Right Where We Belong - on the way to Elko/NV

 

Exactly one day later than last year, we are headed out for our "traditional" February U.S.A. trip. Main reason for choice of date: the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko/Nevada - for the 5th time! Since we won the IPW award for best destination article (about this cowboy event) in 2018, we got to love it and are coming back all the time.

 

Last weeks were a bit hectic, for different reasons,  and, this morning wasn't uneventfull neither: We had arranged for a car service, and, the distance to the airport Munich, which usually takes about 1:15 hours, took over 2 hours. Autobahn was completely shut down because of an accident, and, after slow progress, we were sitting in the car without any movement at all for about 30 min.  A "plan B-scenario" was being discussed already ,,, Fortunately, the accident was cleaned up at around 9:40 am and our driver tried hard to catch up, so we arrived at the airport at around 10:15, in good time to drop the luggage, go through security and visit the restroom before boarding. Flight departed at noon, on a B777-200 – only about 2/3 full with the center seat between us free –  and was rather uneventfull. 

 

About 11:15 hours flight time to SFO, ending with a beautiful descent into the Bay Area with views of the coast, the bridges (Golden Gate Bridge in the center of the photo) and downtown. We had a 1 1/2 hour layover, before we boarded for another 40 min flight - at sunset, and, over Lake Tahoe (see pic) - to Reno. 

 

Luggage came fast, but to get our AVIS rental car took a bit of time. We got a new big GMC Terrain with lots of fancy functions/buttons/equipment. Fortunately, only about 10 min. to our hotel in downtown Reno in the dark. Hotel was not much more than okay (if that) and we only threw our luggage in the room and went for a short walk to "Reno's Brewing District". At Lead Dog Brewery (below) we enjoyed our IPAs while the locals were engaged into "Trivia Night". It was interesting to watch, and, a good introduction to a completely different world.