A Long Weekend

This last weekend, we decided to extend our time off a couple of extra days and travel to the Ruby Mountains in Nevada. We had been working so much on the house, we hadn't even had time to take our new camper on its maiden voyage. At the end of the trip, I wrote down snippets from the most memorable aspects of our mini vacation.

• Train cars lined up at the base of the mountain, glistening in the sun like beads on a necklace.
  
• An antelope standing idly by as two dogs romped in front of it.
  
• A crow flying overhead, cawing, while we raised binoculars to stare out over the wildlife refuge.
  
• Getting to have running water to wash our hands, water the dog, shampoo our hair...
  
• Crazy dreams while being comfy in an actual bed.
  

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• Bodie picking out the trail, happy as can be, as we enjoyed the beauty surrounding us.
• Discovering that ghost towns have been taken over by multinational mining operations. "The junk they leave behind won't be nearly as interesting to look at," said Charles.
  
• Drinking a nice glass of wine in a beautiful setting.
• Catching up on sleep (while camping!).
• Getting to read.
• Learning that Bodie is a true camping dog.
• Lots of sage brush.
• Aspens just about to put on their golden dresses.
• Splurging on burgers and fries when we had had enough camp food.
• Lots of time to think. Lots of time to day dream.

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• The Ruby Valley is a truly beautiful place.
• The camp steward was from Grass Valley -- small world.
• Old, ghost town graveyards with new headstones are depressing.
• New camper smell.
• Lots and lots of $3.95/gallon gasoline.
• The bird blind at Ruby Lake that was impossible to get to though Charles, Bodie, and I had fun trying.
• Tanka Bites, Tasty Bites, and trail mix, oh my!
• Enjoying each other's company.
• Enjoying the peace and quiet.
• Bodie in his dog pack, carrying his own water while being quite stylish.
• No cell phone reception -- yay!
• Tardis-blue freeway reflectors.
• Dandy cow crossing signs.
  

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