We just returned from a 2-week cross-country trip to California from Pennsylvania. There is so much catching up to do, here and in my house. I really thought I’d have the opportunity on our vacation to get photos of the old houses from the different states we went through but the reality is that I-80 is not the best way to see houses. We did stop at many rest stops along the way to get geocaches so I’d have some logged from each state we passed through. I managed to get a couple of photos from the Lake Tahoe area that impressed me which I’ll post at the bottom of this post.
So here are some random thoughts I had during the 2-weeks we were gone.
*With all the media attention and health departments around the world warning about the H1N1 virus and telling us how important it is to wash our hands etc, I was surprised that all of the rest stops in Nevada that we stopped at (the place I’d think would need it most, yuck!) did not have soap in the rest rooms. I guess the health department in that state thinks water will do the job. We bought some hand sanitizer that we used after each visit to restaurants and rest stops. California also had some rest stops without soap. But at least most of California’s stops had seat protectors. Iowa, by far, had the best, cleanest, most beautiful rest stops. I give them a super AAAA++++ I called the flu hotline and found out the incubation period for the flu is about 4 days. We’ve been home that amount of time so I guess we didn’t get the flu while on vacation because we still feel fine.
*Leaving for vacation without having fixed the dryer left me thinking several times, while looking at the gorgeous views in front of us, that on our return home I’d have lots of laundry to do without having a working dryer. We got home and sure enough there was a mountain of clothes that needed washing and drying. I washed them and then hung up ropes in the basement (it is cold and rainy outside.) I was surprised at all the hooks in the basement beams. I seem to recall I had to take down yards and yards of ropes hanging from these hooks when we moved in. I suspect someone else before us had a dryer problem. When they get almost dry I’ll throw them in the dryer on the fluff cycle since the heat cycle won’t work. Cats are afraid of the sight of things hanging all around which wouldn’t be important except for they need to go to the basement for their litter box. Anyway, right now it is kind of fun hanging clothes on plastic hangers all throughout the unfinished basement both on hooks and draping them over the ropes I put up. I’m sure the fun won’t last. We are still debating whether to fix the dinosaur or buy a new one.
*Many towns listed on the maps through Nevada are now ghost towns. The towns are boarded up, including the brothels (not that we cared.) They need to be unlisted. Signs need to be changed on those long, desolate roads leading to the freeways. There are signs saying “next gas 60 miles” when the town doesn’t exist anymore when you get there and it is in the middle of no-man’s land. We had a big tank but I’m feeling for those on fumes.
*One reason we drove 2500 miles each way (other than we just hate flying and being treated like cattle and because they charge for luggage) is there were “treasures” I had wanted to bring back from the house I grew up in (it’s located on what used to be the Argonaut Gold Mine.) My brother and his wife leveled the old place to build a beautiful new one. They saved some of the old things from the house but didn’t want them themselves. After my other siblings went through everything, there were some things left for me (that no one else wanted.) I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Framed pictures, light fixtures, and 1800′s vanity mirror frame with mud wasps nest on it (who wouldn’t want that?) But I did want that, it’s the best thing I brought back and the light fixtures are pretty cool, too. I don’t get why the others didn’t want them. I’m the second oldest of 5 kids and my other siblings didn’t want a huge box full of photos of people they didn’t remember or know, but surely these people are relatives. Since I’m one of the oldest, I may remember who these people are so I took the box to go through it and label everything I can. My father (now 93) just wanted to toss it! But when will I’ll have the time to do it, I’m suppose to be working on my house! We drove back home packed like sardines.
Below are the photos of the Lake Tahoe house that had such a neat-looking door. If I had a house in that style I would build one that looks just like that. The other photo is of a wooden yard sculpture in the same area that is the best one I’ve ever seen. Lake Tahoe is such a wonderful place.
