Lehman Caves.  By the time I arrived at the Visitor Center at that location, however, I'd decided not to tarry too long in the area - I still had a lot more driving to do.  Instead, I checked out the inside of the museum (it had mockups of the inside of the caves) and then made my way to the entrance to Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, a 12 mile route to the Bristlecone Forest.  I'd really wanted to see that but had been warned that the road had previously been closed due to recent storm damage.  Hoping for the best, I climbed up the narrow road above 9000 feet above sea level.  At times, the road had no shoulder or guard rails - the valley below seemed so close and I naturally skewed towards the "solid ground" (mostly on my left side).  The views of the Great Basin (to the north and east) were tremendous, though.  Sadly, I did find the road blocked at mile marker 6 miles.  This dead end, "The Mather Overlook", did provide good views of snow covered peaks nearby.  A ranger had told me it was only an 11 mile round trip if I wanted to hike to the bristlecones but I skipped this option and started back downhill at 1400.  In an effort to take care of my brakes, I made a few stops on the way down, including stopping to learn about the Osceola Ditch (manmade canal designed to improve mining operations).  I reached the bottom of the scenic drive and NV-488 at 1430 and then got on NC-487 again, hoping to pass through a few new counties for my birding statistics.  By 1430, I'd left Nevada (for the first time in nearly a month) and entered Utah (and the Mountain Time Zone).  From there, I was in Millard County and was following UT-21.  An ominous sign reported: “Next Services 75 Miles” and I was glad I still had plenty of fuel.  This drive, which was mostly flat with short climbs (including over Halfway Summit, 6253 feet), featured lots of "dust devils" and was covered with tumbleweeds, made me think that the "Loneliest Road in America" has a little brother...  Temps had risen to 62 F during this time but my detour for birding didn't really yield any sightings.  I entered Beaver County at (the new) 1605 and I noticed a change in the terrain.  In addition to the subsequent summits (both 6460 feet) being unnamed, I was soon driving down a pronounced downhill into actual farmland!  I passed through Milford at 1650 and encountered my first real traffic in days.  When I reached the town of Beaver (1720), I got on I-15 Business and made my way on to I-15 (north).  By this point, I had started up an audiobook and settled into a relatively easy drive with good speeds.  I did cross over one summit (6600) but it seemed very small compared to what I'd seen during the previous two days.  Before long, I reached I-70, which I took towards the east.  I entered Millard County again and was soon driving through Fish Lake National Forest.  The biggest pass in this area was called Clear Creek Summit (7180 feet).  At 1750, I crossed into Sevier County (a new county for birding) and began to pass through extremely rocky terrain which was mostly covered with taller trees.  The Interstate soon began a huge descent and I was careful with my speed and brakes.  Since I was still searching for birds, I exited I-70 and took US-89 to the south.  Just after that, I encountered a paved bike trail called (mostly) the Candy Mountain Express Trail.  While following this, I encountered lots of history and natural beauty.  On this latter point, the Marysvale Canyon I entered (Sevier River) was deep and dark and very pretty.  I was hoping to reach something called the Big Rock Candy Mountain and I passed this just after 1800.  However, I really wanted to get into Piute County, which was located just south of the landmark.  From 1820, I parked along the road (near the river) and turned on my Merlin App.  It was difficult to hear anything, though - by then, it had gotten quite windy.  It was also much cooler, especially with the sun going down.  My patience paid off because I got my first sighting of a Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay - he landed on a tree right next to my car and started singing away until my bird ID app registered him.  Score!  After that, I drove a short distance north on US-89 (Sevier County again) and parked at trailhead for Candy Mountain Express Trail (AKA Sevier River Bike Path).  Nearby, I could see a place that offered an overnight stay in a train car!  Between 1830 and 1850, I walked on the trail and did some more birding.  As I was crossing a rickety bridge over the Sevier River, I was startled to find a new kind of bird below - he was behaving very strangely.  While he didn't make any noise, his plumage and antics helped me determine that I'd had my first sighting of an American Dipper.  It's hard to believe that my decision to detour away from the "straight line" route in search of birds paid off so well today!  After one mile of walking, I got back in my car and headed north until I reached I-70.  By then, the sun had mostly set and a huge moon had risen in the east.  I started listening to World Series Game 3 and this made the time pass quickly.  I arrived at the Super 8 Richfield at 1910, checked in and quickly got settled.  At 1925, I walked next door to Arby’s so I could order dinner (ate inside restaurant).  After that (1935), I drove south on UT-120 hoping to find a sports bar the hotel clerk had told me about; sadly, I hadn’t heard the name clearly and never found it.  Back at the Super 8, I decided to walk around a bit more to complete my step goal.  During this time, I noticed a nearby gas station (Chevron) and started wondering if I could find an alcoholic drink there.  Actually, I didn’t have high hopes for finding anything affordable but was pleasantly surprised to find an extremely good price for a Cayman Jack Margarita (24 Oz) at 2000.  Feeling good about my good fortune, I continued walking in the parking lot until my pedometer informed me that I'd reached two miles for the day.  After that, I returned to my room and got set up for the next work day (this included officially wrapping up my telework day).  Meanwhile, I watched more of the World Series; strangely, this is the first TV I’ve turned on in a hotel in quite a while...  Before bed, I watched movies and did some Duolingo exercises.  Bedtime was at (new) 2320.  Very glad to have completed the long drive across the Great Basin - from here, I'll mostly be in the Rockies!

Nomad Life - Day 359

It's finally time to bid Lake Tahoe and the Carson River Valley goodbye...  I've had another great visit to the area and can't wait to return.  However, I need to make my way east again so I am in position when our family celebrates Thanksgiving together in Nashville.  With that goal in mind, I woke up at 0620 (no alarm) this morning and did my normal weekend reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  Weather-wise, the day started with low 30s temps (same as night before) and I got my last pretty views of the valley (partially covered in a low level of clouds) far below my room at the Tahoe Ridge Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations).  Before long, I finished getting packed and cleaned up my spacious room in the Plaza Villa.  Along the way, I ate breakfast (leftovers) and even had time to walk up to the top floor of the Villa to soak in the hot tub again.  The weather up there was very windy and cool but I managed to last for about 25 minutes before I headed back downstairs (0825).  After packing up my car, I returned to the room and spent some time making reservations for the next few days.  Sadly, there was no room availability at NAS Fallon...  After milking my stay at the Tahoe Ridge Resort for as long as I could, I finally departed (1000) and started making my way down into the Carson River Valley.  By then, the temps were in the mid 40s and I'd been blessed with another sunny day.  As I drove down the steep hill on the Kingsbury Grade, I had to contend with my TPMS readings again (one tire).  Things looked safe enough and I decided to keep driving and fill the tire at the next easy opportunity.  At the bottom of the Sierra Nevadas, I was able to look back up to where I'd come from - the snow capped peaks (one like a pyramid) were so majestic!  I turned north on NV-206 and drove through Genoa (1020) - this was a different route than I'd used previously so it was nice to see some new scenery (e.g., sheep, cows, alpacas and green farmland).  Along the way, I passed by Jacks Valley trailhead - that looked interesting.  Eventually, I was back on US-395, which I used to reach Carson City and I-580.  After driving about halfway around the eastern "beltway", I got on US-50 and headed east.  By 1055, I'd reached the town of Dayton (Lyon County), which was apparently famous for it's Comstock District ("first gold discovered in Nevada); I was tempted to stop at the State Park there but decided to continue.  Just after leaving the town, I found myself on a fast four lane highway that had signs about horse crossings at regular intervals.  Actually, I soon encountered some of the wild ponies and took some photos.  At Silver Spring, the four lane ended and I followed US-50 on a two lane track further east.  The day was still sunny (temps in mid 50s).  At about this time, I started to understand the name for the route as the "Loneliest Road in America" - it seemed so remote.  I noticed signs for the Carson Route of the California Traril & Pony Express and I could easily imagine the lonely, frustrating expanse of the Great Basin and its psychological effect on anyone who chose to come this way...  Almost the entire route had warnings about being Open Range but, fortunately, I didn't have to dodge any cattle on the pavement.  I entered Churchill County at 1130 and made a short stop (for birding) at North Shore Marina (there was a State Recreation Area there, the site of the historic Williams Station) on Lahontan Lake.  When I was done (1145), I got back on US-50 and continued to the town of Fallon (arrived at 1200).  For the first time in a while, I saw a lot more civilization and green things - what a contrast!  I followed a four lane through the town and then followed some back roads to the entrance of NAS Fallon (east side of town).  When I got inside the gate (1215), I reflected on how much my life had changed since the lats time I'd been on base (it's been 30 years).  At the NEX Gas Station, I topped off on fuel (1220) and tried to use their air pump to fix the tire pressure that had triggered the TPMS warning.  Sadly, this pump didn't work - but I was saved by an observant employee at the Auto Hobby Shop next door.  He said he'd been assisting other personnel with air for a long time and didn't charge me.  What a nice guy!  Nearby, I located a little shop called the NEX "Micro-Market" ("Fallon Quick Stop"), which acted as a 24/7 self serve option for people to pick up snacks and supplies.  While experimenting with it, I got a nicely priced lunch.  Glad to see that they have such nice options for the Troops.  Next, I drove towards the flight line and found an expansive Air Park that included nearly every kind of Navy aircraft that was flying during my career.  Even better, they featured several "Aggressor" aircraft (mostly MiGs).  My favorite aircraft was the S-3B I found that had been painted with VS-32 colors.  Its BUNO was something like …0571 or 6057 (my log book doesn't have one like that).  I walked around on the paved walkway in the park and really enjoyed the break from the highway.  Continuing closer to the fence, I found tons of Hornets parked near the Tower, including one from VFA-37 (squadron in my old airwing).  Realizing that I needed to get going again soon, I tried to leave the base using some Google Maps guidance.  That was a mistake and I had to explain my presence to a nice security guy.  By backtracking, I managed to return to "Civilian Land" by 1315.  As I made my way (via NV-118) towards US-50, I had to laugh at all the tattoo & casino signs I encountered.  That was my recollection of the place from the 1990s and it doesn't appear that much has changed.  Back on the main highway, I continued my drive to the east.  Along the way, I continued conserving fuel (i.e., driving about 65 mph, below the speed limit) and didn't have problems with people on my bumper (plenty of room to pass me).  In the early part of this segment of my drive, I passed a lot of messages, written in stone, on the sandy flats east of Fallon.  I also (coincidentally) heard the “Top Gun Anthem” on my SiriusXM as I drove across the old lake beds.  When I eventually reached the Sand Mountain, I had a flashback to 1996 and a day trip I took with my Navy friend, Al W.  A bit after that, I crossed over Sand Springs Pass (4600ish feet).  Beyond that point, I started to see some huge mining operations and passed several Navy Bombing ranges.  I knew this valley - both from that 1996 outing and from flying a low level through it.  In this area, I saw one of those famous "low flying aircraft" signs (going to fast to stop, though).  I passed through more lake beds as I made my way across the Dixie Valley and up to Drumm Summit.  When I later passed the junction with NV-361, I noticed a sign for the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, which I visited during that 1996 trip.  At 1405, I stopped at "The Shoe Tree", a landmark I'd learned about when I visited the Shoe Tree Taproom in Carson City the previous week. Even though it wasn't apparently the original tree, there were plenty of shoes dangling from the replacement.  Actually, I would have driven right by this attraction it if I didn’t know about it,  Before getting back in my car, I walked out in the middle of highway and looked back to the west - the road stretched as far as I could see...  On the high peaks that surrounded the area where I was, there was some powdery snow - winter isn't far away, I guess.  Back on the road, I passed Cold Springs Station and crossed New Pass (6248 feet) into Lander County (1445).  The snow on the peaks in this area was much thicker.  After another short drive on flat land, I climbed over Mount Airy Summit (6679 feet).  Shortly after that (1510), I rolled into the historic town of Austin.  Tempted to stop, I looked at my clock and decided there was no time; I needed to keep going if I wanted to avoid driving in the dark.  Just east of town, I had to climb a huge hill with lots of switchbacks.  When I crossed over the ridge, I found myself in Toiyabe National Forest and started passing through/over a series of rolling hills.  There were more temptations to stop in this area, including prominent signs for a "petroglyph park".  But I pressed on.  A bit later, I crossed Hickison Summit (6400ish) and then found a flat, straight road again.  By 1550, I entered Eureka - strangely, it took me another 35 minutes before I entered the actual town of Eureka...  At this point, I started seeing signs for the Lincoln Highway, which I've been on several times over the years (but it's not always US-50).  Beyond Eureka, I found more rolling hills and big curves.  Soon after crossing over Pinto Summit (7376 feet), I entered White Pine County (1635) and started to see signs (posted by the BLM) for the Great Basin Heritage Area.  If I understood some of the cues, I was driving through the Newark Valley, which had some of the flattest and straightest highway of the whole day.  I should mention that I had been passing the time with SiriusXM NFL updates and a bit of audiobook.  Otherwise, I might have been bored out of my skull...  I crossed Pancake Summit (6517 feet) and found another section of highway with lots of hills and curves beyond it.  These must have really been climbing me a lot because the next pass was called Little Antelope Summit and had an elevation of 7454 feet!  After another short jaunt in a valley again, I climbed up over Robinson Pass (7607 feet).  Shortly after that, I started a long descent.  Just west of the town of Ely, I passed a colorful manmade mountain (dirt from a big mine).  After pausing at a sign for US-50 ("Loneliest Road in America", I finished my drive into Ely (elevation = 6490 feet) by 1740.  The character of the little town was really great and I was very glad I reservation for a hotel stay there.  It took a little time (because the complex of buildings was bigger than I'd expected) but I soon found the Jail House Motel & Casino (Ely) and got checked into my room without too much trouble.  Sadly, though, my room (which had the name format of "Cell XX") door wouldn't let me in and I had to return to the front desk to get a new key.  With that problem resolved, I stashed my stuff and departed to explore the property and town.  First, I walked through the old Casino itself and found a fully stocked bar.  Heading outside, I checked out the immediate area and walked east along "The Strip".  The walls of the old buildings were covered by pretty murals; I also found a lot of monuments to the local mines, Pony Express, railroad and the Lincoln Highway.  At 1810, I sat down in Rack’s Bar & Grill, which purported to be the "local's favorite".  The food (gyro with fries & homemade "fry sauce") and the beer (a can of Revision Emerald Bay IPA, from the Lake Tahoe area) were great.  Through talking with the lady bartender, I got to meet the local "Council of Grand-Poo-Bahs" (my name for them) and find out more about life in Ely.  I watched football on TV while eating but was done at 1925.  With my evening meal completed, I walked back to the area where the casinos were.  Along the way, I explored the inside of the Hotel Nevada & Gambling Hall.  After that, I walked west and discovered a “Mustang Ranch” complex, a series of red buildings anchored by the historic Big 4 Ranch ("oldest brothel in Nevada").  I didn't see any activity nearby but I guess they are discreet, despite their prominent location along US-50...  After that, I reversed direction and made my way back to the Jail House.  Briefly considering a workout on a stationary bike, I asked about the Fitness Center and was directed to a different building.  I managed to find it but didn't use any of the equipment.  Instead, I focused on my step goals - ultimately, I reached three miles of walking for the day.  In my room again (2005), I spent the rest of the evening reading and watching movies.  Feeling tired earlier than I had all week, I went to bed at 2230.  What a memorable drive - I'll never forget my drive across Nevada on US-50!

Nomad Life - Day 358

Even though I hadn't set an alarm and was hoping for a late wakeup, I found myself completely awake at 0040 this morning after only one hour of sleep.  That was weird...  Fortunately, I was able to get back to sleep and didn't feel the need to get out of bed (very dry mouth) until 0600.  Almost immediately, I noticed that the room was as cool as it has been during the whole week.  Feeling awake and refreshed with the better environment, I spent time reading, working on puzzles and completing Duolingo exercises.  Along the way, I found out that some lights had stopped working in my room.  At 0840, I decided to go outside to explore more of the Tahoe Ridge Resort (by Holiday Inn Club Vacations) and do some birding.  It was foggy, breezy and very cool (35 F) and I wore a light jacked.  At one point, I was startled to see snow flakes!  The birding was still successful, somehow, and I was treated to my first sighting of White-headed Woodpecker.  Along the way, I visited the Clubhouse to check on Brunch.  Since it was not going to start until 1000, I had time to go to the Fitness Center and ride the stationary bike again (20 minutes, 4 miles).  Very glad that I was able to get seven straight days in the gym!  Finished with my workout (0910), I went back outside and checked out some of the amenities that I'd (thus far) only seen in the dark.  Along the way, I hit some golf balls at the driving cage, putted some balls on the expansive green and returned to Wedding Venue - it was set up for a ceremony!  At 0940, I visited the Bistro - it was still early but the staff took my order before the official opening time.  I sat at the bar and watched College Football Games.  Just as my food arrived, Lola walked by (she greeted me) and started passing out Bingo cards.  This was a nice touch and I enjoyed playing (two games) while I ate my delicious food.  During this time, the (drunk) group from the shuttle bus last night (Sean & Shawn and the Columbian party girls) arrived for their own meal.  In the end, they actually won prizes and (surprise) even noticed me.  True to their harmless, friendly character, they invited me to join them for a Knight Monsters Game that evening (I politely declined).  When I was finished (1030), I went to pay with the last of my "comp" food vouchers (given to me by Ciro at the Owner Update).  While talking to the cashier, we both concluded that we'd met before - at David Walley's - and had a good laugh about it being a small world.  Before departing the Clubhouse, I did some printing in the Business Center and walked around a bit more.  Back in my room (1045), I did some travel blog catch-up and planned outdoor activities for the afternoon.  Sadly, this was my last full day at the Tahoe Ridge Resort but I was determined to make sure I didn't miss anything...  At 1420, I left my Villa again and drove down the mountain (towards Lake Tahoe) until I could park next to the Ridge View Villa (outside the "security zone" for the Resort).  I climbed to the top of the building and there, as I'd been promised by Laura (gift shop manager), I found a great hot tub with a spectacular view of Lake Tahoe.  Wow!  When I sat in the jacuzzi with my back to the building, I could see the entire vista to the west and felt VERY glad I'd visited.  As I'd seen at all the other hot tubs this week, I didn't encounter any other people.  Even though I wanted to stay longer, I still had some things I wanted to see - many of the activities had been recommended by people I've met during my visits in 2025 and 2026.  So, reluctantly, I departed from Ridge View at 1500 and drove the rest of the way down to South Lake Tahoe (arrived at 1510).  From there, I followed US-50 to the west until I was able to locate (near the junction with CA-89) the entrance to the Tahoe Keys neighborhood.  Like so many other places I've visited around the lake, I found this area to be a wonderful mix of old, new, vacation and urban escape.  When I arrived at the Marina, I parked on a cul-de-sac near the trailhead for the Cove East Trail (recommended by the lady at the Lake Tahoe Visitors Center).  Starting at 1525, I walked the full length of the (dirt) trail and marveled at all the views of the water, mountains, homes and boats on Lake Tahoe.  Along the way, I did some bird ID with a lady and her dog.  To the south, I saw (for the first time this week) how much snow had already settled on the peaks to the south (I think those might have been close to Carson Pass, where I was last week).  When I was done with my walk (foot feeling good), I departed (1610) and returned to South Lake Tahoe.  My first stop there was at MacDuff's Pub (recommended by Thomas at the time share sales presentation in November 2025).  As he'd told me, the place had a very nice vibe and a large selection of alcoholic beverages.  People were (as usual) very nice - I will definitely have to return!  I did try their signature/house beer and caught up on the most recent CFB games.  Since I hoped to attend Mass, I finished up my drink and departed (1640).  On the way back into Nevada, I was able to get a short call with Erin (we talked about her new job).  At 1655, I arrived at Our Lady of Tahoe (where I'd attended Mass last November) and I joined the (lightly attended) service on time.  The Priest gave a good Homily and I felt very welcome.  Afterwards (1755), I drove a short distance to Nevada Beach (Stateline) and found a parking lot on the street leading to the entrance (the park was already closed for the year).  By 1800, I'd started walking on the trails there and reached four miles for the day.  It felt so good to be "back to normal" with my foot!  In the west, I got another nice view of the sun setting behind tall peaks on the California side of Lake Tahoe.  It never gets old...  At 1840, I left the beach and headed back towards Tahoe Ridge Resort.  On the way, I stopped at a little pub called the Fox & Hound (recommended by the Tahoe Ridge Shuttle Driver).  I was able to get another local beer and ordered a plate of nachos.  The latter was so big (and full of jalapenos) that I couldn't finish it.  Meanwhile, I watched part of World Series Game 2 - the action was very exciting and I realized it had been many years since I actually cared about the Fall Classic.  The vibe was good and there weren't many other people in the bar - I enjoyed myself tremendously.  Finished at 2030, I drove the rest of the way back to Tahoe Ridge Resort.  Because of my lateness (and because it was a weekend night), I had trouble parking; eventually, I was able to squeeze into a spot and made it to my room at 2045.  For the rest of the evening, I did another load of laundry (it's so nice to have a machine in my room!) and started packing.  There was also time for Duolingo and programs on my streaming services.  I finally went to bed at 2300.  It's been a great week in my timeshare!

Nomad Life - Day 357

Last night was the best I've had during the whole stay at Tahoe Ridge Resort - I think the lower room temperatures helped.  As usual, I woke up with my alarm (0400) and started teleworking.  Outside my window, the clouds above the well lit valley created a strange effect and this became even more pronounced during the sunrise.  Once it got lighter, fog descended on the valley from the east - before long, the Plaza Villa was enveloped in a thick white shroud.  I suppose none of this is surprising because temps were in the 30s.  While continuing to work, I skipped breakfast but, later (1100), ate an early lunch (leftovers).  Meanwhile, the weather improved steadily until it was completely clear on the ridge line and even in the valley (although I saw some clouds on the far eastern horizon).  Hoping to take advantage of this development, I took a break at 1300 and visited the Knoll Pool and Hot Tub, which were located (via a bridge across the main road) next to my building.  When I arrived, I found the place deserted and I settled into the water in the pleasant weather (sunny and mid 40s) .  Strangely, I found the hot tub to be warmer than the David Walley's Resort hot springs I'd visited yesterday - aaaaahhhhh.  I stayed in the jacuzzi for 30 minutes - some other people came by at the end but none got in the water with me.  During this brief window of relaxation, I did some birding and had a spectacular ringside seat to a golden eagle flying by at eye level; he was soaring from Lake Tahoe (which I could see) in the direction of the Carson Valley.  My Merlin App also helped me get my first Evening Grosbeak sighting.  Back in my room again, I resumed teleworking and didn't get offline until 1530.  After that, I did some travel blog catchup.  Since I still had food vouchers for the Bistro Pub at the Clubhouse, I got ready and departed from the Plaza Villa (on foot).  Suddenly (1600), I noticed that the shuttle bus, which departs for South Lake Tahoe every two hours, was passing.  This seemed like an excellent opportunity to try out a new amenity and also avoid driving my car for another day - as a result, I boarded and joined a few other guests as the driver took us down into town.  We got dropped off at the Transportation Hub (on the California side of the border) at 1615 and I started exploring in the immediate vicinity.  Since I also had my "gift card" (from attending the "Owner Update" at Tahoe Ridge Resort), I used it first (1625) at a place called The Baked Bear, which made custom ice cream sandwiches.  Wow - what a treat!  I sat in the (otherwise empty) restaurant and enjoyed this snack.  When I was done (1635), I donned the winter coat I'd brought with me (first time in many months needing it) and continued exploring nearby.  I found an interesting Arcade that offered all day game play for $20 - I was tempted but kept on walking.  Instead, continued looking around in the area and located a Lake Tahoe Visitor/Information Center and got some maps.  The nice lady there told me all about an old "Bear Mascot" type campaign that featured colorful bear statues that used to stand in front of local businesses.  Over time, the program lapsed and now all of the statues that were preserved are being stored in the Visitor Center.  While I was talking to her, she happened to mention that she lived near a place called the Tahoe Keys.  When I asked her to tell me more, she pointed out the neighborhood with manmade water courses (for boats) that was located on the western end of South Lake Tahoe.  She also pointed out (on a paper map she gave me) a trail system that she said offered good walking near the Tahoe Keys Marina - that ought to be a good place for me to check out my (mostly healed) bursitis...  Next, I visited the bar inside the Stateline Restaurant & Brewery, where I ordered a flight of four (of only five) on-site produced beers.  The establishment also boasted a large selection of whiskeys but I didn't try any.  The World Series (Game 1) was on the TV and I enjoyed seeing the two teams (Brewers and Rays) playing.  I briefly thought about ordering food but I was still full from the ice cream sandwich.  As I was wrapping up my visit (1735), I used the debit/gift card again - it wasn't easy to use (I had to go through my iPhone wallet) and I began to wonder if the support staff would get the tip I added (Note: they eventually did).  Beyond the bar, I walked deeper into South Lake Tahoe (i.e., south on US-50) and skimmed the outside edges of the fancy Marriott Resort property.  In the end, I walked all the way down to The Pioneer Trail (road).  After crossing US-50, I walked back to the north, doing some birding on the way and checking out businesses I'd missed while driving by in my car.  Actually, this was the first time I noticed a lot of things in this area - I've always been in a hurry to get away from the area, I guess.  Before long, I entered Nevada again (Stateline) and revisited each of the casinos.  Last year, I'd done a lot more (in terms of exploring amenities) but, today, I was really just getting my steps.  I walked through Caesars Republic, Harrah’s (using the underground tunnel) and then walked back across US-50 to the Golden Nugget, where I stopped in at the Saltgrass Steakhouse for dinner (1815).  Though I still wasn't very hungry, I had the soup & salad combo and talked to the nice people working there.  Just like happened during my visit in November 2025, almost all the guests were "pre-gaming" for a Knight Monsters game (Opening Night).  However, there were far fewer fans than I remember from the last visit (the bartender agreed).  After wrapping up my visit (1900), I explored the Golden Nugget a bit more and then crossed over to the Bally's (where I'd stayed last year).  I should have commented earlier about this but every casino featured "over the top" Halloween decorations - I also noticed some with special Halloween celebrations or haunted houses (I didn't go inside any of them).  Along the way, I visited Harrah’s again and then walked back into California.  This time, instead of just passing it by, I explored the Heavenly Village “Base Camp".  It was very nice, with lots of restaurants, bars and activities (and lots of pretty lights).  It was also VERY busy.  For the first time, I got to see where the Gondola goes to the top of the Ridge - still not sure I'm ever going to do that...  After four miles of walking (my foot still felt great), I got on the Tahoe Ridge Resort shuttle bus that was already waiting at the Transportation Center (2010).  At first, I thought I'd be alone during the ride.  In the end, though, a "pack of drunks" (6) arrived at the last minute.  They were happy, loud and boisterous from the start but didn't seem to notice me or the driver.  I had some flashbacks of my time in the Navy - we had similar drives to/from casinos...  With its mostly harmless passengers, the shuttle bus departed South Lake Tahoe at 2030 and we had an eventful ride (e.g., Sean and Shawn and the Columbian traveler girls) to the top of the Ridge (arrived at the Clubhouse at 2045).  Since it was still early, I went to the Fitness Center and rode the stationary bike for 20 minutes (4 miles).  During this session, it occurred to me that the exercise at 7500 feet this week has been great for my health.  After getting done, I walked back to the Plaza Building (very cold and windy) and was in my room by 2120.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies, did some Duolingo exercises and caught up on my reading.  Sadly, I (again) got distracted by an interesting AI search and didn't go to bed until 2345.  Very glad I took advantage of all the good amenities at my time share resort today - hoping to try some more this Weekend!

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!