The Road to Reno — The Adventure Begins

After months of getting the RV ready — new curtains, a new converter, a living room that finally felt like mine — the countdown was over.

It was time to go see what this little home on wheels could really do.

My best friend and I left home on June 10th, heading west toward Reno for the Women’s Championships bowling tournament, with weeks of driving ahead of us before we’d make our way back home.

The First Miles

Pals Brewing Company in North Platte, Nebraska, was our first Harvest Hosts stop.

Beer flights, a slice of cake, and a quiet evening parked in the empty lot sounded like the perfect way to start the trip.

Right up until the wind picked up.

A real thunderstorm with high winds rolled through that night, rocking the RV hard enough that I won’t forget it. Nothing like your first night on the road to remind you that RV life is real life — storms and all.

From there, we made our way to Uinta Lanes in Evanston, Wyoming — a bowling alley that also happened to be a Harvest Hosts stop.

In the morning, we walked the Bear River Greenway before getting back on the road.

The drive west kept surprising us.

Salt flats stretched out toward the horizon. Wild horses stood on a hilltop at one of the rest stops. Deer appeared along a creek. Buffalo grazed nearby like it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

The road itself was already becoming part of the story.

Arriving in Reno

By June 12th, we’d made it to Reno.

We stayed at the KOA Journey at Boomtown, and that night we got a picture in front of the “Biggest Little City” sign, all lit up.

Then it was time for what we’d actually come for.

Masks on, we headed into the bowling stadium for the Women’s Championships.

Over the next couple of days, we bowled our games, and after everything wrapped up, we all rolled our bowling balls back to the hotel — right down the streets of Reno.

If you know, you know.

The reason for the trip was complete.

But before everyone headed their separate ways, we had one more day together.

One Last Day Together

This morning, a few of us took a side trip up to Lake Tahoe for one more adventure before the group split up.

The drive alone was worth it — trading Reno’s desert landscape for mountain roads, pine trees, and those incredible Tahoe views.

We spent the day hiking, taking in the views, and enjoying one more day together before everyone headed home.

After our hike, we stopped at The Beacon for lunch. We all agreed, this calamari was the best any of us have ever had!

By this evening, the tournament crew is packing up and heading home.

But our adventure is not over.

Tomorrow morning, my friend and I will be continuing west.