April 6-7 - From Winery to Snowshoeing

We are off to pick up wine from Beletto Winery in Santa Rosa - a 3 hr trip. But the views are gorgeous. Because of all the rain, the hills are lush with green everywhere we look. 

It was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy some food and wine. Also stopped at a brewery in Sabastopol but forgot to take pics. 

April 7 - Packed into Shan and Carl small truck, off we go to Snowshoe and a film festival in Downieville. 

We are about 60 miles from Nevada City where there isn’t any snow but here in Sierra City, there is lots. So away we went. 

Next was our first Banff Film Festival held in the historic town of Downieville. In the 1850’s Downieville was the 2nd largest town in CA because of GOLD!  It almost was the capitol city but lost to Sacramento by 10 votes!  

Headed back to Nevada City for dinner and sleep

Apri 3 - April 5 - Settling in at Shan and Carl’s place.

On the way down from Truckee (where we stayed last night), there was LOTS of snow. It was beautiful but glad we won’t see much if any at Shan’s. 

Pulled into Shannon and Carl’s Tuesday April 2. Set up camp on their property. We’ll see how long till they kick us out. Bill set up our Solo stove so we could roast Andouille sausages and s’mores. First we’ve used our Christmas present to each other because of fire bans across U.S. 

Had a few issues with electric and blowing of fuses. But Carl and Bill got it figured out well enough for us to have lights. Will probably put in a 20 or 30 amp if we’re going to do this again. 

Shannon and I were excited to open her gifts the Greater Buffalo Run Valley choir gave her at our Granny Shower. Here are just a few of the gifts. Shan was thrilled with everything. Lenny particularly like the stuffed animals. 

April 3 - Shan had bought tickets to see Cats for my Christmas present so Thursday we set off for Sacramento to see Drew and Erin and go to dinner and the theater. This was the set. Very colorful. 

We stayed overnight at Drew and Erin’s because Shan had a dr appt at UC Davis Hospital. 

They hooked Shan up to a monitor that checks the baby’s heart rate. They are checking to make sure it goes up several times. This lets them know she’s happy and doing well. She and baby Lucky passed with flying colors. 

After shopping in the Big City, we headed back up the hill to home to start organizing baby things- so glad I’m here to help. Loving every minute. 

While we were coming back up the hill, Carl and Bill started on the list of projects - changing out receptacles and a new light. 

In the midst of all this, Winter and James we’re getting a pop up camper from Cathy and Ron Hostetler. They are so excited to get it set up and use it. 

Carl and Shan made us a pork chop dinner with beet risotto. Yum Yum. 

Tomorrow it’s off to Baletto Winery. 

April 2 - from desert to snow in one day

Our campground at Tonopah looked pretty barren but look, here’s a driving range!  You just never know what amenities you’ll have at your campground. 

Here are some more shots of pics at the campground with mountains in the far off background. You’ll see those mountains up close soon. Also notice clouds and then sun. That was all within about 1/2 hour. 

From Tonopah to Reno, there’s not much. A lot of it is Native Americans reservations. 

Here are those mountains and they are getting closer. 

As we came into Hawthorn, we came upon an Army base. The fields were full of bunkers, hundreds and hundreds of them. 

As we kept driving, we Walker Lake. A beautiful recreation area. There’s even camping there but we would be boondocking so need to do that when it’s a little warmer. 


The road we were on reminded me of the Road to Hana in Hawaii, twisty turny with a mountain on the left and water on our right. 

Can you see the purple flowers?  There were fields of them. 

Finally made it to California. Tonight we’re staying in Truckee which is in the mountains of Tahoe. 

Oh no, we found winter again. This is the Truckee River RV Park. Our place for the night! 

We’ll be at Shannon and Carl’s home tomorrow. 

April 1 - whole lot of nothing - to Tonopah, NV

Coming across Arizona into Nevada was a whole lot of nothing BUT it was beautiful to us. We left the Ponderosa Pines in Williams (near the Grand Canyon and got right back into the desert. 

Not sure who was driving here but we didn’t get lost!

Drove  past Hoover Dam. Didn’t stop this time because we’ve been there but noticed a lot of new highways and concrete. 

Some pics along the way to our next stop. 

Next came Las Vegas. Wow has that town ever expanded since we were here several years ago. 

Coming around Las Vegas, lots of palm trees. They even make the cell towers look like palm trees. 

A few Joshua Trees along the way. 

Wonder how long it will take for them to grow big like the one below? They are a very slow growing tre. 

We thought we wanted to stay in Beatty, NV, but all the RV parks were filled. 

Here are a few shots of Beatty. It’s definitely a western village. 

So on to Tonopah. We found a perfect, no frills campground BUT we could hike anywhere on their 1,400 acre desert. So that’s what we did for about 4 miles. Lenny could be off leash and he was happy smelling all those desert smells!  

This is our view for tonight. Lots and lots of desert and open areas. 

March 31 - New Mexico to Arizona

Headed across I40 to get our kicks on Route 66!  

Before we left our campground, Lenny had to visit his dog park. This campground, along with being very clean, is very artsy. 

The landscape coming across New Mexico and part of Arizona is still desert but we see mountains in the distance. 

Then comes the buttes. I never tire of seeing the Southwest colors and blue skies 

 




In the distance is Humphreys Peak 12,333 ft!

As we got closer to Flagstaff, AZ, the landscape changed dramatically and notice the snow. Lots of Ponderosa Pine. 

After setting up in the Grand Canyon Railway campground, we headed into Williams to walk on Route 66 

Back to the campground we decided we need to go across the road to Grand Canyon Brewery and Distillery before retiring for the night.