VACATION EXTRODINARE

As much as I deplore gambling, no one can deny it brings in money. Money which can be spent on a car museum. Such is the case with the Harrah collection at the national automobile museum in Reno Nevada. Where else can you find a 22K Gold plated Delorean? Talk about going back to the future, in style.

Actually the first day of the family vacation was not to exciting until reaching Reno. Nevada looks like the ugly brother of Utah, with more sagebrush and less trees. At least you can see trains of the highway pretty well.

Actually Nevada does an about face when you hit the Tahoe area, as we saw the next day. My family and I took a leisurely boat cruise early in the morning, I just had to forget my fear of a Titanic like sinking to enjoy the cruise!
On the third day I came back to land with trains, a lot of trains. While I toured the train museum in Portola my Mom and Sister fended of the friendly approaches of a mangy, dirty, cat.
Later in the day my family discovered the joys of Lassen Volcanic National Park. Any place with mud pots is awesome.
Here you can see me summoning all of my Toa of Fire skills to raise fire from the mud pot! Just Kidding.
By day four we made it to the redwood forest, however the excitement of the big trees was soon eclipsed by a gray whale stuck in the Klamath River.
Of course we did some of the obligatory touristy things too...

The day ended with us in Eureka, at a park named after great grandfather Edward E. Ross. He lost his life at a young age while in the Navy during WWII.

Brianna decided she did not want to see a Banana Slug after learning about them at the Redwood's. However the next day at Avenue of the Giants she was the first to spot one!
Later in the day we went to Fort Bragg California. Brianna found food at a Wizard of Oz themed restaurant, Dad schooled us in miniature golf, Mom made it to the ocean, and I took a picture of a Skunk Train.
The morning we left Fort Bragg we had no idea of what to do that day besides making it to Reno by night. We found ourselves taking the Jelly Belly factory tour at Fairfield. Later in the day we went to Old Town Sacramento, where the girls shopped in fancy stores while Dad and I toured the spectacular California State Railroad museum.

The last day of the trip was practically the first day in reverse, Reno to home. At least there were trains and a DVD copy of the A-Team.