Weekend At Ronnie's
Nov 14, 2008
Normally I wouldn't write a blog about a trip to Ronnie's for the weekend but this trip was special. I should most likely give a little history at this point.
I have a new girlfriend, her name is Linda, who I've been having a great time with over the last month. One of the things that attracted me was her love of riding a motorcycle. I've always said my next girlfriend would have to accept my bike and was extremely lucky to find such a woman. She has her own bike a Honda 450 rebel, (I have plans to get it more road worthy but that is another story) but it's not in the best of shape. She will ride with me at a moments notice which still blows me away. I realize that to find a woman who enjoys riding with you is extremely rare, and I not only found one, but she's crazy about me also. I'm still in awe.
One of the things I always wanted was to ride over to Ronnie's with a her, do some karaoke and spend the weekend. It was a pipe dream but you can always dream can't you? It's a lot to ask of a person who's not used to it.
It was Friday and I got off work a couple of hours early to meet with Linda at my old apartment to finish to last of the cleaning before I returned the keys. We finished that around 5pm and went home to start our weekend. We were sitting in the living room when she turns to me and says “Lets go to Karaoke tonight?” We both like karaoke and had been talking about going to a little place up the street. I said “sure” and she added “at Ronnie's house!”
My mind went into race mode, how much time it would take to get there? Is the bike ready? What was Ronnie's doing this weekend? How long would it take to get ready?
I was answering them all with green lights so we were going to Ronnie's House...in Nevada. It took us a extra 45 minutes to get ready but then we were on our way. November has short days and it was already dark so I was a little worried about that, but the temperature out side was well into the 60's and the weather prediction was for low wings and sunny skies.
We filled up the tank and headed east on Hwy 50...in the dark. We didn't stop again until Ice house and realized that it was going to get cold. She was doing great so far, she likes to snuggle right up behind me on the back of the bike and stays right with me. We stopped again at 8pm so we could get readjusted and I managed to get a picture in.
I decided we need all the cold weather gear that we had brought, which wasn't much. Linda put on my heavy duty gloves and her ski jacket was doing a great job. From here we went up in elevation and with that came more cold. It was also about this time I notice that Linda's knees we sticking out in the wind and all she had on was thin jeans. It looked like we were going to be uncomfortable and cold until we got over the mountain.
We plowed on and before you knew it Lake Tahoe was with in sight, or the lights of the lake were. By now the temps had dropped into the mid 30s and my gloves were loosing their head. Keep moving was my plan so away we went. I took the Kings Berry Pass, which drops you in the Nevada desert much quicker than Hwy 50.
Once on the Nevada floor it wasn't much warmer. High 30s now so we stopped at McDonalds in Carson City to warm up and grab a quick bite to eat. We needed that, any warmth that was still left in use was almost gone.
Thirty minutes later with a full tummy and warm gloves we did the last 30 miles across the desert to Jerry Lees Honky Tonk bar to meet Ronnie and Claudine who were running the Karaoke show.
Silver Springs Nevada has one flashing red light, a gas station, a little clothing store and 2 bars. Not a very big town at all. But then again Nevada doesn't have many big towns. We pulled into the bar and was a little bit frozen. Temps outside were around 34 degrees. Linda never complained a bit, a real trooper.
The bar was hopping with hugs flowing like water. Ronnie was glad to see us. The bar was in high gear. It was a good way to end a ride.
We warmed up and had a drink. I had coffee because it was too late before I had to drive the bike over to Ronnie's. Here Linda and I are warming up.
It wasn't long before Linda was up and singing some of her favorite songs.
Claudine loves doing her karaoke.
Turns out Linda is a very good singer. Karaoke is a strange thing and I like it.
The bar closed at midnight and Linda even got to sing a few songs. We didn't get to bed until 2 am. It was a fun night.
The next day we slept in. Ronnie had got up early to drive out and water some cows and Claudine left to go open their clothing store. No one home we slept and slept. Somewhere around 11am we went outside to warm up in the sun of the Nevada desert. It is quiet out there and it was nice just sitting out in the sun and talking about nothing. I believe it was nice for her also.
We were just sitting there when one of Ronnie's neighbors drove up. He drove right out to the barn where wee were sitting. He was a old guy who was looking for Ronnie. We told him that he was out watering cows. He chatted for awhile then returned to his car and proceeded to back over Ronnie's septic tank. Linda and I sat there and tried not to laugh when I decided I better get up and go over and see how much damage had been done. He was still a little confused because he didn't remember anything being there. I had him pull forward so we could survey the scene.
Well, I spent the next hour helping him rebuild the sender blocks around the septic tank. It prevented Ronnie from being too angry, but I know he just spent a lot of time building that closure. He finally left after a little while and Linda and I returned to our quite time together.
And I was able to get a picture of doggie. That's his name, “doggie”, and I've always wanted to get a decent shot of her.
One of the reasons I love coming out here is because of the quiet. You can set outside Ronnie's house and listen to paint dry. I come from the city and love when I leave it.
Ronnie showed up a couple of hours later and we all headed out to Claudine's store. Claudine Clothes Hook is a little clothing store alone Hwy 50 in the middle of nowhere. I don't know how they stay afloat. But the place is filled with love and warmth with who ever stops by. We ended up spending the rest of the day there. Linda even bought some clothes to wear to another karaoke session that night.
Once again we stayed out late and that saying “never try to out party a Nevadian because they party 24 hours a day!” came to mind. I wanted to leave around 9:30am to avoid the sun on the way back but It is always hard to leave Ronnie and Claudine's place.
It wasn't until 11am before I got the bike pulled around front to pack it.
After putting all our warm clothes on we head home. The first stop is this cender block mine just east of Dayton.
Linda knees were getting cold again so we wrapped her scarf on one and a long sleeve Tshirt on the other to warm them up.
Back on road and the weather is great. Only about 65 degrees out but clear with no wind. Out next stop was just as we turned onto Hwy 50.
From here it was non stop through Lake Tahoe and on over the pass. The temps up there were in the upper 40's and not bad at all, but once we dropped on the other side it started warming up. Bay the time we got to Fresh Water Lake it was well over 70 degrees.
These are the last two pictures I took before Linda had to strip off that big jacket.
We made it home by 4pm and the trip as a whole couldn't have turned out better. It was sort of a test for Linda to see if we could travel together and it turns out we can! She's a fun person to be with and I'm lucky to have her.
Thank you Linda.
