Hi all. Just thought I would finally take the time to share some pictures from my Holiday Road Trip this last year. I took off in my E and drove from Dallas, stopping at Santa Fe, the Grand Canyon, Sedona, on to Santa Monica and up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco, then over Donner Pass and into Reno for holidays with my brother and family. I came back through southeastern Nevada, Las Vegas and Hoover Dam, then back to Dallas.

While in Reno, I had a few hours to fill, so I drove out to Pyramid Lake, about 30 miles northeast of Reno, to take a few pictures. It was a great day for picture taking, with the bright desert sun, scattered snow on the hilltops, and a few leftover storm clouds wandering through.

Here are some of the shots that I got ....

These were taken alongside the road heading out to the lake. Most of this area is open range, with a network of dirt roads going back through all the hills. I sure was wishing that I had more time to explore them (I was also wishing that I wasn't so chicken about getting stuck in the desert in the middle of my vacation LOL).

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001803a.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001805a.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001806a.JPG



This is one of the first views that you see as you arrive at Pyramid Lake

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001814a.JPG


As I was driving along, off to the side I saw this lookout point. My E really wanted to climb that little hill and explore, so I made a u-turn in the highway and went back to check it out. For this sandy hill, I made sure not to get a running start, and the E went up it smooth as butter. You can see where it dug in a little closer to the top. Of course, I immediately set the brake and ran back down the hill to get this picture, LOL.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001815a.JPG

As you look at the picture above, at the left rear corner of my E, you can see just the tip of the rock that's in the pictures below.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001816a.JPG

Near the opposite shore is the island rock formation that gives Pyramid Lake its name. I was showing these pictures to friends in Reno and they mentioned that they'd never noticed this rock in the foreground. I wouldn't have known it was there either had I not gone exploring in my E. :lol:

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001817a.JPG

One more shot of the lake, and a view from the drive back to Reno...

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001823a.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~jerrycan/PyramidLake/P0001824a.JPG

I hope you enjoyed the min-E-travelogue :D

very nice but the navy seal attack force (disguised as fishermen) photo scared the bejezus out of me! :P

[quote:0180c95594=" "]very nice but the navy seal attack force (disguised as fishermen) photo scared the bejezus out of me! :P[/quote:0180c95594]

Heh! Speaking of bejezus...my first reaction was that the picture was a "choose-the-real-Messiah" test...

-brendan

[quote:35d2327a64=" "]Speaking of bejezus...my first reaction was that the picture was a "choose-the-real-Messiah" test...-brendan[/quote:35d2327a64]
obviously contestant number three (numbered from left to right) is a phoney. you can see him slowly sinking into the abyss. the first two seem to be walking on the surface quite nicely however. thus making one the christ while the other is likely the anti-christ. ahhh, the polarity of all existence! which to choose! not unlike an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other (re-watch the film animal house for a graphic representation). :D

WOW killer views.. (one of the HUGE reasons i am so looking forward to escaping the flat coast, er i mean east coast)..

GORGEOUS.. nice trip!! Great PIX, thank you, thank you for sharing!

Beautiful photos...thanks!

[quote:dbe6eb33b9=" "]WOW killer views.. (one of the HUGE reasons i am so looking forward to escaping the flat coast, er i mean east coast)..

GORGEOUS.. nice trip!! Great PIX, thank you, thank you for sharing![/quote:dbe6eb33b9]
Glad you enjoyed. And Gypsy I relate to what you've been saying about living in or near the mountains. I grew up in Reno but landed in Dallas mostly for professional reasons. Last winter's trip has led me to decide to settle out West again when I retire, which will be in about 4 years. At that point, my Element will still have plenty of miles left in it, and it'll become my poor man's Winnebago. In part, last winter's trip was a trial run for after-retirement outings :D .

When are you moving to Colorado? My next trip west, maybe later this year, I might take the northern route through Colorado....

[quote:0730c23159=" "]
Glad you enjoyed. And Gypsy I relate to what you've been saying about living in or near the mountains. I grew up in Reno but landed in Dallas mostly for professional reasons. Last winter's trip has led me to decide to settle out West again when I retire, which will be in about 4 years. At that point, my Element will still have plenty of miles left in it, and it'll become my poor man's Winnebago. In part, last winter's trip was a trial run for after-retirement outings :D .

When are you moving to Colorado? My next trip west, maybe later this year, I might take the northern route through Colorado....[/quote:0730c23159]

Loved loved loved your pix.. looks similar to the view we will have at our new home (construction should begin late summer.. we plan to move in august and rent while our home is being built!)

that would be a dreamy trip to take, and how cool to be that close to retirement.. like i am sure you could really retire.. i don't know many people who really can.. but good luck on that one!! smiles!!!