Now I’m trying to hit all the National parks, some of which were added after my childhood travels.

Two of my favorites have been Bryce Canyon and Dead Horse Point, both in Utah. I've been to Meteor Crater twice, even though there's not much to see there but one big-ass hole in the ground.

 

Two of my favorites have been Bryce Canyon and Dead Horse Point, both in Utah. I've been to Meteor Crater twice, even though there's not much to see there but one big-ass hole in the ground.

Lol, yeah. My wife’s sister lived in Midland/Odessa Texas for a while and we visited one Christmas. You can’t see the end of Earth there but you can if you stand on top a tuna can. One of the only local sights to see is a meteor crater. Yup, big hole in the rock and sand. Next.

 

Man, I really did a bang-up job picking this hotel; the walls to my room are THIN. I just hope the couple next door don't get to misbehavin', it'd drive me nuts.

 

Awww, crap! Caltrans is reporting chains/snow tires required for passage over Donner Pass (I-80), US50 thru South Lake Tahoe, and CA88 from US395 over to Stockton. So all three of my planned routes are a no-go.

I could go south from Reno on US395 all the way down to Bakersfield then back up via I-5, but that's a 14 hours trip I don't want to make.

My only other plausible choice would be to head north from Reno on US395 to Susanville, then go west on CA36 to Red Bluff, and from there down I-5 to pick up I-80 again near Sacramento. That makes it only a 9 hour drive. Caltrans makes no mention of chains/snow tires required for CA36, so I assume I'm good. I'll check in the morning and make final plans then.

Sheesh! Mountains: why do they hate us so much???

 

Yay, another day and hopefully a good one for the last leg of getting there. I look forward to the evening report. You got me thinking. I have driven in 49 of our 50 states. While I have been to Alaska several times I have never driven in Alaska. Never thought about that till you mentioned it.

Have a real safe day and when you get there some more pics like Father & Son!

Uh Oh, I just saw your last post. Well that sucks! Let us know how things work out for you.

Ron

 

Well, I'll be darned: as of this morning there are no travel restrictions on I-80 at Donner Pass, so it looks like I'm good to go. And the webcam at Donner Summit shows traffic zipping along at a brisk clip. Yay!

 

Well, I'll be darned: as of this morning there are no travel restrictions on I-80 at Donner Pass, so it looks like I'm good to go. And the webcam at Donner Summit shows traffic zipping along at a brisk clip. Yay!

Sorry to hear the restaurant was a bust, did they still have the the Elk Burritos? I'll be heading that way some day, just checking.

Safe travels,
kv

 

Sorry to hear the restaurant was a bust, did they still have the the Elk Burritos? I'll be heading that way some day, just checking.

No, the restaurant you recommended in Grand Junction was fantastic, though I didn't see any Elk Burritos on the menu. It's the restaurant here in Winnemucca that sucks.

 

Okey-dokey, I'm on my way. TTYL...

 

Sorry to hear the restaurant was a bust, did they still have the the Elk Burritos? I'll be heading that way some day, just checking.

Safe travels,
kv

Yeah, I thought he commented the restaurant was great. You trying to confuse me?

Well, I'll be darned: as of this morning there are no travel restrictions on I-80 at Donner Pass, so it looks like I'm good to go. And the webcam at Donner Summit shows traffic zipping along at a brisk clip. Yay!

Yay, now run and don't look back. I think you should use I-90 for the return so we all, including you, can enjoy new scenery.

Ron

 

Yeah, I thought he commented the restaurant was great. You trying to confuse me?

Ron

I'm just bummed they don't have the Swiss Elk, same thing happened to me at "Snowbird" ski resort. We rent a hotel room and drink at October Fest, the restaurant they served a great Breakfast once, the next year it was gone. Smoked Salmon with Capers, eggs on wheat toast with Hollandaise Sauce.



kv

 

I made it! I'm now in beautiful downtown Sunnyvale, CA and the weather is fantastic. Looks good for the next 5 days, too. Right now I've got time to shower & shave before my son and his GF pick me up to go out to dinner.

Donner Pass turned out to be easy-peasy. There were intermittent light showers here and there on the way up to the summit, but for the most part the road was dry and the sun was shining all the way down into the Valley.

The attached pic was taken at Donner Summit. The warning on that overhead sign wasn't kidding: it was a STEEP downgrade all the way down from the top, and I probably touched the gas pedal only a few times in that 40 mile stretch.

 

Well, I'll be darned: as of this morning there are no travel restrictions on I-80 at Donner Pass, so it looks like I'm good to go. And the webcam at Donner Summit shows traffic zipping along at a brisk clip. Yay!

My flight from Palm Springs (PSP) to Denver yesterday was delayed 2.5 hours in PSP due to Denver weather. That was some storm. Very low ceilings in Denver at about Noon when we landed, but not much snow on the ground at the airport.

They do a fantastic job clearing roads, and being late May also helped. Glad you made it down the big hill.

 

Yup, that was an absolute roarin' bitchkitty of a snowstorm. Glad I got through it OK.

Glad you made it down the big hill.

Going down was the easy part; going up from Denver was the nightmare. As soon as I got out the West portal of the Eisenhower Tunnel, the weather was completely different: still snowing, but not as hard, and it petered out to nothing in a few miles.

 

I don't know that I'd agree. If you get stuck going up hill, you are simply stuck. If you loose traction going down hill, who knows what will stop you? The driveway at my hobby farm is like that. Going downhill, I might end up in an icy river.

Have a great time. I certainly enjoyed my time in PSP.

 

Good point regarding uphill v. downhill. That's very true...

 

Yay, the Eagle has landed. Now enjoy your stay and we can look forward to the return trip.

Ron

 

Just watched hidden figures last night, it's going to be a while for the weather to turn around, next week it's raining as well.


kv

 

Just watched hidden figures last night, it's going to be a while for the weather to turn around, next week it's raining as well.

Here in Sunnyvale we're looking pretty good except for Sunday.

 

In other news, I'm now committed to taking the northern route back home: just made hotel reservations in Medford, OR, The Dalles, OR and Boise, ID.

At the moment I'm waiting for my son to wake up and call me to come over to his place. Then he and his GF and I will figure out what to do today...