Reno & Sparks

We haul out and head over the 50 to the 395 and up to Reno/Sparks to the Sparks Marina RV Resort, which turns out to be very nice - a little sterile but very nice & clean - a change from the last park!

Booking in for two days, Daryl phones Bob Lord, who we met via Dave Billington in New Zealand and have since crossed paths a number of times at rod runs.

We track Bob down and he calls round to the RV park to catch up and asks us to dinner with his family that night.  We accept and had a wonderful night enjoying their company and hospitality as they welcomed us into their home and family.  A good night, good food, good wine and great company - we thoroughly enjoyed seeing their home and being with them for the evening.  Leslie, Bob's wife is a magical quilter and has a Christmas collection that would make anyone envious.  We also enjoyed meeting Erin and Brett, their daughter and son in law - some great stories came out and Daryl loved Bob's garage set up with all the posters and memorabilia.

The next day we ran/walked around the marina before breakfast and then headed over the the outlet shops which were only about a mile down the road from our camp.  We spent the afternoon there buying mostly for the grandchildren.....such cute clothes.

Lunch at Olive Garden - didn't need diner tonight!

Returning to camp in the morning we are stopped by another couple who turn out to be from Gisborne but originally from Levin & Wanganui - Kathy & Murray Spiers.  They are doing the same as us but base themselves in Canada at present and are travelling in a  fifth wheel.  We catch up and have a beer later swapping travel tips and stories - nice couple who are enjoying the travelling as much as us - It's all a lifestyle choice.  Small world and of course Daryl & Murray eventually find someone in common.

Day two, we book in for another night and then catch up with Chris Goodwin, who we saw at Pleasanton in 2009 and lives in Reno now before heading downtown Reno to check out the sights including brunch at the original Mel's Diner.  

Then back to the outlet shops as we cant count and had uneven numbers of clothes for the kids (fatal, as they can count!) where we wandered for a good part of the afternoon before heading out to Summit Racing Equipment for a look around.

Heading home, Bob calls round and has a quiet one with Daryl while I shoot back to the outlets for the last item.  Later we head out and go to Jersey Boys at the theatre in Bourbon Square.