On The Road in Oakland

The company I drive for has decided to start getting back hauls to help pay the fuel bill for the empty trailer that usually runs between Reno and Hayward. Today is my first back haul.

I wanted to try and make a great first impression for what might be a new, regular customer. Receiving hours in Oakland are 6:00 am till noon and I wanted to be first at the dock. So I left Reno at 1:00 am looking to impress with my super service.

Well it is 6:00 am and now I am told I will be waiting untill at least 8:00 am before they will start unloading. It is sort of funny, but it is mostly just trucking and is the norm for most docks. Sure will be different from carpet deliveries where you work fast and get done early.

Peace, Love and Bliss

Don

One Mans Trash is Another Mans Art

One man's junk is another man's treasure.      -- unknown

Hi Friends,

Driving through Yerington, NV right off 95A sits one persons little art display. Sure to many of us the parts would have been junk, but to this Yerington resident it was art and offered the artist a way to express a feeling.

This artist created some fine animals for his farm, some tractors and what looks like a chariot from the old Roman days. There is even a more interesting way of collecting mail. What a wonderful celebration of creativity in the middle of the country in Nevada.

May all your days be filled with beauty and celebration too.

Peace, Love and Bliss

Don

Junkyard Airplane Art

The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe. ~Mark Twain, "Roughing It"

Hi Friends,

We were on our way to Medford a few weeks back and found this coolio junk yard airplane near Susanville, CA.  It appears that the crew at the land fill was bored and shopped some of the piles of scrap to get the parts that make this neat bird fly. In addition to the big engine and the huge prop, it looks like a pretty fast bird as evidenced by the swept wings.

Do you have the story on this bird?

Hoping all your dreams come true and you always sing on key.

Don

Musical Family "Art by the Side of the Road"

Every child is an artist.  The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.  ~Pablo Picasso

Hi Friends,

Last time we visited Medford, OR I found this family of musicians playing just off the main drag by the library. What a wonderful way to add warmth and fun to your downtown space. It invites you to explore the rest of the downtown space.

What a treat!

Don

Our Silver Saddle Ranch Adventure

He knows when you're happy He knows when you're comfortable He knows when you're confident And he always knows when you have carrots. ~Author Unknown


Hi Friends,


We had planned to take the horses out to the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival last weekend. We hooked up the truck and trailer and had most everything in place for a wonderful ride in Genoa. Then we were off to bed for a few hours of shut eye ...


Somewhere between laying down and getting up the next day the wheels fell off the cart. Neither of us was able to get any sleep and we tossed and turned most of the night. In the morning, both of us exhausted, we decided not to get up early to get to the Genoa ride. Instead we would see what the afternoon brought us.


We gave it some thought in the morning over coffee and conversation and decided to give the Silver Saddle Ranch a try. We read about it a few weeks prior and it sounded like just the ticket to keep our weekend ride dream going. East of Carson City on the East side of Prison Hill we found this little oasis of trees and green fields that was just about perfect. Except for few walkers and some folks with dogs we had the park to ourselves.


We parked and checked out the facilities map and headed off by a little creek lined by just blooming plants. The trails were very nice, mostly dirt and sand (with some areas of small rocks) and mostly wide enough for two horses side by side. There was a great trail that ran around the perimeter or the working ranch and then finished with a short section right down the middle of the alfalfa fields. It was almost more than our horses could stand. Like kids in a candy shop, they munched on the sweet feed.


Then we tried the trails that take you into the sandy/rocky part of the park. There was a slight incline that gave the horses a bit of a workout, but it was nothing more than we could handle. Silver Saddle Ranch has the old fashioned drop box type of restrooms like you will find in most parks, and they are in good shape.


We did bring our own water, but found a spigot there if you need water for your horses (or you). We sure had a great time and plan on visiting again soon. Well maintained and a ranch forman on site, this is a nice safe place that we and our horses loved.


Hope to see you on the trail ...


Love and Bliss,


Don


Took this video to share. It captures some of the fun we had

Spring From Lake Tahoe

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. ~John Ruskin

Hi Friends,

Work took me back to Lake Tahoe today, thank goodness for the company making mistakes. After a night of pretty heavy snow and some more added in the morning it looked beautiful. One of the best things about Spring snow storms is that they only last a short time and then we get right back into the Spring experience.
I stopped today at a overlook that I used to always stop at to catch my breath. Lately I had flown right past this spot because I found myself on the wrong side of the highway. Today I needed a good catch my breath break and found it at Logan Shoals near Cave Rock. I really could have taken an hour or two here but had to get back on the road.
I did stay long enough to breath the fresh air and took some video to share with you. If you find yourself at lake Tahoe and need a moment of bliss check out Logan Shoals yourself.

Peace, Love and Bliss
Don

Back Over Donner Pass

Hi Friends,

Just put together another short video of my last trip over Donner Pass. Thought  It is getting late in March so these snow storms will be coming to an end soon, and I will be running to Vacaville on bare pavement again. The Spring and Summer are what make these storms a bit more bearable.  With every trip over now I can see the trees turning green again, many with colorfiul flowers on them as they get ready to celebrate the return of warmer days.

On this trip CalTrans had maximun chain requirements up for the trucks and the roads were covered with ice and a top layer of snow. It was actually not a bad trip over, but I do like to take it a bit slower than the rest of the drivers on the road. My trailer is usually empty heading West over the hill so it has a tendency to slide around a bit more than those with a load. Then again, my thinking is that I drive like an old man so I can live to be an old man.

So it is off on another adventure over Donner Pass heading West. This time I left the video at normal speed and the sound is on so you can hear the rumble of the chains.  It tells a story about a day in my life and reminds me of the glory of Spring and Summer and the warmth of the Sun.

So strap in and grab a warm beverage and lets get on the road.

Don