THE INBETWEENS: MENDOCINO & ELKO

After San Francisco, I initially wanted to head up north to the Redwood National Park. Turns out they have this thing called 'winter' there. But also most of the campgrounds didn't open til May and others were already booked. So I stopped through a rather mundane campground. Less than 2 miles from a city, right next to a dam along the Sacramento River. Luckily I managed to find another park that was open, Lassen Volcanic National Park. Volcanoes mean warmth right? Not so much. More like the most amount of snow I've ever seen (until Colorado which will come up in a couple more posts). So much snow that most of the park was actually closed as well. I trekked around some closed roads (after talking with a park ranger), played in some snow and found some stinky water.

The bubbly pits of stink are of course the sulphur pits and the closest thing to volcanoes I got in this park. But it stuck with me. Mostly the stink I mean. All over my shoes.

After Mendocino National Forest (and the Sycamore Groves campground), I started my long drive to Moab, UT (which is the next post). A total of 17 hours led me to take a pause for the night at this motel. Yes, I picked this place wholly because of this flippin awesome sign! Small town Nevada means casinos, gentlemen's clubs and pizza joints inside of bowling alleys.

$6 later and I had 2 slices of pizza and a local draft beer. Not a bad deal, and some pretty good pizza too.

Acid reflux after pizza with jalapeños and sun-dried tomatoes: minimal!

Current time and location: Kentucky Derby, rider's up! (I'm in Kentucky, the race is about to begin!)

Distilleries visited (so far): 9 and a cooperage

New job possibilities: working in a distillery?