First let me mention if you get a message that says your comment is in “moderation” it’s because for some reason it needed to be “approved” and I haven’t found it yet. It’s probably just me but it seems like things change on wordpress and I don’t realize it. I was getting email notifications about comments and now suddenly I’m not. I love your comments, so please continue with them. I’ll get this figured out!
Between fires, smoke and forecasts of possible snow in the mountains I seem to be changing my decisions on which way to get back to Monterey, daily. I need to spend about a week there with family before I head down to Texas to the much anticipated Casita Rally I will be attending.
I had planned to go across Nevada on route 50/6 which I did. When that route broke into separate routes I first planned to take 50, then changed that to 6, then ended up using I80 instead, kind of a cop-out on my part I guess. Be that as it may, I’m now in Winnemucca at an expensive and not that great RV park which I’ll be leaving this morning. Yesterday when we got here the wind was so bad that we spent little time outdoors until about sunset when the wind died down. Then we walked and went to the RV parks dog run.
Today I don’t want to go farther than the Reno/Sparks area. There is rain and thunderstorms in the forecast, and at slightly under 200 miles away is about as much travel as I would like to do anyway. If it actually does snow in the CA mountains I’ll need to wait on the east side of them until it melts. I’d hoped to take some senic drive through that area, like 395 to 49, and avoid the big cities as much as possible, but with road closures due to fires, I may end up sticking to I80 and leaving the senic views for another time.
If you happen to be reading this and know of a nice place to stay around Sparks/Reno I’d appreciate it if you comment here. I’ll try to check comments before I light for the night. Not that there is a shortage of places to stay in the area, but recommendations help sometimes. I noticed there is an RV park near Sparks on the Truckee River and my first thought was that Joy and Shiloh would enjoy that, but if it’s pouring rain or temperatures are dropping, I won’t be taking them swimming anyway.
I have every modern convenience, and I still have concerns about crossing these mountains. Can you imagine the pioneers in their covered wagons, and the concerns they must have had about crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains?
Wandering Spirit 
…and then there was the Donner Party. Really good Donner museum and grounds with trails just outside Truckee and right of 80 (at Donner Summit Road). We ski nearby at our beloved Sugar Bowl, whose slopes are next to Roller Pass. That’s a place to read about – the slope up was so steep that the pioneers rigged a pulley system using log ‘rollers’ to haul the wagons up the grade.
I’ve hiked to that spot and looked down – terrifying to imagine those rollers, wagons, oxen. I couldn’t help thinking that I just apply a little pressure to a foot pedal and a few hours later I’m in skis. Even when I’m in Truckee traffic I know I’m moving faster than those wagons, and I have heat, water, snacks and comfy seats!
Yes the Donner party had to wait out the snow in the mountains too. Luckily I have grocery stores nearby! Awk!
Pulleys and rollers…what determination they had! I can’t even imagine. I probably would have decided that east of the Sierra Nevada’s would be a fine place to live!
I thought coming down from Donner was going to be hard, but I have now done it in three different motorhomes, one class A and two class C….and pulling a trailer will be the same. Get in the truck lane, gear down your transmission (I have first, second, drive and overdrive…I put it in second) and keep your RPMs down around 3000 ….as it creeps up, use your breaks to get keep it down, but don’t ride your breaks….as RPMs get around 3200, I break to get them down to 2500 and coast take my foot off the break….as you go faster and it gets to 3200, break again. Turn your flashers on during these times so others know you are going slow….kinda nice to get behind a slow truck if possible and just follow their cue, although they might ride their breaks more because that’s what trucks seem to do. Don’t know of a site near Reno, but we have stayed at the Loomis RV park before Sacramento….once beyond that point prices become very steep. KOA in West Sac is like $55 or more and in my opinion, not worth $35.
Thanks for that Dave. I’m not used to watching the RPM’s when I’m driving. I’ll try that. And thanks for your input about the Loomis RV park. I’m still pouring over maps and trying to figure out what to do. And when to do it!
I just joined your blog. Wow you guys have been to some beautiful places and you have beautiful pictures!
I’m late in making my comment. I lived in Reno for a lot of years and there is not an RV Park in Reno or Sparks that I would recommend. They are VERY expensive for what they offer. I would have recommended Desert Rose RV Park in Fernley but they may be full with Amazon season workers.
The City Father’s also passed a parking ordinance which puts a crimp in staying overnight at WalMart. I have done so a number of times in other towns by asking permission to stay overnight from the WarMart manager. Have never been refused, they always tell me there is a city ordinance but as far as they are concerned I’m a customer that is in their store shopping.
Hi Ed, I was looking at your web page. Wow you’ve been around the block a few times…and on a bicycle too! Amazing and impressive!
I’ve noticed at a lot of Walmarts there are signs that say you can’t stay overnight. I would have never thought to ask, despite the signs. It would be a bit hard for me in a place like that though, with the dogs. They like to be outside as much as they can….except on a day like today with the rain. Today they have spent most of the day all cozy in bed.