Woody Outdoors: Westward Bound-DAY SEVEN

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

We made it! After 3,200 miles (which included detours), we arrived at our final destination of this trip-Fremont, CA (near San Jose), where Tyler will be starting his position at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR.

Today's drive didn't start out the way we anticipated. After hearing from the locals about how Reno hasn't had snow in over two months, guess what we woke up to? Yep, snow, heavy snow, and more concerning was the route we would be driving this morning-crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains. But before we left Reno though, we found a real treat on a back street. As we rounded a corner, I spotted a large, wooden Buffalo Bills helmet on the side of a bar! Really? A Bills fan in Reno, NV? The day wasn't going to be that bad after all! I zoomed the little Prius into the gravel lot faster than the Dukes of Hazard driving General Lee away from Boss Hog. I jumped out and yelled to Tyler to snap my picture quickly before the owner, or the Reno police showed up!

I decided to check the road conditions of our route up the mountain on I-80 and learned that a 15-mile section was now under a "Chains Required" alert for all vehicles w/o four-wheel drive (us) and trucks. When Tyler asked me if I ever had to put on chains, I told him the only thing I knew about tire chains were the ones I helped put on our school bus, back in elementary school. At that time, anyone on the bus had to help Wilbur (that was his real name!) the bus driver put the bus chains on-first graders to sixth graders. So, we found a local Toyota dealer and explained our situation to the parts manager. "Yep, you'll definitely need them up there. CALTRAN (California Transportation Dept.) won't let you go through w/o them." So, after getting our tire size, he brought out a set of chains for $105.00-sold!

To let you know where we had to drive, it's the famous Donner Pass. You know the story, where the Donner Party's wagons broke down in winter crossing the Sierra Mountains, and to survive they had to eat some dead members of their party-yep, that's the place! Glad we had a big breakfast at IHOP!
To wrap up this story, we never had to put them on. The road conditions improved and were told we could proceed, with caution. There was only about 4' of snow up on top.

We soared down the other side, past the capital of Sacramento and touched down in Fremont, CA, just north of San Jose and south of San Francisco and Oakland. Fremont is in the heart of the Silicon Valley, and the refuge is just on the outskirts-it borders some very urban areas. Regardless, Tyler is very excited to be here, and start work on Monday. So, before I head home Saturday, we'll be checking out SF tomorrow and doing all the tourist things. I'll check in one more time tomorrow. Good night to all!