peterhome.com

Our trip begins!

We are now sitting on our bed in a Quality Inn (I had to look at the bedside desk to figure out what motel chain it is. The room is indistinguishable from any other motel. The Daytona NASCAR night race is on the TV.

Packing of the 4 runner was aided by Kelly’s grandpa as he came by early morning to take Kelly for a walk. We finished off our packing and soon we were sitting in the truck staring back and Kelly and ALL our stuff. Dave and Lauren may have fitted everything into the back of a Subaru, but they don’t have a CHILD.

Actually the packing is pretty good. We can basically see out the back window and there’s nothing on the roof all Kelly’s car seat. But everywhere else there’s stuff.

We stopped at Davis for breakfast, which we often visit for croissant. Today they had decided not to make any. Could this trip have a more disastrous start? Actually, Davis was great in every other way. The sun shone, the nectarines were ripe. There were fountains for Kelly to frolic in.

After breakfast and Farmers market shopping (we got peaches, nectarines, bread and cheese), we hit the highway towards Nevada. Kelly fell asleep right out of town and slept for (perhaps a record) 185 miles! We drove right past Reno (where we thought we’d be stopping for a break), and by the time we did stop it was at a rest area in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. A hot dry dusty patch with little shade areas and pit toilets.

We ate lunch there, and then headed towards Winnemucca along a baron landscape, big sky of clouds, the occasional downpour.

Checked into Motel and then headed out for Dinner at a Basque restaurant (Martin Hotel, a historic landmark). An interesting place, serving us such things as ‘Sweet Bread’ (how euphemistic!) and Beef Tongue (yeah, that’s what it is). We also had some pork chops which were average.

Returned to the Motel and took Kelly for a swim. Such squeeling. Okay, the water was initially a little cold. She had fun in the end.

Now bed.