Marc, Bev and our Australian Kelpie: Bend, OR to Reno, Vegas

Travelled for nine hours from Redmond, Oregon to Reno, Nevada. . . . taking the quiet two lane 395 Highway. Tuesday and very little traffic.

Near Paisley, Oregon we saw a field with probably 50+ Pronghorns, grazing.

Saw a herd of Mountain Sheep, a couple of coyotes and a couple of herds of white-tailed deer. Unfortunately not able to stop and get photos.

RENO

Stayed three nights at "Sparks Marina RV Park" in east Reno - out of town and quiet. Found a huge park behind the high school and up on the hillside - ten minute drive from the RV Park.

VIRGINIA CITY, NEVADA

A City of Silver and Gold.

Virginia City sprang up as a boomtown in 1859 when two miners (McLaughlin and O'Reilly) discovered gold at the head of Six-Mile Canyon. Not long after, another miner named Henry Comstock, came upon their find and claimed it was on his property he purchased for grazing.

McLaughlin and O'Reilly finally agreed to give him an interest in the gold find.

The town developed seemingly overnight on the eastern slopes of Mount Davidson, at 6200 feet in elevation.

The discovery lured gold miners and soon "Old Virginny" was born. The Comstock Lode would not be known for gold, but for its rich silver deposits.

By the 1870s, over $230 million had been produced by the mines and Virginia City continued to grow to approximately 30,000 residents (now home to about 1,000). The town had 150 saloons, five police precincts and a thriving red-light district.

Mining operations were hindered by extreme temperatures in the mines caused by natural hot springs. In winter the miners would snowshoe to the mines and then have to descend to work in high temperatures. Harsh conditions contributed to low life expectancy and earned the miners the nickname of "Hot Water Plugs." Water temperature and deeper levels would rise to more than 100 degrees and often, steam and scalding water would pour into the tunnels.

1875 a fire raged through the city, destroyed almost three quarters of the buildings.

St. Mary's of the Mountain Catholic Church

Wow, Marc forgiving his sins!!!!!!!
I could have left him there for days!!!

(Not converted however!)

From churches to bars!

Mark Twain Saloon

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain, pen name) moved to Virginia City with his brother in 1861 eventually was hired to write articles for the local newspaper.

Men outnumbered women by about 40 to one. Julia Buelette, a prostitute from England, was a favorite in town and became an honorary member of Virginia City Fire Engine Co.No.1.

She was murdered and the firemen led her funeral procession to her secret gravesite. She became a folk hero in modern times and Father Paul Meineke of St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church found her grave and relocated it to the now hillside graveyard where 25 are located (only half are identified).

First rain of the season. Winter months have an average of about 22" of snow.

Underneath the Trump sign is a copy of a 1915 poster recruiting "machine gunners" and "dynamiters" to fight in the Mexican Revolution.

The only Hilary sign we spotted in a predominantly Trump town.

The smoking' smell got the best of us and in we went for lunch.

At the Delta Saloon is the "Suicide Table"

Today, the table is under protective glass.

It is an old bank table dating from 1869s, and is said to have been cursed. This gambling table was somehow claimed to be responsible for the deaths by suicide of three people who took possession of it following substantial losses of money from gambling.

Known as "The Castle"

this mansion was built in 1863 by Robert Greaves, the superintendent of the Empire Mine.

Would be interesting to take a walking tour (you can download a mobile app as you walk that explains the history of each historical site).

Virginia City is one of most haunted cities in Nevada.

The Washoe Club is one of the most popular haunted buildings.

The Millionaires Club was upstairs, the brothel on the third floor. Current owner, during a television interview, states that many women have had their hair pulled and workers hear the partying upstairs and footsteps from the once popular Milionaires Club.

Today the upper floors are not restored and efforts are being made to help raise funds to restore the old brick building.

Of course, a day trip to an old historical town wouldn't be complete until you step foot in the candy store!

Back down the winding road with a great view of Reno.

Leaving Sparks (Reno) in the early morning fog

Hwy 80 to 95 - fog lifted and the colors pop.

Bunkers

A crumby shot but that's what you get when traveling 60 mph down the highway.

As far as you can see, bunkers. The town of Hawthorne is a U.S. Army ammunition storage depot. The depot covers 147,000 acres (226 sq. mi.) with 2,427 bunkers. It is the "Worlds Largest Depot" and has production areas, an industrial area housing command headquarters, facilities, engineering shops, etc.

Just had to mention this ...... good time it is a seasonal snack and can't find it everywhere.

VEGAS

Our arrival date was Marc's birthday (29th) so after setting up camp, we walked over to

the casino to check it out.

The multi-storey hotel surrounds this gorgeous courtyard with benches, walkways, restaurants and bars. Every little nook has wildlife features - each animal is animated. Brown bear, squirrel, beaver, wolf and mt lion.