Carson City, Nevada




Niece Tracy in her cool Kitchen

  I love, love, love the valley where Carson City is located.  It is the capitol city of Nevada so it has lots of historic buildings and established residential areas.  My niece and her husband are experiencing the first years of "empty nest" and (don't tell their kids), are loving it.  They have a lovely home with all the best for guests.  I was pampered for 2 days with good company, good food and a nice taste of thrift shopping.  I'm kicking myself for not taking more pictures but I did get one of niece Tracy Monday morning.  Then on to Bend, Oregon and the nicest Motel 6 I have ever stayed in.  More on Bend later.

On To Carson City, Nevada

Loved this old building

Especially the Bell Tower

Old and Cool

Not sure the name of this lake but it went on forever!

Leaving Bishop on CA.395 is a fun drive with some older towns along the way.  When you get into Oregon, it becomes miles and miles of nothing.  One road sign said "90 miles to the next gas".  I had planned to spend the night in Lakeview, Oregon but I still had miles of driving left in me and Lakeview had really nothing to see or do, so hit the road. 

Barstow to Bishop

Bishop, CA. Motel



My first view of the Sierras (CA. 395)

 I left Barston and found CA. 395 and headed north.  Once you get out of the desert valley you start climbing and before you know it you are looking ahead to the Sierras.  I had planned to stay at the Motel 6 in Bishop but I didn't like the looks of the place....(note to Motel 6, time for renovation).  So I stayed at a small, local, funky Motel.  It was clean, retro and had a great pool.

Next Morning I began the journey to Carson City Nevada to spend a couple of days with my niece Tracy and her sweet husband Eddy.

I'm On The Road At Last

I left Sun City West early, about 7:30AM.  Amazing for me but I was more than ready to get going.  I drove up AZ Hiway 93 to Kingman and then Hiway 40 into California, ending the day in Barstow.  I've made this trip a few times before and I do have to laugh at the idea that Barstow is my choice for an overnight stop.  Barstow is a dusty, desert town with not much to recommend it but it is a good first day stop at 375 miles from home.  I stayed at the Motel 6 this time and was pleasantly surprised.  Very clean, fast WIFI, friendly staff and a comfortable bed.  All in all, a good first day.

Old Masonic Hall

Great Pie

In the morning I headed west on California Hiway 58 to CA. 395.  It is a lot of miles of nothing but barren desert until you start climbing into the Eastern Sierra Mountains.  I have always enjoyed this trip up 395.  I remember doing this drive years ago with my husband Charlie.  These days the little towns like Lone Pine, Independence have grown and seem to be doing OK with lots of tourist activity. I stopped in Independence at Jenny's Cafe for pie and coffee.  It was great, she had just taken 5 pies out of the oven, so I chose the strawberry & rhubarb.  Delicious.  The cafe is in an old Masonic Hall and very cute inside.  Jeni was fun to talk to.  Tonight I am staying in Bishop.  I didn't like the looks of the Motel 6 here so chose an older, kind of funky place called  The Village Motel.  It is just fine.  Clean, WIFI, a pool (which I plan to make use of when I am through posting this) and a lovely, helpful, young woman at the desk.   

Tomorrow I am heading for Carson City, Nevada to spend a couple of night with my niece Tracy and her husband Ed.  Looking forward to that visit.  Tracy always is a delight.

Counting Down the Days

The "List" is well in hand and I'm getting more excited every day about "hitting the road" yet again, this summer without Ms. Capri.  I will leave AZ on June 14th drive to Barstow, Ca. for my first night stay.  Next morning it is up CA.#395 to Carson City, Nevada and a visit with my niece Tracy.  Then on to Bend, Oregon for a couple days....Bend is a nice City in a beautiful setting.  From Bend I head to Sandy, Oregon to spend a couple days with my cousins Lee and Treva.  Then to Vancouver, Wa. to lunch and catch up with Rita my old friend from High School.  From Vancouver it is on to Astoria, Oregon to visit with friend John. 

From Astoria I drive up the WA. coast to Moclips for a week at the Gull Wing Inn. Lovely spot to rest, write and enjoy the ocean and beaches....hopefully get some fresh seafood!  July 3rd I'm heading for Federal Way, WA. to spend the rest of July with my friend Marianne and see my Seattle friends.  "The Old Girl's Drinking Club" will surely meet up.  I love those amazing women.

In August I'll be in Port Townsend at Sea Dreams Cottage.  I love Port Townsend and hope to see some of my friends in the area.  Also plan to drop in at the Writers Workshop and meet those great folks and I plan to enjoy the best Farmers Market in WA.  When September rolls around I will head south down the California Coast to San Diego to end my summer with my son Dan and his Onay.  I plan to be back in AZ by September 15th to activate my "real" life....but oh those summers, how I enjoy them.

Katie Graduates from Sonoma State University

Michael, Katie, Dan & Onay



Our Proud Graduate



Grandma & Katie



Brother & Sister

 I had the great pleasure of spending Mothers Day weekend in Santa Rosa, CA. attending my granddaughter Katie Haven's graduation from College.  She was one of the speakers so the Havens family got reserved seats.  Katie was a Political Science major and has secured a job working in Virginia in the Senate campaign of Tim Kaine.  She begins this new adventur in mid-June.  What a great opportunity to be involved in politics "on the ground".  I'm sure she will dazzle them in VA. and I hope this leads to something wonderful for her.  It was so wonderful to be with the whole family all weekend.  My son Dan and his wife Onay can be very proud of how they have raised two great kids, Katie and Michael.  Michael just finished up his freshman year at Boise State College and was able to come to graduation.