Stage 6 - Ogden and Reno

We had close to a 5 hour drive to get from Jackson Wyoming to Ogden Utah.  While researching opportunities to take a break along the various routes - I was intrigued by the small town of Lava Hot Springs Idaho.  They had a river that runs through the middle of the town and they rent out tubes to float the river down through the town.   They also have an impressive pool complex.  So we stopped and had lunch and decided to visit the pool complex.  The kids had an awesome time with both the waterslides and diving platforms.  It is hard to believe that such a small town can support that large of a complex - and they only charge $7 !



Brett and Kelsey walking up to the high speed lines.



Bretto launching off the top platform.

 We pulled into Ogden and there was a bunch of activity going on around the Marriott where we were staying that night.  Despite my research - I had not realized that the Tour of Utah bike race was kicking off in Ogden the next day and all the racers and support team was staying in our hotel.    Karen did not seem to mind all of the elite racers prancing around the lobby in their bike shorts.  I am hoping for a Jenny Craig convention at our next hotel to provide me an ego boost.  To make myself feel better - Jake and I went over to Farr Better Ice Cream - an ice cream parlor that has been around since the 1920's. You know you are going to get good ice cream when the staff are wearing those old school paper hats.

We decided to stick around for the start of the race - perhaps to procrastinate leaving on our longest day of driving.   Bike racing is not a very exciting spectator sport. 

As loyal readers of this blog have figured out - I like to pack in a fair amount of activity into a day.  When I suggested that we stop at the Hill Aerospace Museum before we head out of Ogden - I was met with a look from my lovely bride that can be most delicately described as incredulous and more accurately as "are you &%$#* kidding me !!".  So Jake, Kelsey and I broke the record for quickest visit to the Hill Aerospace Museum.  They had a bunch of very cool military planes and copters in their hangers. 

The drive across the Nevada desert is not very exciting but the kids did well enduring the 8 hours of driving.  We stopped in Elko Nevada for lunch at Wingers.  Wingers was voted Best Wings in the US by USA Today.   After consuming a dozen wings - I would say that perhaps they are the best wings in Elko Nevada but would not crack my Top 10. 

We rolled into Reno about 8pm and got to our hotel (Grand Sierra Resort).  Like most things in Reno - the Grand Sierra is a hotel and casino.  It had a variety of exciting activities for the kids- including 24 hour bowling !  They were also having some classic car event - so the parking lot was packed with some very cool old cars.  Karen and I lost $3 in the slot machines before deciding our money was better wasted at the bar.  Below you see the boys hitting the driving range.

Scott Gordon, one of my old college roommates from ASU, lives in Reno with his family and he works as an Operations manager at the Reno Airport - which is conveniently located a few blocks from our hotel.  So I went over to his office to catch up with him.  He took me out onto the runway and we got to drive around the see planes take off an land up close and personal.  It was a very cool experience and nice to catch up with Scott.

It was a brief (less than 24 hours) stay in Reno before we took the quick ride up the mountains to Lake Tahoe.