Gas Price Index: Reno, NV $3.65 @ Costco.

Written May, 12^th 2008 3:30pm.

Nothing ever goes according to schedule, if it did, there would be no need to schedule!

We were planning on leaving at 7am, and left home at 7:50am. That still puts us within the seven o’clock hour, and should be measured as a successful completion of our goal. The Davis Family left Turlock 15 minutes before us, with the plan of meeting us in Reno for lunch. Here we are at the end of our road for the customary bon voyage picture:

While driving along the road, it is interesting to watch the looks of the people that we pass. An RV does not warrant very much interest, so people simply glance. Then they see the 26’ sailboat behind us, and that deserves, and often receives a second glance, as well as a dropped jaw, a pointed finger, and many an incredulous look. If you wish for the mathematic factors, we are a 35’ RV, a 26’ sailboat, and about 2’ of space between the two. That makes us 63’ of traveling chaos, and as long as the standard semi-truck.

Thomas has taken the first shift at the wheel, so that I could go to the bed in the back, and sleep off the effects of my late night completion of work related projects. This means that I did not see much of the countryside, but we have traveled Highway 88 so many times that it is not new scenery. It is far better to sleep now, and be able to stay awake while driving later!

We did have our first bit of excitement on 88, I was awakened by the front of the bus calling my name, and came forward to see us stopped behind a truck pulling a cattle trailer. The truck was having engine trouble, and though they did not need our help, we still needed to pass them. Being a two lane road, and a blind corner, this required a bit of planning. Setting up a relay system, Anthony, Nic and I positioned ourselves around the corner looking for traffic, and being able to signal the Mothership when all was clear. I was the point man, so the call was mine, and I harkened for the sound of approaching traffic, hearing none, I signaled Anthony, who signaled Nic, who signaled Thomas, and the RV crept around the offending roadblock.

All was well for the first 10 seconds, until I hear an approaching car. The RV was only about half way around the truck, and would not be out of the way in time, so I attempted to signal the rapidly approaching car by a traditional waving of the arms. The gentleman in the Cadillac must have been trained with different traditions, or else took my waving to be something along the lines of a friendly greeting, as he did not slacken his speed. Watching the car come ever closer, I advanced to the next level of signaling, which involves continuing to wave the arms, and leaping in the air at the same time. My ballet teacher would have been proud of the height my leaps were achieving, and just before I was about to make the choice to dive down the hill out of the way, the signal’s intent was realized. The car slowed, and my heart rate slowed with it… It is always nice to realize you are not going to die.

Loading back into the RV the successful signal relay team was greeted with much praise and admiration for our bravery. Hopefully Congress will not be too tardy with presenting some sort of medal for the placing of our team in harm’s way.

Let it be known and recorded in all histories that the Hector family beat the Davis family to Reno. They were coming down 395 from the North, and we were coming up from the South on 395. Taking the same exit, they got a red light, and we got the green. Closer races have never been seen.

Our lunch destination was the Atlantis Casino. Before you condemn us as heathens and apostates, realize that none of us gamble, nor condone gambling; however, when traveling, an all you can eat buffet has a certain allure to it, that cannot be denied. We had no breakfast, and will be having no dinner, so this was a cost saving method. As I type this at 4 pm I am still so full that the very thought of food is unpleasant. In the words of my wise father, who is relaxing on the floor: “To eat, or not to eat, that is the indigestion.”

Our first crisis of the trip occurred in Reno, so we are starting the adventures early. The Davis trailer has developed a slow leak in the tire, and though the Costco tire shop was able to repair it, the location of the leak was concerning enough for the mechanic to advise a completely new tire before we get to Illinois. Costco of course did not sell the tire we needed, and as it is a Sunday, very few places are open. This will result in a layover at Salt Lake City while we get a new tire. It is necessary stop, but adds to the drama…

Here is what we are driving through at the moment. Pretty, if you are a cactus, or sagebrush!

That brings us up to date. We are planning on making it to Elko, NV tonight. The original plan was to be in Salt Lake City, but that has been changed. This is why we never plan anything with too much certainty. Our plans change with the wind, and we follow as God may lead.

 Here is a random thought for you to ponder. If you have a three second gap while driving with a trailer, it is conservative, and you really should have more, while thirty seconds would be considered excessive. However, if you are driving conservatively, you may want to have a 30 second gap, and that would lead to a conservative amount of excess. Is it even possible to be conservative with excess?