Elko, Nevada and to Provo, Utah

We toured the Museum in Elko, Nevada..outside they had a authentic Pony Express cabin that was moved here from about 40 miles north of here

And here's a newer verison of mail delivery inside the museum.  On of the amazing parts of this museum was the Wanamaker Wildlife Wing.  Mr. Wanamaker had hunted around the world and donated his collection and helped build the wing to house it.  The top floor has many of the animals in settings, and the basement has many of the heads mounted on the wall...here's the pictures below:

You get the idea..there were animals in his collection we didn't know.  Next, we drove to Provo, Utah on interstate 80, and passed the salt flats and the Great Salt Lake.

Morton Salt operation, and we were amazed at the mirage on the road ahead of us..looked like water

The Great Salt Lake above, and snow covered mountains..the beginning of some more great sites in this area

Lake Tahoe

The forecast was for snow, but there was none this morning here in Verdi (where we're staying), although it was cold..our water was frozen this morning, but soon the sun fixed it for us.  We went around Lake Tahoe today, and as we got there, the snow started falling..so beautiful!  At Richardson Camp, there was an Oktoberfest in full swing.

Finally, some pumpkins!  
Here's some of the views we saw:

We're on the move tomorrow

Virginia City

 We read about Outhouse Races in Virginia City Saturday.  Someone there told us it started as a protest when an ordinance was being considered to ban outhouses, and is a celebration..for about 10 years now.  There was a staging area where all of the outhouses were on display, and the supporters were lobbying for your vote for the best looking outhouse.  At noon there was a parade with some folks in costume, and then the races started at 1pm.  They had multiple races, and time in between..so we took a tour in a wagon pulled by a tractor.  The town population is about 1000..and they were all there, plus lots of tourists.
    
                                   

The sidewalks were wooden, lots of old buildingsFamous Opera house

school from 1800's...K thru 12stagecoach rides available!

church built with pegs..no nails

they searched for gold, and then found silver in the mines in the area..This is where the mines of the Comstock made some characters rich, including George Hurst..father of William Randolph.   Mark Twain spent about 2 years here...and at one time it was known  as the richest place on earth..what a great old town to visit

To Nevada

Yesterday we made it to just outside of Sacramento. We stopped for lunch and loved getti up expresso!

In Oregon and California we saw so many bikers traveling, and in California many hitch hikers..amazing, we didn't think anyone did that anymore

We decided to alter our plans and not go to Yosemite on this trip for multiple reasons, so on to Nevada...thru the famous Donner pass area

The views changed from California's farm land in the Sacramento Valley to the mountains

We're staying in Verdi, Nevada close to Reno and Lake Tahoe..and will do our day trips from here..the temp has changed from cold to hot..and the mountains around here are supposed to be getting snow this weekend..we'll see

Redwoods Day 2

Today we went to ride thru a tree, then to the Trees of  Mystery (a museum,a gondola, and neat trails).  Then to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park south of where we are staying in Klamath.  The two state parks have been incorporated in to the Redwood National Park. 

The trees make up a cathedral where weddings take place..that's me standing at the podium

We rode up the mountain in a gondola

and walked 1 mile down the trail...it was steep but we had our hiking shoes and sticks.  They had ropes on some of the very difficult slopes..it was fun

The picture doesn't capture how steep it was..the rope was helpful

We then went to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park..part of the Redwood National Park

We've seen signs of Elk, but this is the first one we've seen since leaving Wyoming

and then saw another one on the way back home..he had an itch!

We're off to Yosemite..it'll probably take two days of driving to get there