America 2010

Day 4: Reno to Winnemucca

You know when you hit Nevada for two reasons. 1) CASINOS EVERYWHERE. 2) The roads suddenly improve, and the speed limit is 75mph. Had an emergency repair job to a website to do in Reno, lucky I found a fee wifi network as soon as I opened my laptop. Bought some chains and sub-zero wiper fluid, just in case. Then on I went.

Stopped at some god-forsaken town, Lovelock if I remember, but I'd have to check the receipt. It's… not as romantic as it sounds. The petrol station toilet was just like in the movies.

    ""Discount Furniture" read the sign in the window / Casino next to the supermarket. Note what Nevadans like to drive.

But here things suddenly got interesting. That grain train I'd seen at Donner Pass? Well guess who I bumped into again!

  (#3 could almost be NZ)

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Day 4: Donner Pass to Reno

Early start today… early as in 4am NZ time early! Tahoe is pretty cold at the hour of the morning, but i wrapped up warm and was soon on my way. For the curious… here is what $29 buys you…

Not shown is the heater that would probably shoot flames on the highest setting, and the nicer-than-home bathroom.

Was soon on the road and heading for Truckee… yes I had a plan in my head. Drove through some amazing fog on the way, according to the car it was about –2 to -3°C outside. The frost was just amazing…

Frost on the barbed wire / Looking across the fields

Truckee was similarly cloaked, only colder. Parked in "the only free parking spot in town" which just so happened to be right outside the train depot and had a good nosey around. Couldn't see much on account of the fog, but got some shots of the snow fighting ...

Day 3: Donner Pass again

Earlier start today, much to do. Did some quick errands and then was off up the hill to try and catch the Amtrak. Evidently I missed that so decided to go exploring and try and find the Norden snow tunnels. The road I was supposed to take is now a snow trail, so enquired at the ski booth about snow shoeing in there, but it was going to be $25 just to stomp through some snow! Wandered up to the tracks to have a look and spied a Union Pacific worker, so had a chat to him and he told me about a short cut :-) Wandered back to the car, just missed a downhill freight (snow sucks up sound) so jumped in the car and chased him downhill, aiming for a Yuba Pass meeting. No sooner had I hit the I80 than I saw him crossing a big grain train, so quick U turn at the next off ramp and was back at Soda Springs in a couple of minutes. Found the shortcut and snow shoed into the snow sheds. Missed another freight while getting ready… seriously?! Not even midday and I've already missed 3 trains!...

Day 2: Donner Pass

Awoke bright and early to the mournful cry of a train horn, funny how things like that can arouse me so quickly! Decided that 6:45am (3:45am NZ time) was a little early to be getting up, so went back to sleep :) Woke up much later on, seems that I was rather exhausted, I guess plane-sleep doesn't count for much. Got ready and hopped in the car and headed up the hill. First stop was Alta…

Alta is little more than a few buildings, but it is lovely and peaceful. The whole place radiates that sleepy Sunday morning feel and the pines dwarf everything.

"Main" street of Alta / Cars sunning themselves, check out the snow plough on that thing!

Around the road a bit there is another wow place, American Gorge. The view from here is amazing, gazing out over a massive valley with pines everywhere (no photos, sun was all wrong). I found a cowboy hat spiked on a branch, which I thought a little odd. Tried it on&#x...

Back to the States – Day 1, NZ to Colfax

Well here I am in Colfax, California! And what a journey it has been. Three weeks ago I booked my tickets and I was excited as. Then those 3 weeks stretched out and it's felt more like 3 months. And to top it all off, Friday morning, just 2 days before I was due to fly out, I got a very nasty surprise regarding my terminal and provisional tax payments – so much of a surprise that cancelling the trip entirely was looking quite likely. Luckily about 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon the revised numbers came through and I decided I could afford my trip after all. Wow! Uncertainty at that hour of the game is really nerve wracking!

But it all worked out and so with just 24 hours till lift off I managed to get my suitcase all packed and down to the airport in time. Flights over were very straightforward, even with all the extra security screening (although watching Aliens and Planet of the Apes on the plane led to some interesting dreams). Breezed through San Fran no problems a...