Wednesday, July 13, 2016

It has been one heck of a year.

I came across this blog post this morning and got to thinking about all we've done in just one year. Seems like it was a lot longer than a year since we were heading to Vegas. I wrote the post one day after we'd left Brown County - we'd stopped in Joplin, Missouri for the night. 
Just a short recap. 
     Left Indiana July 16
     Signed papers on new home in Vegas July 31
     Moved into the house August 20
     Had surgery October 8
     Left for Mexico in Alfa December 2
     Got back into USA March 5
     Had all kinds of medical tests to find out nothing is wrong with me April/May. Also got new doctor.
Since then we've bought a new RV, got rid of the Alfa (I miss it). Taken two trips in the new RV - we should be back home by this weekend. Got a new great granddaughter and have another one on the way.
No wonder my blood pressure was sky high! 
We visited Virginia City today and I took 258 pictures so it will take me a while to go through them.
I don't imagine we'll see too much interesting scenery tomorrow - going east on the 50 to the 95 then south towards. So then I'll post some of the scenes from VC. 
Here are three I thought were funny - Adult content only.
A couple of t-shirts for sale in one shop

And some bags of kettle corn for sale. 





Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Carson City, Nevada

A few more pictures from Standish, CA - this map is in the campground.
And here are a few more pictures of the old building Standish Hall. 
 A look in through the windows. Used to be a market/general store. 
 The back door.
 Looks like an outhouse to me. 

Yep I was right.

We did a whole 110 miles today. From Standish, CA to Carson City, NV. 
The road was good most of the way. Two lane with some passing lanes. And always some construction some where. There is a new part of the 395 going around Reno that our GPS didn't know about, so it was freaking out so much I had to turn it off.
Where the heck is this guy going and where did he come from. There is nothing around for miles. 
We are staying at the Gold Dust Casino RV Park. $29.70 a night. BUT they put a $50 deposit on your credit card in case you do any damage to their park! - Supposed to return it right after checking the site the day you leave. Right off the 395. Pull through - though a short one. Jeep is parked next to us. One MIGHT get a 40' in here but it would be close (just saw a 45 footer come in and park. No room to spare but he is parked.) The parks WiFi is good - so far anyway. But each site has its own tree. They are young trees and not really full so we can get intermittent satellite TV. It works great when there is no breeze but we lose it when there is and the leaves move. Staying here a couple of days. 
Maybe tomorrow we'll go to Virginia City or over by the lake.
The gasoline here in NV is 40 cents a gallon cheaper (2.39) than Oregon (2.79) and 60 cheaper than CA. We have changed our plans somewhat. Instead of taking the 395 south through California we're going to head home across the 50 east and south on the 95 to Vegas. An uglier drive, but quicker. - not much to stop and see. We both want to get home so we can get the insurance work done. We'll still be breaking the drive up into about 150 mile sections so it will take us a few days to get home. Not looking forward to the heat. And a couple of nights ago it was only 40 degrees. Tomorrow will probably be our last under 100 day.
Ate dinner in the Casino tonight. YUM liver and onions. 

Monday, July 11, 2016

Standish, California

We left Lakeview this morning at 9:30. Drove south on the 395 into California The road was good and the morning weather cool. Very little wind.
At one time we could see Mount Shasta WAY off in the distance. Lots of snow still up there. 
A few parts of the highway had lots of trees. Most was farming or just brush. 
I like the colorful roof on this building. Around this same area we met a big black cow walking on the shoulder of the highway. Too surprised to take a picture. Shades of Mexico. 
Thought it was interesting how this rock was shaved off for the highway.
The only town of size we went through was Alturas, CA  It had a couple of murals that I tried to get shots of. They were across the street for each other. 

 The first stones for what was originally named the Curtis Hotel were laid near the dusty main street of Alturas in 1908. In 1912 Jay Eugene Niles purchased the building, completed the 2nd and 3rd floor rooms, and renamed it the Niles Hotel. 
For many generations the Niles Hotel was the social center of Alturas - - the meeting place of cattlemen, railroad workers, farmers, loggers, salesmen, tourists and local businessmen. When the Niles Hotel was first built, each of the sixty guest rooms was furnished with a wood burning stove. During winter months the hotel guests would keep warm in their rooms by purchasing an armload of wood at the lobby desk for two bits.
I wonder if that was an old sign or if there really is a Sears store there. 
We are spending the night at the Days End RV park in Standish, CA. You can see it in the upper left of the photo. This is the whole of Standish. 
You can read about Standish, CA here  It is kind of interesting. It is one of those towns that makes you wonder WHY? Why is it even here. 
The owners of the RV Park are life long residents of the town. It is a very nice clean park. Big pull throughs, good WiFi, they have cable TV available, laundry and some shady sites. Our satellite TV came right in. With Good Sam discount it is $29.70 a night. There is a gas station, mini market across the street. 
Standish Hall was constructed in 1907 with ground floor commercial space and second floor lodge hall. Historic photos show the wood building with a tall roof parapet and second floor balcony. The parapet was modified in the 1950s to its current appearance. The second floor door to the balcony was closed off in the 1930s and the balcony, which also served as a canopy over the ground floor entrance, was removed for safety reasons in 2002. The property was listed at the local level under Criterion A in the areas of commerce, recreation, and social history during the years 1907-1954. The second floor meeting hall was used by several organizations, including Odd Fellows and Native American Daughters of the Golden West, and for local social gatherings. The ground floor space was used as a grocery/mercantile store supplying dry goods, meat, and hardware items to the small community of Standish. - this is what is left of it. 
Just some pretty flowers in the campground. 
Tomorrow on to Carson City, NV for a few nights. Shouldn't have complained about the cold - it is hot today. And going to be hotter as we go south.