Saturday September 1st 1979 to Loyalton, California
Bob’s day off- driving pick up kids in back.
Left Sparks about 12 after filling up on 99.9 cent a gallon gas. At Verdi left I-80. Stopped at California-Nevada line and gathered cones and weathered Juniper. Gorgeous blue skies. Took Dog Valley Road up through Ponderosa and Jeffrey Pines. Manzanita undergrowth- glorious open park like areas. Dirt road but well graded. Gathered dead Manzanita. Found BLM Ranger who was issuing cutting permits from a pickup truck. We were NOT on road to Loyalton. He gave us a map and said we were 1 mile below Crystal Creek turned around. Stopped a long road for a picnic under pines with mountains all around. Gathered grasses and tansy heads. Crossed Twin Bridges over Davies Creek and took a left turn (wrong way). Rough road and finally came out in a lake that would have been a lake if water level were higher. Lupine and Mullein, no Sagebrush or trees. Could hardly see road which was only 2 tracks. Could see Dam at end of Lake, but our map had no Lake figured it was Stampede Valley that had been flooded. Back into woods and rode up a grade all washed boulders. Horsemen gave us directions back to Twin Bridges. Finally an intersection with sign Loyalton 10 miles. Beautiful long valley with cattle grazing. Road turned into Paving and began to see campers Long Creek. In to Loyalton at 5. Bought bread at Loyalton Grocery that is for sale and drove around Lumber Company and a Mexican area. Back to Reno by 49-70 and I-80. Stopped at Stead Facility on way in. Had pizza at Godfather’s Pizza- noisy!