Being on the road for about month now has taught us quite a bit. I think Sam and I both agree that in some ways it’s not what we expected, but in other ways it’s beyond our wildest imagination. Sometimes, it’s downright scary.
After landing in Jackson, WY we decided to change our route. Of course we wanted to take our time driving through Montana, Washington and Oregon, but the weather was cold (with snow in the forecast), I was full-blown sick, and there were zero places to camp this time of year. A friend of mine in the Portland area tipped us off to let us know it had been raining non-stop and it didn’t seem as though it would break anytime soon. We lamented over the fact that if had we gotten on the road two weeks earlier like we planned, we probably could have avoided some of these hurdles.
So, we decided to stay in Jackson for an extra day before making our way to Sam’s father in Reno, NV where the temperatures would be warmer and we’d have a place to nurse ourselves back to health. We thought Jackson was an adorable little city and really enjoyed all the hopping around we did there – tortilla soup at Pica’s, tea and mochas at Cowboy Coffee, pizza at Pinky G’s, and an overnight stay at the Flat Creek Inn. We even took a parking lot camper ride, just for kicks.
“The real problem is if we get two flat tires.”
Before we left Jackson, we decided we’d give Grand Teton National Park another shot. We kind of just blasted through at dusk and felt as though we didn’t really spend enough time there. Sam found a route that would take us back north through the park, and then we’d turn off on Grassy Lake Road to continue west into Ashton, Idaho. I found driving down this 36 mile dirt road to be absolutely terrifying. The narrow “road” winds, twists and turns into hairpin curves deep, deep into the woods. You’d be hard-pressed to find a stretch that would allow you to go over 15 mph. Few other cars or people were traveling this road and with no cell reception, my nervousness began to grow. Sam loved bouncing around puddles and potholes with the 4Runner, but I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if we got a flat tire on either the car or the trailer.
“The real problem is if we get two flat tires,” Sam assured me with a grin as I white-knuckled the dashboard. I continued to keep a close eye on the wheels in the side view mirror and held my breath. We thought we were taking a quick shortcut, but it had actually taken us 2 1/2 hours. It was a long and quiet car ride, but we made it out alive and without a single flat tire. Sam was proudly beaming. I was anxious to get to Reno. We drove as far as we could before the sun set, and decided to stay the night in Jackpot, NV.
We got to see Reno for the fun and exciting city that it is – not the sleazy stereotype most consider it to be.
Like magic, I began to feel better as soon as we arrived to Sam’s dad’s house. Kiwi was happy to have a big house to explore and carpeted floors to lay on once again. Having this landing place gave us a chance to catch up on all the little chores and things that pile up while we’re cruising – picking up mail, getting the tires rotated, doing laundry, and tidying up the camper. But it also gave us some really great quality time with Sam’s father. Our days were spent hiking, scouring army surplus stores, target shooting, and hunting for “swirly” rocks, bones and other sundries. Our evenings were spent making dinner, sipping cocktails, watching movies, jamming on the guitar, and teaching ourselves to play the saw. We delighted in buying a bottle of Cointreau at CVS for $10, and discount sweaters and boots at Sierra Trading Post. There were a few great day trips we took; one to Lake Tahoe, the other to Virginia City where we ate the best barbecue at our favorite spot, Virginia City Jerky Co. and took a mine tour (also something I found utterly scary but Sam and his dad seemed to enjoy being 50 feet below). Of course, visiting Virginia City wouldn’t be right without a drink at a saloon, so we ordered White Russians at the Old Corner Bar and admired all the Nevada Day Beard Contest awards they proudly displayed. One night we met Sam’s cousin Leo and his girlfriend for a double date at Kwok’s followed by cocktails at Chapel Tavern. Another day we ventured to the Nevada Art Museum and enjoyed the Ann Brigman and James Turrell exhibits on view before dining at the Laughing Planet Cafe. There was no stone left unturned here, and we got to see Reno for the fun and exciting city that it is – not the sleazy stereotype most consider it to be.
It was also here where Sam and I regained our footing. A lot of people wonder how things have been going, and my response has usually been, “We have our good days and bad days.” Coming down with a cold wasn’t really in our plan and we realized how not-fun camping in the cold and in tight quarters can be. We ended up splurging on some cheap hotel rooms to get us by. Scheduling has also been tricky. It seems the more we try plan, the more we end up changing those plans due to unforeseen circumstances. This can send the Virgo in me into a tizzy. But we’re also embracing the spontaneity of it all. I’m learning that I am more fearful and more of a worrier than I’d like to be. Sam has been a great source of grounding during those times. All-in-all, we’re getting pretty darn good at communicating and, if anything, it has brought us that much closer together.
Going Over There 
I have enjoyed all of your trip. Uncle Clarence and I had always plan to take six weeks vacation to the west coast but never did it.
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