A RAILROAD IS REBORN

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad was a product of the huge Comstock mineral discovery, at Virginia City, NV, in the 1860's. It connected Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, and later, Minden, NV. It's initial, primary purpose was to haul ore from Virginia City, down the hill to the smelters along the Carson River, near Carson City. For about 50 years, until the 1920's, it was one of the most successful short line railroads in America. Then came the auto, the truck, and highways. From there it was a gradual decline, until the Virginia City branch was abandoned in 1938, and the complete line was abandoned in 1950. In 1975, an individual named Bob Gray, was successful in laying about 3 miles of track on the original line, out of Virginia City. This was a rebirth of sorts, for the V&T, and it has continually operated out of Virginia City for almost 35 years.


A little over 20 years ago, (about 1988), I rode my dual sport motorcycle (86 XRL650 Honda), from Virginia City, down the hill on the old railroad grade to Mound House, NV on Hwy 50. I can remember thinking, that most of the old grade was intact, and except for a few places, it wouldn't be that hard to lay new track on this historic section of the V&T. I knew at the time, that would probably never happen, and was content to see the scenery of what was a famous section of the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. About 4 or 5 years ago, I started reading about an attempt to re-open the railroad between Carson & Virginia City, but there were huge obstacles, not to mention the millions of dollars necessary to make it happen. When they actually started re-laying track a few years ago, it looked like the re-birth of part of the V&T was really going to happen. When it opened in August of last year, it became a prime target on my radar, and yesterday, Patty and I made the round trip from the new station, just east of Carson City.

This was only the second trip of the new season, and despite a problem with the almost 100 year old steam engine, we made the trip up the hill, arriving in Virginia City at about noon. We had 3 hours in town before the return trip, so, after lunch, we walked the historic main street, checking out all of the attractions. During the 3 hour layover, the engine crew worked on the engine, trying to fix a hot bearing on one of the drivers. It was about 45 minutes late returning to the station, so our arrival back in Carson City was close to an hour late. (That's called AMTRAK time)


For this train addict, it was an incredible steam train adventure, including the extra stops going up the hill, to check the problematic engine bearing. We enjoyed the time in Virginia City, as we had not been there in about 20 years. Not much has changed, except the sound of the steam whistle, that can now be heard all the way down the hill to the outskirts of Carson City. This morning, we're headed north toward the Bend, OR area, where we have a reservation at the Thousand Trails. We have a couple of days to get there, so, I plan on leaving late, and not driving very far. I often like to stop in out of the way places, which can sometimes be a problem with internet connectivity. As we travel, my plan is to update the blog every day, unless we're in an area with no Sprint connection.

A RUN INTO RENO

The Saturday of Memorial Weekend, was a day that I solved a small issue that I caused, by leaving home without my motorcycle helmet. Oh yea, I remembered just about everything else, all of my camping gear, riding boots & clothes, G.P.S., etc. But, the one thing I absolutely need is a helmet, and it's sitting at home in the garage. When we were in Jamestown, Everett loaned me a dirt bike helmet, that actually fits my fat head. But, I've become so fond of my modular helmet that I purchased in Montana, when I got the KLR, I decided to get another one. We drove into Reno, and I found another 2x, modular helmet at Road Rider, near the Reno H-D store. It's not as good as the one at home, but it will due for the summer.

On the way out of town, we stopped at a brand new Scheels, next to the freeway in Sparks. The gal in the office at the RV Park had mentioned this unbelievable store, so we decided to check it out. The best description that I can give, is that it's a Cabelas on steroids. This store is so big, it even has a Ferris wheel inside the store! From guns to sleeping bags, there isn't much that an outdoors man would want, that they don't have.

We walked around the two levels for an hour or so, and made one purchase, then headed back to Fernley, where the motor home is parked. This morning, we're headed to Carson City, (about 45 miles), to ride the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. More about that in tomorrow's blog.

SNOW IN THE SIERRAS

After checking, and rechecking the weather forecast for yesterday, particularly in the central sierras, we decided to hit the road for Nevada. I had made a reservation at a Passport America RV Park in Fernley, NV, so we said good bye to the Lake of the Springs T.T., leaving mid morning to a combination of sunshine and showers. By the time we reached Auburn, CA on I80, it was mostly sunshine, and despite the Friday start of Memorial Day Weekend, the traffic over Donner Pass wasn't that bad. As we climbed the west slope of the Sierras, it wasn't long before we started seeing a whole lot of that white stuff called snow. There was so much snow at the top, that I fully expected to see a bunch of skiers at Boreal Ski Area. Instead, it looked like a ghost town, not a soul to be seen, as we cruised by with all of the other traffic headed toward Nevada. Just past Truckee, we started to see construction ahead signs, and when I saw that wide loads had to exit, I knew we were coming up on some very narrow lanes. Sure enough, near the CA/NV border, the truck lane was reduced to 10' in width, with temporary concrete guard rails on the left, and a metal guardrail on the right. The outside width of our motor home is 8' 6", so if I split the lane perfectly, that left 9" of clearance on either side. When we first started RV'ing, with this type of scenario, I probably would have been panic stricken. This situation wasn't that big of a deal, however, I must admit that the intensity of my concentration went up a couple of notches. We buzzed through Reno, and arrived at the Desert Rose RV park in the mid afternoon. We're here for 2 more nights, and tomorrow, we'll drive the 40 miles or so, to Carson City, where I have tickets to ride on the new, extended, Virginia & Truckee Tourist Railroad Yahoo!

LEAVING CALIFORNIA

We've been parked here at the Thousand Trails, Lake of the Springs, for the past 6 nights, and for the most part, the weather has been pretty wet. This morning, the sun has peaked out of the clouds, and it's time to move on down the road. We have a reservation at an RV park east of Reno, but were not sure if we were going to make it over Donner Pass on I80, until these storms were out of the area. It looks like the worst has passed, so we'll be heading up to about a foot of fresh snow at the higher elevations. Our stay at this T.T. has been enjoyable, and it was convenient to where our friends Bob & Jeanette are work camping this summer. We visited with them twice, and will reunite this fall in Lake Havasu where we both have homes. But for know, hitch itch has set in pretty hard, and it's time to get on the road.

A VISIT WITH BOB & JEANETTE

This Thousand Trails Preserve is called Lake of the Springs, and is located in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet. We're in between Marysville and Grass Valley, and the park is next to a lake with a private launch ramp and all of the amenities you might expect with a lake in your backyard. It's one of the nicer T.T. parks that we have stayed in, with the exception that we again cannot use the computer in our motor home. Our Sprint air card will not pick up a strong enough signal, so we've been using the WiFi in the clubhouse. It's not that big a deal, but we've been spoiled, and it's a bit of an inconvenience to move out of the motor home in order to use the computer. We are about a 45 minute drive from where our friends Bob & Jeanette are Camp Hosting on the Yuba River. We visited with them day before yesterday, and are meeting them today for lunch. They work for a private company who has a contract with the U.S. Forest Service, and they take care of several campgrounds, all located next to the Yuba River. It's a beautiful area, very similar to the central Sierra Nevada Foothills, where Patty and I spent so many years. The closest town to where they are working is Downieville, on Hwy 49, and that's where we're headed for lunch. We first met Bob & Jeanette in 2004, during our first work summer in Skagway, Alaska. When we learned that they were also from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, we've been friends ever since. The rain came in last night, and it's still raining this morning. Hopefully, it will clear out by Friday, when we will be headed over Donner Pass, to spend some time in the Carson City, Reno area.

A WHIRLWIND 4 DAYS

Due to the lack of an Internet connection in Jamestown, the 4 days that we were parked at Everett and Lori's, were back in the dark ages, so to speak. It's amazing how reliant we have become on today's technology. On the first of those 4 days, we drove to Stockton, CA. to visit my Aunt Martha. We spent a couple of hours catching up with what has occurred in our lives during the last year, particularly, learning about Martha's trip last summer to Montana. She is doing well, still driving, living in her home of many decades, and maintaining her independence with visits from daughter Diane. Patty and I are looking forward to a visit with Martha's daughter, Karen, and her husband Dan, later this summer in Coos Bay, OR. On one of the days in Jamestown, Everett, his cousin Ray, and I rode Harley's down to Art & Linda's Tulloch Lake house, where we met Art. From there, we rode up to the top of Priest Grade, and had lunch at Priest Station. We ended the ride back in Jamestown, where I touched base with some of the familiar faces at Jamestown Harley-Davidson, and visited with a few of the old customers. In between all of the running around, we dropped our Beagle Sami, off at the Vet for a fatty tumor removal, and her annual teeth cleaning. She ended up spending 2 nights with the Vet, but everything turned out better than we expected, so she is doing well at almost age 13. On Saturday morning, we said so long to Everett and Lori, and thanked them for their super hospitality. As I've said before, we always look forward to our stops in the old hometown, where good friends like Everett, Lori, Art and Linda, make the time very special. The drive to where we are currently, the Thousand Trails near Grass Valley, was about 4 hours, and we arrived late afternoon on Saturday. Yesterday, we drove about 30 miles to where our friends Bob & Jeanette are camp hosting at a Forest Service Campground on the Yuba River. Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll catch up with the time, and the blog will once again be current.

A VISIT WITH DAVE

As predicted, we have been parked at Everett and Lori's in Jamestown without an internet connection. Sure, I could have taken the computer, and located a wireless location, but it just wasn't a high priority. We always enjoy our visits with Everett and Lori whenever we're back in CA. More on that stop later. After leaving our overnight spot behind McDonalds in Mojave, we drove over the Tehachipi's, and stopped in Bakersfield for fuel. Diesel in CA is about 25 cents more per gallon than in AZ. From there it was a short run up Hwy 99 to Merced, and a visit with Patty's son Dave. This was our first opportunity to see his new baby, an English Bulldog named Bachus. What a cutie, or as Dave says, "he's a chick magnet". He and Sami ran around the house together while we had a nice visit. Later, we went out to dinner, and we decided to park there for the night, since it was getting late. The next morning, we made the hour or so drive up to Jamestown, and got parked at the East RV Park before they got home. Even though we both have acclimated to the desert environment, it's always nice to return to the grassy fields and green trees of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, where we spent so many years.

RAIN IN THE VALLEY

We left Mojave yesterday morning, with nothing but blue skies covering the high desert. The weather forecast for central CA was quite the opposite however, with rain predicted as far south as Bakersfield. Sure enough, as we made our way over the Tehachapi's, we could see the clouds ahead, and near the bottom of the pass, it started to rain. I stopped at the Flying J, north of Bakersfield, for fuel ($3.12 for diesel), and a new windshield wiper blade. It rained off and on, as we traveled north on Hwy 99 through the central valley, and about the time we arrived at David's house in Merced, the rain was pretty much stopped. After a short visit, and introduction to his new bulldog puppy, we went out to an early dinner. According to Dave, the house he is trying to buy in Modesto, is finally moving toward closing, and it shouldn't be too much longer before he is able to move. When that happens, his commute to work will be about 5-10 minutes, instead of 30-45 minutes. After dinner, he and Patty drove to Modesto, to check on a friends dog, while the friend is on vacation. While they were gone, I watched the Phoenix Suns lose the first game of their playoff series with the dreaded L.A. Lakers. Today, we make the short drive to our old hometown, where we'll park at Everett & Lori's for a few days. Again, this will probably be the last blog post until we leave Jamestown, unless Internet connectivity has improved.

DRIVING IN THE DESERT

Marc and Chandra picked up Laila yesterday morning, and we pulled out of the Pima County Fairgrounds around 9:30 am. It's always bittersweet when returning our grand daughter to her parents. The time we have with her is so special, watching her almost grow before our very eyes. I must also admit, that a 4 1/2 year old turns your typical routine upside down, and despite Laila's behavior being almost perfect around Grandma and Grandpa, there is a little sigh of relief when she is returned to Mom and Dad. Yesterday being Sunday, we drove west on I10, straight through Phoenix, across the Mojave Desert, and into the outskirts of L.A. There seldom is a reason to drive through L.A., so I left I10 in San Bernardino, and climbed the Cajon Pass on I15, took Hwy 395 north to Hwy 58, then west to Mojave, CA. Since the bypass was put around Mojave, I hadn't been through that town in years, but it was getting late, (around 7:30pm), so I drove to the McDonald's, where there is a large parking lot behind the restaurant, and we stopped for the night. According to the GPS, we covered 546 miles, and it was a good day on the road. Today, we'll stop in Merced, and visit with Patty's son David, then up the hill to Everett and Lori's in Jamestown for 5-6 days. This probably will be the last post until we leave Jamestown, because that is about the only place in our travels, that we haven't been able to connect to the Internet.

3D AND DRAGONS

Laila had never been to a movie theater, so we decided to see if we could find an age suitable film, and take her. The one we picked was "How to train your dragon", an animated movie in 3D. I can't remember the last time I watched a 3D movie, but it's safe to say that it's been a whole lot of years. 3D technology and animation have come a long way since I was a kid. (Yes, there was 3D that long ago). We arrived at the movie just in time to catch some of the previews, and things didn't start well, as the sound was loud and the 3D glasses were too big for Laila. I thought, this might have been a mistake, but when the movie started, the initial complaints disappeared, and all 3 of us really enjoyed the movie. It was a little intense at the end, but Laila acted like she really enjoyed this new experience. After the movie, we stopped at the children's play area, and I think that was as much fun as watching her first movie in a theater. For sure, she burned up some of that stored up energy, and after a fruit drink, we headed back to the fairgrounds for a long bicycle ride, where we watched some of the horse men and women doing the horse thing. This morning, Marc and Chandra will be coming by to pick up Laila, and we'll sadly say so long for about 5 months, as we head north for the summer. I'm glad we decided to start our trip here in Tucson, where the grandchild fix will make the summer long absence a little easier.

THE DESERT MUSEUM

Yesterday, was a day of exploration at the Desert Museum, a place that Patty and I have visited twice before. This was Laila's first experience, and despite a relative short attention span, we were quite surprised at her interest in many of the exhibits that we didn't think she would much care for. The Desert Museum is a world renowned example of showcasing the desert environment, with emphasis on those animals that exist in this dry habitat. Even though it was only in the mid 80's, unfortunately, during the middle of the day, many of the animals were not very active. In addition to the desert animals, many of the other exhibits are kid friendly, like the desert cave, that Laila and Grandpa explored in the semi-darkness. It was a fun day, that served one purpose very well. The energy of a 4 1/2 year old is at times, unlimited. The several hours of walking through the desert museum took some of that energy, and despite no afternoon nap, bedtime last night was uneventful. Another activity that used up some of that energy was 3 long bicycle rides around the fairgrounds. In just one day, Laila has mastered the art of getting the bike going on her own, and the use of the pedal brake. Despite a couple of close calls, there haven't been any tip overs, and we're keeping our fingers crossed. As the speed increases, she hasn't quite learned where the danger zone is regarding speed and turns. The training wheels only work to a certain point, and it probably will take a small crash for her to learn how far she can push the envelope. We're keeping our fingers crossed, along with the band aid and neosporin close by.

LAILA'S FIRST BICYCLE

Our drive from Lake Havasu City to Tucson, usually takes about 6 hours, and yesterday was no exception. The only thing different about an otherwise normal trip, was the excessive number of insects that decided to commit suicide on my windshield. Yuk, what a mess! Shortly after we parked the motor home at the fairgrounds, we drove over to Marc & Chandra's, where Chandra fixed a nice dinner. Just before dinner, Grandma whispered to Laila, that Grandpa had a surprise waiting for her outside in the jeep. Once that had been disclosed, Laila was all over Grandpa, wanting to know what the surprise was. So, outside we went, and when we had Laila open her eyes, a brand new bicycle magically appeared. It didn't take her long to get the hang of peddling the new toy around the cul de sac, in front of the house. When it was starting to get dark, we had to call a halt to the bicycle riding, and went in for dinner. I loaded the bike in the jeep, and after dinner, the three of us headed back to the motor home. Laila spent some time playing with Sami and Gracie, and after some desert, it was about time to call it a day.

LEAVING THE LAKE

Today is our departure date for this summer season of 2010. We usually hit the road each year around the middle of May, and this year is no exception. Our drive today will take us to Tucson, a little over 300 miles, where we'll spend a few days with Marc, Chandra, and Laila. In fact, we plan on keeping Laila in the motor home for a couple of nights. Plus, we have a brand new bicycle to spoil her with. From Tucson, we'll be heading for a few stops in CA, then our intended path will take us to the Pacific Northwest for most of the summer. If our 2 animals knew what the plan was, they both would probably be shouting - "we don't want to go, let's stay here in the big house". Even though they are both good travelers, it takes a few days on the road for the adjustment to take place. This is always a time of great anticipation as to what new adventures we will find, and where the road will take us. This year, there is no master plan like there was last year, when we made a counter clockwise circle around the U.S. Fewer miles this year, with longer stays in different locations, mostly places that we have not yet explored. So, the alarm system has been checked, the alarm company notified, the motor home is packed, and hopefully, we haven't forgotten anything, as we depart for the summer.

THE LONDON BRIDGE & A MINDFREAK

A few days ago, we read in the local newspaper that on May 8th, Chris Angel, the illusionist/magician, was going to perform some sort of escape from the waters below the London Bridge. Well, we said that might be something worth investing a little time, so, around 11:30 am yesterday, we drove down to the bridge to discover a huge crowd on both sides of the channel. This wasn't a performance per se, but rather, the production company was filming this escape for a future episode of "Chris Angel - Mindfreak", to air this summer on the A&E channel. We stood on the city side of the channel for about an hour, watched the divers in the water, the basket on the end of the crane went up and down a couple of times, but we couldn't see much else happening. As the multitude of boats jockeyed for position, their drivers trying to get the best vantage point, and as the crowd got bigger and bigger, still nothing much happened. Fortunately we had a viewing position under a tree where the mid 90's temperature was at least tolerable. Finally, my impatience got the best of me, and we left a little before 1pm. It turns out, that was probably a good decision, because the online article in the paper this morning, stated that they lowered the chained up Chris Angel into the water at 3:02, and after about 4 minutes, "he escaped his would be watery grave" The crowd, part of which started gathering as early as 10am, was estimated to be over 5,000, according to the newspaper. Since we didn't really see anything happen, if nothing else, it was an interesting hour or so of people watching, which very often, is the best entertainment anyway.

THE FIRST BICYCLE

Our Granddaughter, Laila, is 4 1/2 years old, and what better way to spoil your grandchild, then to give her a bicycle. When we leave Lake Havasu for the summer in just a few days, Tucson will be our first stop, for a visit with Marc, Chandra, and Laila. Right now, we're trying to get all of the things done, necessary for us to get on the road for the summer. Even though we enjoy living here in Lake Havasu during the winter months, it will be good to get behind the wheel, and get the motor home's wheels moving for the first time in about 2 months.

TRACFONE NUMBER

As mentioned in a recent post, we have a second cell phone, that will only be used on a limited basis, mostly for outgoing calls, when Patty and I are in different locations. In the event anyone needs to call this second phone, the number is 928 302- 0726. We're leaving Lake Havasu City, a week from tomorrow, and our first stop will be in Tucson for a few days. We decided that we needed a Grandchild fix, before leaving Arizona for the summer months. So, we'll be in Tucson, where we'll take Laila in the motor home for a few days, and spoil her with her first bicycle. Then, our next stop will be in Jamestown, CA, where we will park at Everett & Lori's house for a few days. We have an appointment on May 19th, with our veterinarian extraordinaire, Charlie Bennett, to have a tumor removed from Sami's tummy, and have her teeth cleaned. From Jamestown, we'll be working our way north, toward the Pacific Northwest, where we'll spend most of the summer.

WIND STOPS DRAGBOATS

The wind got so strong, it blew over the E.T. & Speed scoreboard

Marc watching the crane lift out one of the Hydro Light boats

Forrest Lucas being interviewed by the track announcer.

The first Drag Boat Series race of the year, was at Firebird Raceway over the weekend, and I met Marc at the track yesterday morning. At about 9:30, the morning started out with the top fuelers blasting down the liquid racecourse, followed by the Pro Mods, and Top Alcohol Hydros. It was at that point, the action was halted due to the ever increasing wind. The Top Alcohol Flats were taken out of the water, and the drags were put on hold. They continued to run the Hydro Lights around the 1 mile plus course, and a few Cracker Box Boats kept the show going for an hour or so. Then, the wind increased to the point where whitecaps were visible, and the racers and vendors were frantically trying to secure their awnings and easy ups. As the wind increased, it became questionable as to whether the action would resume at all. At around 2 pm, the P.A. system announced that the race was cancelled for the day, due to weather conditions. I think the fact that the time & speed trailer had blown over, was the final straw. Marc and I watched the scoreboard as the wind increased, and made a comment to each other that with the force of the wind hitting the lights directly from the front, it seemed only a matter of time before the thing went over. Despite the late addition of some extra ropes, the wind was the winner, and over it went. The sad part about mother nature being responsible for the cancellation of the race, is that this was the first race of the season, and the first time in decades, that all of the drag boat associations were united under the guidance of one sanctioning entity - Lucas Oil. There was, and still is, a lot of optimism, that with Forrest and Charlotte Lucas directly involved, the opportunity to take this sport to the next level is a real possibility. Unfortunately, this wasn't the greatest of starts, particularly with a small crowd, and a low turnout of race boats. I had the chance to talk to Forrest Lucas, who I had previously met through our friends, Lucas Oil employees, Bob and Shirl Kase. I was a little surprised to see Forrest and his wife Charlotte, in Phoenix, since their son Morgan was competing in Top Fuel, at the NHRA Race in St. Louis. Forrest stated that they have a lot to learn, but are committed to advancing Drag Boat Racing above where it is today. In fact, they are building a new race facility in Missouri, that is supposed to be ready for next season. I enjoyed the short chat with Forrest, and am convinced that if anyone can take this sport to the next level, the Lucas Oil empire might just be what Drag Boat Racing has needed for a long time.

SEE SPOT WORK

When I first heard of this device, less than a year ago, I knew it could be an invaluable item to have in my inventory of gadgets. This little hand held piece of plastic, is the world's first satellite messenger, utilizing the GPS satellite system to determine a location, and transmitting that information via satellite, to either a 911 center, or, to whoever has been designated by the owner, and pre-programed into the system. My particular need for something like this, is almost exclusively for the times that I am off alone on either my Harley, or my KLR 650, dual sport bike. On the Harley, I'm usually within range of cell phone towers, but not always, as I like to ride in remote areas. On the KLR, especially when I'm off road, the cell phone often does not work. That's where the SPOT could become a lifeline, in case of emergency. In addition to the 911 feature, there are two other levels of notification, that the SPOT will send out. If the need for help does not meet a life threatening criteria, but assistance is necessary, a signal can be sent, that generates pre-programed emails to whoever has been designated. The third signal that can be sent, is an OK, pre-programed email to designated recipients. In all 3 cases, the emails link to Google maps, and the location of the signal is within just a few feet. Yesterday, I took the SPOT into the backyard, sent an OK message, which generated an email to our computers. When I checked that email a few minutes later, I clicked on the Google map link, and zoomed right into our backyard. With most new technologies, I'm usually one of the last to embrace whatever it is. The SPOT however, is something that might make the difference, and it wasn't hard for me to accept it's technical abilities.