Lassen Volcanic National Park:  Day 2

After much discussion at the B&B, it was decided that we could save time driving a scenic back road to the other side of the Park, where more is open.  Along the way we saw a first in "road kill" - a huge brown bear.  Since we were coming back on the same road, we decided to take a photo later.  Big mistake, that bear is off being made into someone's bear skin rug for in front of their fireplace.  At any rate, the hour and 1/2 ride was beautiful and more of the park was open.  However, the museum was closed, the ranger station was closed, and the trail heads were not easy to find, and people in California are not "Texas Friendly."  That said, I did get some wonderful photos and we enjoyed our hiking.

Hiking around Manzanita Lake

Lots of very noisy geese and some babies too!

A closer view of Mt Lassen

Had to take a photo of John with this really huge pine cone.

We have never seen any this big.

Hiking around the aptly named "Reflection Lake"

Tomorrow:  off to Klamuth Falls and Crater Lake :-)

Lassen Volcanic National Park:  Day 1 

After days of beautiful red rocks we are now in the land of a million Pine Trees.  This morning we drove from Reno to Lassen Volcanic National Park, where, evidently, they have 4 different types of Volcanos.  We know this because we could only get a few miles into the park from this side due to snow.  So we spent a good amount of time at the visitor's center LEARNING.  At the first turn out, which was Sulphur Springs, we walked around and explored the thermal features.  Next we walked a ways along the closed road (yes, we just followed other tourists, which much make it the right thing to do!)  Lunch was eaten on a wall, by a small waterfall, smelling the sulphur from the hot springs.  Then we drove to Chester and checked out Lake Amanor and Bidwell House B&B, our home for the next two nights.  Saying that this is a really small town would be exaggerating the size.  However, the people are delightful and the B&B is charming.

Car v Snow at Sulphur Springs

view from the closed road

a lady stopped her car, jumped out, 

and said that she would take our photo

It was 70 and I had to have John take this photo!

turn you audio up and listen to the mud pot boil

I wish you could smell it too!

Lake Amandor

The Bidwell House B & B, Chester, CA

Tomorrow we will take the two hour drive to the other side of Lassen Volcanic National Park, where we will be able to explore more and do some hiking.

 

Route 50: The Lonliest Road in America

Today we drove from Ely to Reno, NV, which we have driven before in the opposite direction.   

There is a good reason that it is called "the Lonliest  Road".  John estimated about one car passing in the opposite direction for every 3 miles we traveled. The only exception being in the  2 dinky towns that we went through. Eureka and Austin are small but charming in an old west kind of way.. The temperature was a pleasant 60 degrees and the sun was shining.  We arrived in Reno and will see our nephew,Theo, and his wife, Holly, this evening. Meanwhile, our hotel, The Whitney Peak, has no casino, instead it has indoor and outdoor rock climbing walls.  The receptionist did tell us that we were welcome to try rock climbing. . . . Ha ha ha ha!

 Eureka, NV:  A new use for those useless horse shoes

 Old man in the old town!

 Love the snow on those mountains

 Today was purple flower day

Stokes Castle in Austin, NV

 View from our room in Reno

 Note the rock climbing wall on the outside of our hotel

John, Holly, and Theo - what a lovely way to end the day

Moab to Ely, NV

I was not expecting much this morning as we left Moab to drive to Ely.  Our trip started on I70 and continued on Route 50, which is also known as "the loneliest highway in the US."   What a surprise, the beautiful rocks change and continue outside of the National Parks . . . who would have thought!  When we reached Nevada there were more changes with lots of dark clouds, snow in the mountains, and even a bit of hail along with the rain.  We were planning to visit Great Basin NP in NV, but were worried about the weather.

Leaving Castle Valley, Utah this morning

More beautiful rocks along I 70

Server Lake, which is sometimes there . . . 

 and sometimes not there - intermittent lake!

Snow in the mountains and rain and hail on the road-

and, yes, those are the mountains in Great Basin National Park.

We asked the ranger if it was safe to make the drive up 

to Wheeler Peak - "probably, if you are okay with rain and snow," he said.

So we drove up, and there was not any snow on the road

and it was neat to see the Aspen Trees with no leaves-

they look like ghost trees

and, yes, it was @#(*&*^!!! cold

*

But lots of fun and we had a great walk.

Tonight we are in Ely, Utah and tomorrow we are off to Reno

to see Theo and Holly.  And, yes, we continue along the

quiet and lonely Route 50.

MOAB:  DAY 2!

After a filling and delicious breakfast at Castle Valley Inn B&B, we took the owner's advice and went for a hike outside of Arches NP.  While the hike to Fisher Towers was rated "easy" in the guide book, nobody except an 18 year old with a death wish would agree.  It was 4 miles of climbing up and down the beautiful red rocks.  When we started the temperature was about 55 degrees, it was a hot and sun lit 81 when we finished.  We returned to the B&B for a refreshing shower, then went to our favorite place to eat in Moab - the Moab Brewing Company.  We decided on a late lunch/early diner because of the Memorial Day weekend crowds.  The finished the afternoon with a visit to the Castle Hills Winery.  Now we have collapsed in our room.  Tomorrow we continue our drive west, to Ely and then Reno, Nevada.  Enjoy the pretty pictures!

Fisher Towers Hike:  at the beginning

Fisher Towers:  continues & we see rock climbers

Which Way to go?

. . .  depends on who you are

Met this rock climber later on during the day. 

 His name is Eric and he is from Long Island. 

 He was learning to rock climb with a local teacher, Chris.

And my flower photo of the day!

Moab Utah:  red rocks, arches, and lots of tourists!

I always forget how overwhelmingly beautiful it is here, and how it all changes in a moment as the sun and clouds move across the sky.  Enjoy the photos!

Shiprock, nm

Along hwy 191

John's favorite: Dead Horse Point State Park

There are flowers blooming all over the place!

Canyonlands NP: Island in the Sky

Canyonlands

Castle Valley Inn B&B

New Mexico 

The high in Midland today was supposed to be one hundred degrees, which made us really happy to watch the temperature go down as we headed north.  Tonight we are in Farmington, NM, were it is a comfortable 73! 

Our long day of driving went well and we enjoyed a relaxing meal at the Three Rivers Brewing Company. John had a local beer with his fish and chips, while I enjoyed a local wine. Side note to Larry and Mary Ann:  our food will not measure up to what you had in Italy, but John will enjoy all the craft beers.  LOL

Welcome to Artesia, NM

Three Rivers Brewing Company, Farmington, NM

We are roasting in Midland, where the temps have been in the high 90's. The up side is that all activities have been indoors. Julie gave us a preview of the speech she wrote, explaining the life of Susannah Dickinson at the Alamo. She did not die and had four more husbands!  We also went to the final band concert at Alamo Jr High, where we were able to enjoy the concert and see Ryan get an award. Now I am off to Water Aerobics at the Midland Y. Sarah has sort of promised to take it easy on me

First Stop:  Midland Texas where we will visit with Sarah, Don, Ryan and Julie.  After wishing Ryan a belated birthday I will attempt to make him feel bad for not saving me a piece of his birthday cheesecake.  LOL  He keeps assuring me that he is not sharing this special birthday treat.

Meanwhile, I am reading the book that Julie strongly recommended to me.  (Gregor, the Overlander.)  She even telephoned me to make sure that I bought the book and will have read it before I arrive in Midland.  What can I say, other than that I am half way through the book.

From Midland we will head to:

Farmington, NM

Moab, UT

Ely & Reno, NV

Lassen National Park

Crater Lake

Roseburg, OR

Arch Cape, OR

Hausum Highlands, WA

Someplace?

Cheyenne, WY

Omaha, NB

Bartlesville, OK

Dallas, TX

home!