Day 6. Friday, August 4, 2017 Continued.......
 We had a great day and are ready to relax now. We drove out to an area where my family and I had a cabin on the lake.  We weren't able to drive in so Iri could see it close up because cars were there. I was surprised at how many of the names on the cabins near us are the same as 50+ years ago.  Here is a picture of Mt. Lassen. Hard to see because of the haze but it has more snow than last year.


Camp Prattville was a small store not far from our cabin. When we were kids, we would walk to the store through a campground.  That campground is now beautiful cabins!  We just had to get an ice cream cone and a milkshake. Hand made!!


When we came back into Chester, we drove by Iri's Grandpa Jim's house where he grew up.


Grandpa Jim's parents and a grandmother (Iri's great grand parents and great-great grandmother) are buried in the Chester Cemetery.  A beautiful peaceful setting amongst the pines.





Next we drove to North Shore Campground where my sister, Jackie, has a travel trailer parked for the season. We sat on the porch and enjoyed the lake.  Was windy but felt good because it was pretty warm.







We finished the day with dinner at Burger Depot.  Was excellent!! And super nice people.  Time to rest and put our feet up and catch up on electronics :-)
Tomorrow we head for the valley and Chico, Calif. where I was born and grew up in that area and her dad went to school.  Heard there might be a little relief in sight from the heat wave going on.  Then on over to Ft. Bragg, a fishing port on the coast of the Pacific Ocean where it will likely be cold and foggy.   Another well loved place  (not as well loved as Almanor tho).
Have a good night.  Hugs.

Day 6.  Friday, August 4, 2017
2nd attempt at posting pictures for the Thursday post August 3.  Finally, it worked (I think).

Baked Lamb Wednesday night at Star Hotel and Restaurant

Iri and dinner at The Star Basque Restaurant. Wednesday night

First United Methodist Church, Winnemucca across the street from the Winner's Inn and Casino.

O. J. Simpson's home away  from home! Lovelock, Nevada, Thursday 

Iri enjoying the high desert scenery!! Thursday

Finally the view I've been waiting for.  Worth the 2400 mile drive!! Lake Almanor, CA

And family!! Mark, Kaia, Jeana, Teagan, Carol, Iri at The Pipkin's cabin by the lake.  It is soooo good to see them.  And Iri got to see a Sugar Pine tree. Didn't get a picture but will so those who don't know what I'm referring to can see.

It's overcast today and a little hazy from smoke. But the temp is great so far. We are at the Best Western Rose Quartz Inn in Chester.  I had a complimentary breakfast.  Was good. Iri wasn't ready to eat yet.

This is Mt. Lassen. This is a file photo because yesterday it was so hazy we could hardly see it.  Hope to get a picture today.  The lake is full!!  Unusual for this time of year.  The rains last winter and good snow pack have helped to keep it full.  

Happy birthday Tina!!!  Hope it's a good day. <3

More tonight after our adventures today.  Have a good day!  Hugs.

Day 5. Thursday, August 3, 2017

We left Elko this am about 10 PDT.  It was already hot.  I thought we would make it to Chester at about 5 but there was miles and miles of road construction with 55mph limit.  It was very smokey and hard to see the hills.  We had lunch in Winnemucca at the Winners Inn. ( picture of small Methodist Church won't post.) Was good. Forgot to take picture until food was gone.  I had been seeing advertisements for steak and eggs 24/7 at the Winners. Showed a T-bone and 2 eggs and hash browns.  Well that's what I got except the steak was about 1.5" x 4" long (not a t-bone!!). Tasted good tho and was enough. :-)  As we came into Lovelock, we saw O.J. Simpson's home until October - (Picture won't post)

Coming across the desert east of Fernly, Nev. it was 106 degrees.  When we got to Sparks, we had a downpour! And at rush hour.  Made it through without any problems.  Temp cooled to 89.  The we hit 2 lane traffic. The first 2 lane traffic after driving 2227 miles.  Remembered the number because it's my phone number :-). so more slow traffic with road construction and then the last stretch from Susanville to Chester - 55mph.  It was on that stretch 3 years ago I got a speeding ticket and I was determined they wouldn't get me again.  It was hard to drive that slow after driving 85 plus for 2200 miles.
We made it to Chester at 6pm. Dinner with the Pipkins. Was so good to see Mark, Jeana, Kaia, Teagan, and their friends at the Pipkin's cabin at Lake Almanor.
Note: None of the pictures will post!! I am too tired to try to figure out why. Think it's the connection. Will try to post pictures tomorrow.
Time to wind down this great day!! Tomorrow plan to show Iri Chester, our old cabin at Prattville, maybe a drive to Lassen, or the back woods.   Hugs to all.

Day 4. Wednesday, August 2, 2017

We took advantage of the fact that Elko was only 1.5 hours from Wendover and slept in.  Plus as soon as we were outside of Wendover limits, we went to Pacific Daylight Time so gained an hour.  On the outskirts of Wendover we realized it was really hazy.  Hard to see the mountains.  And it continued all the way to Elko.  We are assuming it is from fires, probably from California, or maybe from fires in Nevada. It's disappointing because Iri won't be able to see the beautiful of the landscape.
  

Close to this picture there was a sign stating it was a Prison Area. Hitchhiking is prohibited.  The next sign said "Independence Valley"!!! Kind of ironic! :-)

It was a trip down memory lane for me when we arrived in Elko and drove around.  We drove by the 4 houses that we lived in while there.  Where Iri's dad, Pete, was born and lived.  Iri enjoyed seeing where her dad started out!!  The hospital that he was born in doesn't exist any more. There is a new large regional hospital on the outskirts of town.

150 Ash Street - rental

139 Douglas Street - Pete born here.

160 Boullion Street

1045 Dotta Drive

A favorite store in Elko.  It's been there since 1929.

This year Elko is celebrating it's centennial.  Several stores are displaying these large cowboy boots.  They purchased them blank and then all are individually painted.  Some amazing talent.  

This beautiful little Presbyterian Church is in Lamoille, a small town south of Elko at the base of the Ruby Mountains. 

 

We went to the Star Hotel and Restaurant for some absolutely delicious Basque food.  I can't get the pictures of food to transfer to my computer so will have to post them later.  There was so much food. It's impossible to eat it all.  It is served family style. The place was packed and very noisy. But well worth it.  

We are stuffed to the gills and ready for bed.  Iri was a good girl today and spent time running on the treadmill while I fed the slot machines!  Was a good day.  On to Chester/Lake Almanor tomorrow.  

Nite all.  Hugs.

Day 3. Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Another day in the books!  1775 miles. What a beautiful trip we had from Denver to Wendover, Nevada.  The scenery was from beautiful mountains, gorgeous rock formations, high desert with sage brush, The Great Salt  Lake, and miles and miles of salt flats.  We are at 4400 feet now but was up to 7900 feet at this rest stop at Rock River, Wyoming


Rock Springs, Wyoming. interesting rock formation.  Wish I knew more about geology.  Very fascinating .




Miles of long straight freeways with only a few cars on them.  Was wonderful.  And the speed limit was 75 or 80 most of the way!!


Salt Flats - it's blurry but that's what happens when you take a picture at 87mph!!!


Our hotel for the night in Wendover, Nevada.


Had dinner about 9 pm so since we are very tired we forgot to take a picture of our food.  I had Chef Salad and Iri had BLT sandwich and fries.  Was very good.  This is where we were.

Paradise Grill in Montego Bay Casino.  Open 24/7.

Was a great day. Going to Elko, Nevada tomorrow to show Iri where her dad was born and some of the sites there. Will stay there tomorrow and travel to Chester, CA for Thursday and Friday.
Hope you all have a great day.  More later.  Hugs.

Day 2.  Monday, July 31, 2017 PM

Kansas City, Kansas:  This morning started off interesting. Since it got late last night before we filled up with gas, we decided to get it this am before leaving.  Well, we drove out of the motel practically onto the Turnpike headed west. And I knew we wouldn't be able to find gas there so we turned and went down a road, not knowing for sure where we were going. Iri looked for nearest gas station, and got directions so we saw some interesting, rural homes before we got to a station.  We added about 10 miles to our trip.  Anyway, we got back on Interstate 70 headed for Denver.  It was cool, and cloudy.  In the 60's.
Oh, I digress ------ this is a picture of the Kansas Speedway from our hotel room.


Yesterday I mentioned to some that there was a monstrous Cabella's next to the motel.  This is what I was talking about.




This is what it actually is. :-)


Will the real Cabella's stand up??




We saw, cloudy weather, rain (hard at times when behind a semi), beautiful clouds, and sunshine.  There were acres and acres of corn fields, lots of oil wells, some rolling hills in Kansas, some very flat and expansive fields, lots and lots of windmills.  They are so large when up close.




We drove by Ft. Riley in Manhattan, Kansas.  The next town is Junction City, where my father was born many years ago. I'm sure he wouldn't recognize it now.


We arrived in Thornton, Colorado about 5pm Mountain time.  We had to take a detour around an accident that would have added an hour to our trip. This was in Denver. We are at the Hampton Inn Denver North/Thornton.  Once again we ate at Applebee's since it is within walking distance and they would give 10% discount when showing hotel key.  Unfortunately we forgot to get the discount :-(  But it was a great steak dinner.  We are both on our phones trying to get a group text kink worked out!! Not sure we figured anything out.  Our AT&T reception is poor to non-existent. So making communicating with family interesting, to say the least.


To end the evening, we were treated to a beautiful sunset on the Rockies!!! The pictures don't do it justice. It was very cloudy over the Rockies when we arrived in Denver so I was afraid Iri wouldn't get to see the mountains.  Hoping that they will be nice and clear in the am for her to see.


Tomorrow hoping to get to Wendover, Utah/Nevada.  We have traveled about 1200 miles and have almost that many more miles to go to get to Lake Almanor. Hoping to stay there a couple of nights before going to Ft.Bragg, CA for 2 nights.  Disliking all the news about all the wild fires in California, especially in Northern California where we are going.  Prayers for all in harms way and for the personnel working the fires.  More tomorrow.  Hugs.

Day 1.  Sunday, July 30, 2017 PM

Castalian Springs, TN:  And we are off on our adventure of a life time!!!  Iri and family arrived this am and helped to get the car loaded with all our goodies.  Food, of course. Knitting and crocheting projects. Cameras, phones, chargers, etc. etc. And water.

We made it to Paducah, KY at lunch time so stopped for a bite, and gassed up.   Not sure where this boat was going or where it came from but it was impressive!! 

Saw lots and lots of corn. One field after another.  Was very pretty country.  It's all still green.

 

We arrived in Kansas City, Kansas about 7:15PM.  We made good time. Traffic was not bad at all. Fortunately.  

Dinner time! 

We don't do selfies very well, but at least it's documented we were here!! 

Tomorrow we will try to leave early after taking pictures at Cabella's and getting gas.  Going to aim for Denver.  Will have another report tomorrow evening hopefully!!! 

Love,  Carol and Iri