Sparks, NV & Klamath Falls, OR - August 7 - 18, 2025

Thursday, Aug 7, 2025

We headed to Sparks, Nevada for Hot August Nights and time with family and friends.  A bit of a long day from Nampa to Sparks, but we had a good drive, no traffic and only a bit of wind for the last couple of miles.  We're staying at the Sparks Marina RV park, a very nice park that we've stayed at before.  Its packed with big rigs, trailers and old cars here for all the festivities of Hot August Nights.

First night here we had dinner at The Water Bar,  a favorite here in Sparks to celebrate Kendra's upcoming 50th birthday - can't believe my baby girl is turning 50, what does that make me, okay just OLD!

Friday, August 8, 2025

Got up and had a great breakfast, then took our boys for a long walk in Idlewild Park along the Truckee River.  Its a beautiful park/trail near downtown Reno.  The city has really cleaned up the river area and made it a great place to walk.

We ended the day with a great dinner at the RV with Rich and Rowen, Kendra and Ryan after they had logged about 10 miles in Reno looking at all the antique cars on display.

Saturday, August 9, 2025

Another great walk along the Truckee River this morning to get the boys and ourselves some exercise. 

Spend the afternoon with Kendra & Ryan, went to a casino and lost some money (a requirement in Reno), then picked up some items at the store and spent time just hanging out with adult beverages and snacks.

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Got Rich and Rowen a good breakfast and packed up to head back to Hollister.  Was so great having them hang with us in the RV.  They got a great taste of Hot August Nights and are planning to return next year.  Another great walk along the Truckee River, there was a farmer's market going on so it was very crowded, but lots of vendors and food trucks to peruse as we did get over a mile in walking.

Dinner at the RV this evening with friends Rick and Connie, these are friends of Carol's since high school that we still spend time with when we can.

Monday, August 11, 2025

A nice drive from Sparks to Klamath Falls today, very little traffic and mostly some very nice country to look at.  Mount Shasta looms in the distance as you come into the valley which is mostly farming with lots of wheat and alfalfa.  We're at the Klamath KOA for the next 6 nights, not particularly the nicest park we've been in, but nice enough.  Hottest temps they've had in years, so we are roasting once again, hoping for some relief in the weather.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Started the day with a walk with boys at Moore park with views of Klamath Lake, very pretty but the hills are a bit steep when the temps are already well into the 80's.  Got a chance to visit a friend (Jim Wilkinson) who unfortuneatly is in the hospital recovering from breaking his femur and having surgery.  He's doing better and will be released to rehab in the next couple of days, but is looking at about 8 weeks of full time care and therapy before he can go home.

Visit to more friends (Robert and Caren), hunting buddies of Susan and Phil's from years past.  We had a great visit and catching up on all thats been going on.

Can't come to Klamath without a visit to the WHOA (Watering Hole of America) and a visit with friend Carrie.  We had some food and adult beverages and enjoyed the shade, but the temps are well into the 90's so its still very warm.  Good to get back to the RV and the A/C.

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Stopped to see Jim Wilkonson in the hospital again this morning.  He's doing much better and was able to share a good laugh with Susan - or were those smiles something to do with the vibrations coming from the equipment hooked up to his leg!!

Drove up to Crater Lake National Park - very impressive and beautiful.  I've not seen water that blue ever.  The landscape is so ancient looking and to think that this was an active valcano not that long ago, in fact this whole part of the country is a string of dormant volcanos and the Klamath Valley is lined with lava ridges and flows.

Quick snack and beverages at a brewery in downtown Klamath, its located in the old creamery building with is very interesting, the orginal sign is still on top of the building.

Thursday, August 14, 2025

Took the boys walking at Moore Park again, but this time along the shore of Klamath Lake not up on the hillside.  A much nicer day today as the temperatures are a bit lower than earlier this week.  We drove around Klamath and looked at all the apartments that Susan and Phil had in town, most are still looking pretty good.

Lunch with friends Johan & Regina Blok, hosted by Roger & Laurie Asay.  What a great time catching up!

Friday, August 15, 2025

A wonderful breakfast with Regina & Johan.  This is the view from the deck, overlooking the Klamath River.

A group of Herons flew in and sat on top of the trees for a bit, checked things out, then flew away.

We forgot to get a picture, but we had a wonderful dinner at J's Steakhouse with Roger & Laurie and Johan & Regina.  This place was a favorite of this group for years (formerly known as Mr. B's) when everbody was living in Keno.  We had fantastic food and were served by the manager Vicky who has known everybody for years.

Saturday, August 16, 2025

Our last day in the Klamath Falls area.  Went to a plant sale this morning at the YMCA to get some Iris risomes, then a drive up to Lake in the Woods for some hiking and maybe lunch.  The weather has really changed, its cool and cloudy with a chance of rain.  There is a big storm front coming across from the Pacific Northwest that might even get over into Idaho.

As we arrived at Lake of the Woods, it was raining pretty hard and was very foggy and overcast, so our planned hike and maybe lunch overlooking the lake didn't happen.  We also didn't take any pictures, the following 2 are stock photos of the area.

Sunday, August 17, 2025

Headed toward home, overnight stop in Hines, OR, just a wide spot in the road but splits up the long drive.  Cute little park with only 9 spots, but has all we need.

Our final morning on the road, we had a beautiful sunrise out our bedrooom window, a perfect way to start the day.