Rejuvenation!

May 17-22, 2017

Reno/Lake Tahoe area

A silly selfie

After the frustration of driving highway 50 (the loneliest road which was so different than I expected) and not finding a place with cell and free boondocking, we were so glad to land somewhere we could spend several days.

Obligatory pic of our camping spot!

As I said, time for relaxing a bit!

Even though it's $17 a night (which seems like a lot when you've been camping free so long), Washoe Lake SP was a great resting place to regroup, catch up on 5 (count 'em 5!) blog posts (because we had great Verizon), do some trip planning and use it as a base to see Lake Tahoe and other highlights of this area.

More bugs accompanied our walk
to the water near our campsite!

On Friday we took a day trip to Lake Tahoe.  We had been there on our honeymoon almost 38 years ago but we're actually not sure where we stayed and what we saw.  Pat thinks we stayed at Harrah's because his Dad would have booked the room.  I don't remember so many tall trees!

We wanted to stop in at the forest service office to pick up maps and advice on where we can boondock for free (generally what they call dispersed camping).  We were told you can't do that anywhere in the Tahoe basin due to too many issues (sad).  And once again, they only cover this specific area, we'd have to stop at 5 different offices as we head north to get information on those areas!  And they wanted $10 per map (which I somewhat understand but I sure wish they'd just publish them in PDF format where the cost isn't as much).  We had stopped at the local BLM office and pretty much got the same answer.  So that wasn't as helpful as we'd hoped in planning future stops as we head north.

Sometimes a meal is just right - good food, great place, no rush!

We also stopped at one of several visitor's centers on the lake and asked about where to eat.  They suggested Beacon Bar & Grill which was right on the water.  We had a GREAT lunch and wonderful time there.  Fish & Chips were PERFECT (both crispy and the fish was moist!).  I tried their specialty rum runner drink which was good but I wasn't actually in the mood for a citrus style drink.  But hey, I like rum!

Driving around Lake Tahoe

After lunch we walked the few steps to the beach and the trees and snow covered mountains and the water were so uplifting!

Pat loved this post office converted to a cafe!  We didn't eat
there though.  It was just down the road from our campsite.

We basically took our time driving around the lake and decided that if we come back, we will probably try to get reservations at one of the state parks.  May seems like the perfect time (not hot, not cold!).  We still can't believe it was all full when school's not even out yet!

The creativity of someone selling(?) his art in the park in Reno!

We're still trying to figure out what to do with our weekends (trying to avoid crowds).  We did try to see Guardians of the Galaxy but apparently everyone buys their tickets online with assigned seating and all that was left was the front row.  We always try to find a church nearby for Sunday and if it's laundry time, we do that. And blogging!  Always behind!  But we did walk the river trail in Reno.  Being by water is always GOOD!

Walk along the river in downtown Reno

Also, the dump station at the place we're at was closed due to high water so we went across the Lake to Davis campground to see if theirs was open to plan for dumping and water before we left the next morning.


All in all, a great spot to relax for awhile and not do a whole lot while we figure out where to go next!

Highlights:  Figured out how to get power to the whole coach!  Finally settled into a campground with 4g, Lake Tahoe (fresh cool air, trees and WATER!).
Lowlights:  Lake Tahoe is another place where you can't camp unless you make reservations 6 months or more in advance (or pay $75 a night), many areas closed because of snow
Things we've learned:  That plugging the coach into the inverter (and unplugging the converter) works to power ALL the plugs.  We just have to know not to run high "cost" appliances (microwave, toaster, etc.) without running the generator.
Things we're wondering:   Can we run the generator while the coach is plugged into the inverter?
How to see National Parks  and other places that are only open in the summer due to snow since we want to be back in the NW for the summer (usually!)   Is there anything we should plan to see in NE CA?  We normally have a destination in mind that determines what route we should take!

Great Basin NP and the Sand Pit

May 14-17
Great Basin NP, NV and Sand Mountain Rec Area BLM, NV


On our way out of Spanish Fork we stopped at Costco for gas.  We do this often as Costco usually has the best gas prices in any given area.  What made this special was we were all alone doing it.  Not a car in sight.  But it was Sunday morning in Utah near Salt Lake City.

Quiet Sunday morning at Costco gas. Utah

With our Gas, Propane, and water tank full and our gray and black tanks empty we headed for the "Loneliest Road in America" and Great Basin National Park.  Ellen had found a free boondocking spot near there called Sacramento Pass BLM Campground.  The UC Public CG app is your friend.  It was an actual campground with level (relatively) pads, covered picnic tables, and fire rings.  We looked at the main area and saw some OK spots, but the hidden gems were up the hill off a rutted dirt road.  Three back in sites with beautiful views.  Two were occupied but the one on the end was open and just long enough for our 31' motorhome.  The trees were a little close for our slides, but after some maneuvering we fit in nicely.  There were even rail fences around the sites.  Hiking trails were close at hand.  The only drawback was the Verizon signal was sad.  I had 1X on my phone and Ellen had nothing.  This makes planning your stay and next leg impossible.

Nice site.  The guardsnake lived on the other side of the car.

One of our neighbors came by to tell us to be wary of the large rock at the end of our driveway.  A rattlesnake had taken up residence under it and came out to sun itself regularly.  They had photos and video of the snake but we never actually saw it.  But we took the warning seriously.  That evening we took a hike from our campsite into the countryside.  The trail was not clearly marked, so it was more of a wander than a hike.  Knowing our guardsnake was back at the motorhome made us extra vigilant for his possible relatives in the area.  None were sighted, but we did wander a bit to find our way home.

Trails from our campsite.
The sign was better than the trail.

This was a trail...
or was it?

The next day we drove up to the Visitors Center for the park and picked up the requisite maps to see what was available at this park.  Ellen had previously told me of the Lehman Caves here that sounded intriguing.   You had to go to a different Visitors Center to book your tour so we started there.  When we arrived there were two rangers to talk to.  One was a new hire who knew only enough to point to the other who was very busy so we got in line to speak to him.  All tours for the day were booked except the three o'clock and they could only sell same day tickets.  He gave me a card for Recreation.gov with a phone number.  I called and after waiting on hold for approximately fifteen minutes I found they didn't know the Lehman caves existed and couldn't help me.  So we went back in and bought tickets for the three o'clock tour.  Meanwhile the older ranger had let some late arrivals go on the eleven o'clock tour because of no shows.  We could have gone if I hadn't been on the phone.

Nice valley view.  I think it would have been spectacular
without the cloud cover. But then there would have been no snow.

We drove up to see their full campgrounds and the last lookout point before the road was closed repair after a hard winter and spring flooding.  The Visitor Center was at about 6500' and the lookout was at 9000'.  So climbing we went.  The campground on the way was nice and even had a few spots we might have fit in but you could tell it was made for tent campers.  The sites were not even close to level and had great tent spots behind a short parking spots.   But beautiful with tall trees and a stream nearby.


The viewpoint was OK.  It had views of a valley and a plaque for one of the influential nation park founders.  We had a nice in car lunch and it started to snow.  Ellen's eyes lit up and she got out to enjoy the experience.  OK, saying it snowed may give the wrong impression.  There were actual flakes, but not all that many, and for only about ten minutes.  But we hadn't seen snow falling this year and it was fun.

Snow??

The tour through the caves was fantastic.  The ranger told stories of the caves, described the features, turned off the lights (yes, it was lit the entire way) and told us not to touch anything.  But if we bumped into the walls or ceiling less than five times we were doing alright.  I had three such experiences.  One of which gave me a nice scrape on my head.  That lack of hair thing coming to bite me again.  The tour was about ninety minutes (the caves are extensive) and was well worth the time and cost (about $7 each).  I would strongly suggest this tour.  And get the same guide we did. I can't remember his name, but get him anyway.

Tunnel leading to Lehman Caves.

We got back to camp and ran into our neighbors out walking their dogs.  These were not the ones who warned us of our snake neighbor.  It turned out we had met earlier in our travels.  They were the folks from Navajo Bridge who had discovered the Condor nest.  They had camped about three sites up the hill from us at Lees Ferry and the other neighbors here had camped two site down the hill from us.  Great folks.  I hope we run into them again down the road. They were leaving that day to go back to see the Condor egg hatch.  Small Rving world.

The weather reports (the ones we could get with the distinct lack of cell coverage) told us to expect rain or snow at our campground within the next day or two.  After our muddy road experience at Koosharem Reservoir we decided to leave early.  The idea of going down that rutted dirt road from our site in slippery mud might have been too exciting for us.  And we also seen all that the area had to offer.

Loneliest Road in America.
Look it up, it's a thing...

From here we continued on the Loneliest Road.  We had several possible destinations, but could do no research because of the wonderful cell coverage in the area.  So we open our off line apps and drove…   Two hours later our first possibility…  no coverage…  half hour later…  no coverage…   next possibility, no real spot to camp. OK, there was a winter road gravel staging area with two fifth wheels parked there, but it didn't feel comfortable.  Looking way ahead (about two more hours) there was a place called Sand Mountain Recreation Area BLM.  Dispersed camping.  $40 a week but free on Tuesday and Wednesday.  We were tired and it sounded OK.

We arrived and it was exactly as named.  A sand area with RVs camping on it.  Most had sand buggies to run around in, but it looked OK.  I drove off the road and for the first time I felt the 22,000 lb motorhome spinning it's dual back tires in the deep sand trying to push me along.  WOW.  A little panic set in.  I could get stuck in here.  And it was windy.  Sand blowing everywhere.   We moved closer to the entrance and found the sand less deep.  We were tired and could spend the night here.  No slides as we didn't want to get blowing sand in the slide mechanisms.  Just settle in for the evening, make some dinner and figure out where we were going in the morning.  Verizon coverage back with us.

Google photo.  We didn't take any photos.
It was not our happy place

Las Vegas

Thousand Trails
Las Vegas Thousand Trail is actually in the city quite a ways south of the Vegas strip where you find the bulk of the large casinos.  It's a very tight RV park.  Gravel sites with full hookups.  A storm last February dropped a tree on their clubhouse and it, the pool and free wifi have been down for the last year.  A pay for internet company was supplying wifi for the park, but we were assured they were working on the free system. There is "do not cross" tape surrounding the clubhouse area and several of the restroom are also under renovation.  We came there for the wifi so we could do taxes and catch up on a few things that required internet so we were disappointed.

Valley of Fire

Around the Las Vegas area are several State Parks/National Conservation Areas.  Valley of Fire State Park was our first daytrip.  We packed a lunch, gathered our maps, and headed out.  I had seen a few pictures of this area, but I wasn't really prepared for how scenic this "scenic area" was.  The hillsides and rocks were layered in reds and browns.  The rock formations were weathered in such a way to make you feel you were walking on the ocean floor.  We drove through a campground there and wished we had the RV with us so we could stay.  Stopped at McDonalds for ice cream cones on the way back.


Red Rock Canyon
The next day we drove to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.  Still in the desert, but a wholly different desert feel.  The rocks while red didn't have the vibrant colors of the Valley of Fire.  There was also more vegetation.  Cactus and some trees.  The large ones reminded us of home.  We hiked to a box canyon with a waterfall.  Spectacular drive both in and out of the area.


Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
A few days later we went to see Hoover Dam.  Saying it's magnificent doesn't cover it.  We took the Powerhouse tour deep inside the dam.  The guide was from New York City and was very colorful/entertaining in his interactions with the group and descriptions of the construction process and use of the dam.




Next we drove to Lake Mead (the lake formed by the dam) and took a Paddle Wheel Ship cruise.  They even gave us a senior discount.  $3.00 off is $3.00 off.  Fun times.  We approached the dam from the backside and just basically enjoyed the small part of the lake we did see.



Las Vegas

We had previously visited Las Vegas on our fifteenth anniversary and had some very good memories of the casino experience.  We are not gamblers and not fond of cigarette smoke so it wasn't for the gambling.  At that time Vegas was becoming more "family friendly" and had added some theme park-ish things to their casinos.   A gondola type ride around the Luxor, many movie displays and a theme park behind the MGM Grand, and a sailing ship the was sunk at Treasure Island.  I guess these were not financially worthwhile.  None of these things remain.  The Casinos are hotels with gambling, expensive shows, and convention centers.  The Bellagio fountain was still wonderful and Caesars Palace mall area was still a site to see.  The rest "not so much" for us.

The surrounding area made this one of our very favorite stops.  With still more to see.