Saturday August 31, 2019
We started out and rode the motorcycles up the Carson Pass Hwy., CA-88. It was beautiful weather the whole way, winding through the trees and mountains. We pulled off at the Peddler Hill Scenic Viewpoint. It was a gorgeous site looking out above everything. I was relieved for a break at this point, because my knees were cramping so bad and my butt was going numb!
We stopped for lunch at the Kirkwood Inn and Saloon. It was really neat to see the original log cabin from 1864.
In 1860, pioneer Zachary Kirkwood moved to the area from Ohio. He acquired three 160-acre (65 ha) parcels of land. He used this land for a cattle ranch. In 1864 he built and opened Kirkwood Station. It served as an inn, post office, and a restaurant. Its convenient location, where three county lines meet, made it a popular stop for cattle ranchers and passing Washoe. When Prohibition took place, the inn had a bar on wheels that they would move across the different county lines that met in the bar depending on which members of law enforcement from certain counties were visiting.[1] It is also believed they did this to avoid paying tax collectors their cut of liquor receipts.[2] They also had slot machines hidden in the kitchen.[1]
In the 1960s, when the founders of the Kirkwood Mountain Resort came to visit the area, a snow storm took place. The entire inn was buried under the snowfall. The founders had arrived with a team for a snow survey. They used the survey poles to find the top of the Inn. After locating the structure, they were able to access the inside of the Inn. They lived in the buried building for eight days.[1]
Wikipedia.org
We got to Reno that evening and went to the Harley-Davidson dealer and got a poker chip. We went to dinner that night at Texas Roadhouse, then went downtown to see “The Biggest Little City in the World” Reno sign.
Sunday September 1, 2019
We set out and went to Virginia City, NV for breakfast. It was the neatest little town ever! I could’ve spent all weekend there exploring and learning the history. We went through the museum and saw artifacts and old mining equipment. I also heard that it was the town used for filming Bonanza, played a part in the Civil War, and Mark Twain is supposedly buried there. I can’t wait to read and learn more about this fabulous, old-western town. We also stopped at the “Bucket of Blood” Saloon where a lady was playing the piano and had the “100 mile view” overlook.
We rode to Carson City, NV and stopped at the Harley dealer and got another poker chip. Then, we went to “Nevada’s Oldest Saloon” in Genoa, NV. We had lunch at a cafe in Genoa.
http://www.genoabarandsaloon.com
Heading back towards Reno, we took the long way around to Lake Tahoe. We got Steak and Shake for dinner. I forgot how yummy their shakes are. We all got one, then headed to the hotel and crashed for the night.
Monday September 2, 2019
We headed for home today. We stopped at the Harley dealer in Sacramento and got a chip, and had lunch at BJ’s.
All in all it was a nice trip, especially since I’d never been to Reno before and am now fascinated with Virginia City. I did however get super sore riding the motorcycle. My knees kept cramping up, my butt hurt like crazy, and it got too hot at times. We are looking into new foot peg options for a wider platform and lowering them to help stretch my legs a little.