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.All Trips / Car Culture / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA
Hood Ornaments and Emblems: National Automobile Museum

There’s something about the artistry of old cars I find appealing. Besides their interesting designs and contours, a detail I’d never thought much about became apparent to me when we visited the terrific National Automobile Museum in Reno. I became intrigued by the details of the older car’s hood ornaments and emblems. This was especially true of cars made more than a century ago.
I thought it might be interesting to look at some of these older cars from the perspective of first studying their emblems and/or ornaments, then looking at the whole car. These are arranged chronologically by year of release …
Tagged cars, National Automobile Museum, Reno
.All Trips / Car Culture / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA

Mr. Harrah collected approximately 1,450 automobiles during his lifetime — a staggering number when you think about it — which he stored in warehouses around Reno. His was the world’s largest collection of historic automobiles which were open to the …
The National Automobile Museum, Reno

The National Automobile Museum is considered one of the 10 best car museums in the USA and features an amazing collection of vehicles from the late 19th century and 20th century. The museum displays over 200 cars, and lots of associated memorabilia.
Most of the vehicles displayed in the museum are from the private collection of magnate William F. Harrah, founder of Harrah’s Hotels and Casinos, so the museum is sometimes referred to as “The Harrah Collection”. The museum opened in 1989.

One of the first cars you see on entering the museum, a 1994 Beatnik Bandit II, built by Eddie Roth
Mr. Harrah collected approximately 1,450 automobiles during his lifetime — a staggering number when you think about it — which he stored in warehouses around Reno. His was the world’s largest collection of historic automobiles which were open to the …
Tagged automobiles, cars, museum, National Automobile Museum, Reno
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA

Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls:
1) Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet) comprises half of the fall’s vertical drop. The upper fall is formed by the waters …
Majestic Yosemite Falls!

At a height of more than 2,425 ft (739 m), Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park and even one of the tallest waterfalls in the world. It can be seen from many vantages in the park. I’m especially fond of this view from across the valley, although the perspective from Glacier Point is also pretty terrific.
Yosemite Falls is a popular attraction, especially in May-June when it’s at peak flow from the melting snow pack in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as it was when we visited this past spring.

View of Yosemite Falls from Valley Floor
Yosemite Falls is actually made up of three separate falls:
1) Upper Yosemite Fall (1,430 feet) comprises half of the fall’s vertical drop. The upper fall is formed by the waters …
.All Trips / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA
Anderson Junk Yard, Dayton

Dayton is a short drive from Carson City, Nevada. We have some friends who live there and, as I’m prone to do, my wife and I wandered around the historic core of this small town.
A few blocks off the main road we came across this treasure chest of junk. Acres and acres of great stuff sitting in the elements rusting and fading away. A lot of it was quite old, like farm equipment, but what impressed me most was what a diverse collection of stuff this was — cars, trucks, toys, and so much more!
The sign said we were at “Anderson Yard”. The place was locked up when we visited, but we were able to walk around its fence and …
Tagged Anderson Junk Yard, Dayton
.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA

It’s interesting to stroll through and read the grave markers for people who died here, many of whom played important roles in the development …
Yosemite National Park’s historic Cemetery

I’ve traveled to Yosemite National Park at least a dozen times in my life, always enjoying each visit, but it was not until my latest visit that I discovered it had a small historic cemetery in it.
Yosemite Cemetery (also known as Pioneer Cemetery) is located in Yosemite Village, near the Yosemite Museum. It’s quite secluded and peaceful, shaded by cedars and surrounded by a low split-rail fence. The graves were originally scattered throughout the park but after President Lincoln signed the bill creating Yosemite National Park into law, the remains were collected into this small cemetery.

Pioneer Cemetery, Yosemite National Park
It’s interesting to stroll through and read the grave markers for people who died here, many of whom played important roles in the development …
.All Trips / Food / Nevada / North America / Southwestern USA
Red’s Old 395 Grill, Carson City

If you’re in Carson City and looking for a fun place to get a good steak or some decent BBQ, then I’d recommend going to Red’s.
Red’s Old 395 Grill is a Carson City landmark. The place is popular and it’s usually busy and crowded, but with a pleasant fun vibe. It’s in the heart of the city and has great décor — so much stuff on the walls and ceilings it’s hard to take it all in.
Service was good and the food tasty when we visited. The menu is extensive and while there are lots of meat dishes, there’s also plenty of salads and vegetarian options, pizza or pasta if you’d prefer these. The place is known for its extensive selection …
Tagged Carson City
“Pic of the Week”, August 28, 2020: Dogwood, Yosemite National Park

When I make plans to visit California’s Yosemite National Park I target my trip for mid-to-late May. Mostly this is because the snow melt in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is at its peak and the park’s waterfalls are overflowing and amazing.
A second reason for a late spring arrival is to see the dogwoods bloom. There are two types of dogwoods: 1) a small ground plant (not the one I’m talking about) and, 2) trees that grow up to 30 feet tall having flowers about 3 inches wide.
Yosemite has many mountain dogwoods which are beautiful in bloom, as you can see. Dogwoods are especially plentiful around the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, but are quite common along most of the park …
Aug 27, 2020
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“Pic of the Week”, August 14, 2019: Interesting bike rack, Reno

Situated on the banks of the Truckee River in downtown Reno is this rather cool bike rack, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. The rack is designed to look like a fish’s skeleton, with the ribs providing the framing on which to park or chain your bicycle.
A nice piece of street-art and, for me, yet another confirmation of the limitless ability of human imagination.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance …
Aug 13, 2020
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