We left the house at about 10:30pm Pacific time, heading up I-680 to meet I-80 towards Sacramento.  I drove the first leg of the trip, letting my husband sleep to recharge in preparation for taking over when I could no longer lift a finger.  This system worked out perfectly!  I made it part way into Nevada, and let Brian take the wheel after a fuel stop shown to the right.

Nevada always takes a hundred million years to drive through, and I only managed to sleep for an hour, so I ended up driving for a while, then taking another 45 minute nap.  I woke up to the most beautiful sunset I’d seen in quite a while- Brian pulled over so I could snap the photo below.   I was very disappointed at the dead battery to my Digital Rebel- I wish I could have taken these with a better camera (but now I have something to look forward to with the return trip!)

I slept for quite some time, barely hanging onto consciousness for most of the night until morning broke.  We had breakfast at Embers (there’s a name I’d almost forgotten!)  Gassed up, and drove another few hours until this glorious sight was ours to behold:

We decided to push through to Mankato this morning.  I am presently typing this from the Microtel Inn & Suites, which a friend recommended to me (Hi Bob!).  Sleep will come shortly- but not until at least 8:00pm CST.  Mankato at 4:00am is a very, very lonely place.