Reno to Salt Lake City

We agreed that Nevada was not our favorite state. Part of the mood arose from three seasons in 3 days. Healdsburg and Berkeley—Summer: sunny and upper 70s F; Nevada—Fall: becoming overcast and 50 F, feeling like late Fall; Salt Lake City: early Winter, patches of snow, mostly sunny, pre-inversion.

East on I-80 in Nevada. Nevada has a special beauty—multiple chains of barren, snow-capped mountains interspersed by Great Basin mixes of sand and sage.

We got to share a bottle of wine with Chris, Kristine, Gage, and Devun in LSC. Eli and KC had to stay in the car due to doggie fear. Eli is timid around dogs that approach his size, and KC at 16 has no use for other dogs, period. Roxie, the Rottweiler, is mellow but large and on her own turf. Guinness, the Great Dane, would be Eli's worst nightmare.

Guinness and Kristine

Devil Dog? Forget the red-eye reduction for the best Halloween effect.

KC & Eli

Without the RV, we learned to request a room with two beds.

We stopped by the Intermountain Therapy Animals HQ in SLC. Here, Eli is fascinated by the resident cat. While curiosity might have killed the cat, vise versa in this case.

 What's a cat?

Why is he looking at me? Will he be up for a chase?

We enjoyed a Wednesday evening dinner with a long-time friend, Frasier and his son, Brock. Having spent little time around dogs, Brock was hesitant, so Nancy went into R.E.A.D. mode (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). Brock read holding the book for Eli to see until Eli opted to really relax.

 Eli and Brock

 Fraser and Brock, Genius in Training. Brock is 6 and in 1st grade. No further explanation needed.

Whatcha think?

Fraser's father was the sculptor. Seemed to be a fitting summary image.

So about 3200 miles, 2+ weeks, and everybody lived. We had a great time, reconnected with a number of great friends, and returned with a few treasures. Only 4 days with bike rides, a few limited runs (never as it once was), and lots of walks. My role was driver and luggage guy; Nancy's role was dog wrangler. Now to replace the cracked filler hose, plan another trip, and catch up at home.

Reno, NV

One useful travel experience is learning where you would rather not return. We both find gambling towns unappealing to disgusting. Reno qualifies. 

From Wikipedia: "G. A. Burns of Sacramento won $100 for his slogan, "Reno, The Biggest Little City in the World." The slogan first appeared on the arch on June 25, 1929." 

I spared you the photo of the arch.

Reno attempted to change their motto.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2009-09-30-reno-marketing-slogan_N.htm

"Reno mayor says new slogan 'embarrasses the city' Posted 9/30/2009 5:00 PM

RENO (AP) — "A Little West of Center" turned out to be way off. Reno's tourism agency is going back to the drawing board after its proposed marketing slogan was met with blank stares  and criticism from Mayor Bob Cashell and others. "I love the ideas, I love the research you are doing, but this 'West of Center,' it doesn't do a thing for me," Cashell said  Thursday during a meeting of the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority board. "In fact it embarrasses me," he said. "It embarrasses the city of Reno. I don't like that." Others called the slogan puzzling. Glenn Carano, marketing director of the Silver Legacy in downtown Reno, said it gave him "a little heartburn," adding,  "I don't know what it means." Bill Hughes, marketing director of the Peppermill, agreed. "When I heard the line, I didn't get it," Hughes said. "I'm not sure, but the final result may not be exactly what we wanted." So far, the campaign has cost the RSCVA more than $111,000. The total marketing and advertising campaign,  which is expected to begin next year, will need about $5 million to start, officials said."

Chuck Suchy wrote "There's Money in This Town" about the revival of small farm towns in North Dakota associated with the oil boom.  There's money in Reno, but not well spent. The banks dominate the town north to the Truckee River, some casinos remain downtown, but most opt for the cheap dirt on the desert fringes, contributing to the overall sprawl. We ventured to the river walk to walk the dogs, but it was only a few blocks long and half the users were street people. So only one photo in Reno.

Truckee River Walk

I-80 out of Berkeley is 5 lanes in each direction, so Sunday morning was a good time to flee. Beautiful drive on impulse to South Tahoe through the Sierras and the drive around the lake was also beautiful.

Berkeley, CA

 Always interesting in Berkeley and the City by the Bay. When traveling with dogs, the hotel options are limited or pricy. Many charge $20-$25 for a dog or per dog, enough to pay for our evening dinner. So La Quinta and Motel 6 (yes, Motel 6, but they are improved over the wafer-tin soap and $1 extra for the key to activate the 12" black & white wall-bracketed TV.) La Quinta offers breakfast and Motel 6 even has passable free coffee. Who knew. The down side is often the location. Here in Berkeley, it's about 2 miles from the UC campus in the midst of a collective of international stores featuringIndian, Pakistani, Mexican, and Central American foods, clothing, and goods.

We have a friend who might appreciate this sofa.

 Bozeman planners and citizens seem to think that a round-about requires a wide street. These are on 32" streets, reasonably attractive, and are entirely practical in Bozeman.

 Berkeley is bike-friendly, and tag-friendly.

Saris are not only for Halloween.

After a fine Thai meal in Berkeley with friends, we are off to Reno, NV, on Sunday.

Eureka to Healdsburg to Berkeley, CA

For fans of John Steinbeck, Charlie, and redwood trees . . . 

. . .  travels with Eli . . .

. . .  and travels with KC.

If a tree falls, where would it fall?

Memories of the Avenue of the Giants Marathon, easily the prettiest marathon I've ever run.

 When the interstate highway 101 reverts to two-lane roads, the roadside attractions appear . . .

. . . to bait motorists into the tourists shops filled with unnecessary plastic objects and t-shirts.

Better to support local businesses

such as the Woodrose Cafe in Garberville, where we might have been the only non-locals. With autographed photos of Joan Baez with the owner featured, the kind of accident that you hope happens when traveling.

Featured the following roof-top decoration.

The Mendocino area is best known as a producer of cannabis. The other is selling unnecessary items to tourists with more money that brains who shop as recreation. The metal dog is $165.

 OK, the poodle is more expensive.

 Innovative use for old paperbacks? Pay attention Country Bookshelf. Those reader copies should be a revenue stream.

 Someday I'm gonna get me a pig!

 Or something.

I guess you can counter the effects of the drugs with health food, made twice as healthy by twice the price.

How can any woman disappear into a shoe store for 45 minutes? Eli suffers an anxiety attack.

 Traditionally, these towers that held water tans have been converted to rooms. In Mendocino, expensive rooms.

 Perhaps not yet a room.

Highway 1, south of Mendocino

While late in the season, numerous cyclists were on the Pacific Coast Bike Route. This Australian couple started in Vancouver, BC, on the way to LA.

 Finally in Healdsburg, more clever t-shirts.

Matching cabins in the vineyard, northwest of Healdsburg.

Beginnings of a sculpture garden north of Geyserville.

 Running Man?

 Coyote. The head rotates.

Hands and Balls. But whose?

Similar to the Mendocino shop, perhaps the same Texas source, this roadside vendor's prices were about 1/3 of the Mendocino price. Location, rent, and taxes (what taxes?)

Ride 'em CowboyBob. Healdsburg featured a costume stroll on the square, numerous great costumes, and a few bemused pets.

Nemo Found.

Clever street names in Healdsburg—Alleys 1 through 6.

Largest yucca I've seen, growing in Alley 1.

Cactus apples.

Another fine microbrewery.

Ringling's Circus Museum in Sarasota has nothing on this miniature reproduction of historic Healdsburg, about 1880, under construction by Jon, our wonderful Healdsburg host and master carpenter.

 The rooms were 25 cents and 50 cents. Wonder what you got for the extra 25 cents?

Success mandated adding another product. 

KC, Murphy, Pam, Eli, Larry, and Jon. People, it's 78F in Healdsburg, 38F in Bozeman, MT, where would you like to be on the 1st of November?