Day 15 Sat Oct 13 2007

We are safely back in San Francisco. We drove the last 225 miles or so on Sat morning from Reno to SF. The drive through the various winding roads and passes of the Truckee area to Auburn was filled with fog and was in the upper 30s. We were prepared to hit some snow as there was rain in the upper elevations on Friday night, but the roads were all clear and dry. We loved the fact that there were many golden trees all along the Tahoe area route.

We made a leisurely stop for breakfast in Auburn and then went on past the busy freeways of Sacramento in to SF via the Richmond bridge, Marin county and then finally over the Golden Gate Bridge. We wanted a dramatic entrance back into non-vagabond mode. We also decided to then get back to the house via the Presidio, Sea Cliff and the Great Highway to extend the great feeling we had for 2 weeks a bit more. Yet a another sunny day for our trip.

I think we only had two cloudy days and some rain the entire 15 day trip! Really lucky on that front.

Thats it folks. We are home.

Till the next Vagabonds Tour....Fred and Mark out here.

PS. More photos from this segment will be posted as we get time on Monday and Tues.

Day 14 Fri Oct 12 2007

We left Salt Lake City before 7 am today but not before we hit Starbucks (in the dark, just opening) so our eyes were fully open as we traversed Interstate 80 to Reno.

We were both fascinated by the salt flats that seemed unreal as we started out. Almost as if the mountains were floating on top of vast seas of salt in the dim pre-sunrise light that was mixed with a haze or maybe it was an air inversion layer. The air in Salt Lake reminded me of LA in some ways. Heavy. Trapped by the surrounding mountains. We loved how the first purple rays of light kissed the peaks as we drove out of SLC.

On past the Bonneville Flats Raceway to Nevada. Nevada is such a low point in this wonderful country. And in all that we have seen this tour.

We had a so so lunch in Winnemuca NV in a spectacular setting and then past many, many wonderful landscapes all the way into Reno. As I have been saying, and it worth repeating. Make the road trip. It is so uplifting and beautiful.

We ended a 535 mile day at the locally owned eatery Vista Grille in Sparks NV. Since I am on somewhat of a pizza kick lately I sampled the BBQ Chicken pizza and Fred the Combo (everything). The wood fired oven crust was really crisp and chewy. Yet another new crust that we both liked.

Tomorrow we make the short 225 mile trip home to SF.

Day 13 Thurs Oct 11 2007

We drove a very fast 520 plus miles today from Sidney Nebraska to Salt Lake City Utah.
We wanted to make sure we were in SLC tonight so we could make it to Reno on Friday.
Our plan is now to be back in SF Saturday midday.

The drive today covered again amazing views and vistas all along 80 the entire way. So many of the trees still had the wonderful gold yellow leaves that twinkled in the breeze. The backdrop for these trees varied from barren rock formations to red clay soil to deep green pine tree forests. This particular 500 miles was again under fully blue and brilliant skies. A few clouds only this am in Nebraska.

Fred and I are feeling so lucky that most of the trip was under clear blue skies. We tried to capture the amazing landscape in photos but felt the best we could do is tell you to make the trip at some point in a future fall season to experience it.

We are both so profoundly appreciative of the natural wonders and environment we have right under our noses here. We are happy we drove and did not fly over it and miss this show.

It was the fall color break and tour we had hoped for.

Only two more days / installments left to go!

Day 12 Wed Oct 10 2007

Yesterday we travelled 353 miles. Today we logged 475. Long days.

Today we hit the Badlands South Dakota early as we wanted to be on Interstate 80 in Nebraska before sundown.

We lucked out again with a spectacular sunny day with clear blue sky most of the day. What an amazing contrast. The dramatic formations of the badlands, azure blue skies and brilliant golden yellow leaves shimmering in the (thankfully) slight breezes. Temperatures started chilly and then warmed close to 70. Perfect, just perfect.

After lunch in Rapid City at at local family-owned cafe (including butterscotch pie!), we drove on to Alliance, Nebraska to visit Carhenge.

The natural beauty of the day was astounding. Photos can't really capture it. A must see. We were so lucky that there were very few people in Badlands National Park. Almost as if we had the park to ourselves. And we did at many photo-op overlooks.

We were the only people at Carhenge late afternoon in the golden light photographic hour. A perfect conclusion to a most perfect day. So uplifting.

Day 11 Tuesday Oct 9

Picked up Mark's mom at his sister's early a.m. and dropped her off at her place in Mankato. Then we headed back West, retracing some of our steps through South Dakota.


In Mitchell, SD, we stopped at a great store, part of a Midwestern chain -- Cabella's. It's a huge hunting and fishing gear store. Pretty much anything you'd need for either activity. Mark found some over-the-top gloves that should keep even him warm. I tried on camouflage wear and contemplated the Elmer Fudd look for fall.

We're spending the night in Chamberlain, SD, on the banks of the Missouri River. We're in a resort-style hotel out from town a little bit. It's a self-contained facility. We can imagine being snowed in here during the winter.



We have someone else traveling with us. Diane introduced us to Durwood, who will be joining his fellow sock monkeys in San Francisco. Durwood is a bit of a party animal -- thus the lampshade hat and martini glass permanently in his grip. He's good company though.

Day 10 Mon Oct 8 2007

Fred and I hit the gym at 7 am this morning as it was raining and the temp had plummeted to 54 degrees. Much cooler. We actually did have don two layers plus.

We then decided head out early to make one last day of “feeling the vibe” of Minneapolis. First stop: Uptown. It is very near Lake Calhoun. We walked many blocks on Hennepin Avenue and did a bit of shopping. We also spent some time chatting with folks in the local Design Within Reach store about Mid-century modern neighborhoods and had them note areas on our maps.

We had hoped to rent bikes today and hit the Grand Round Bike Trail system, but it was too rainy. We did have conversations with the folks at City Cycle about the trails and purchased the newest map and guide to the trails of the region. Literally several hundred miles of paved trails. Amazing.

After a somewhat so-so lunch at Punch Pizza. (supposed to one of the best here) we set out to find the mid-cent. neighborhoods in St. Paul. It was a bust. Either we had a negative reaction to St. Paul, or we found very little MC at all. We do now have the name of an agent who is supposed to know the MC areas well for future trips.

We leave Minnesota tomorrow to begin our 6 day drive back to San Francisco via the Badlands.

(Note: A photo of Dave and Emily is included as requested)

Day 9 Sun Oct 7 2007

Stunning walk this morning at 7am. It was the Twin Cities Marathon day and we heeded the warning of the weather forecasters from the night before to get outdoors before the noon thunderstorms hit.

At the halfway point around Purgatory Creek lake trail, Fred saw something pop its head out of the middle of a creek. It turned out to be a river otter that possibly had made its way up the creek system from the Minnesota river. The water was very high so we surmised that because of all the rain, the critter was able to navigate all the way to the suburb of EP. We told folks about it and it turns out to be more common these day. Some good environmental news as Minnesota restores wetlands and habitat.

We then spent a good portion of the day in Golden Valley searching for open houses and just getting lost in an area we both like a great deal. Then off to Southdate Center, America’s first enclosed shopping mall. It was designed by Victor Gruen in the 60s, but there is nothing left of that era. The wonderful visual experiences and sounds of Southdale’s three story tall bird cage in the central mall court are long since gone. Sigh.