2016 Virginia City Drive
At about 9:15 am, members of the Sierra Chapter, BMWCCA, started to show up for the Virginia City Cruise and Tour. The location for assembling was the Starbucks on Mt Rose Hwy and Wedge Pkwy. John English, the Wagon master, assembled everyone for a briefing at about 9: 35 on the trip details. The twelve BMWs soon departed west on Mt Rose Highway on time at 9:45 am. We proceeded up the twisty and windy highway and in about a half hour we were at the parking area overlooking the scenic Lake Tahoe. Besides the beauty of these surroundings, this was a time to meet and talk to the other participants. Some were old friends and a few were new to the BMWCCA activities.
After about a 15 minute stop, we then proceed to Incline Village where turned left on Hwy 28. We proceeded a few miles down the road to Starbucks. We arrived there at about 10:30 am. This was a 15-20 minute stop for picking up more members and some to Carson City. Then it was to Hwy 395 north to the refreshments.
We departed Starbucks and stayed on Hwy 28 around Lake Tahoe; luckily the heavy traffic was in the other direction. At the intersection of US Hwy 50 we made a left turn toward Carson City. This was an uncontrolled intersection and it was a challenge to get all the cars onto highway. After a mile or so, John pulled over to regroup and make sure that all the cars made the turn. It was downhill from there cut off to I-580 north. Then it was right onto Hwy 50 again to Virginia City. After several miles, we turned left on the old truck route to Virginia City. This route goes up the very curvy road up 6 mile canyon.
(Click https://goo.gl/maps/0hjoJ for the mapped Route).
Once in Virginia City, everyone drove around until they found a parking place. Some had to park on the lower and side streets while others were able to park in the public parking lot. We ended up at the Palace Hotel and Restaurant (http://www.palacerestaurant1875.com/) for lunch at about 12:30 pm. Because of the heavy lunch hour traffic, we had to split up and find our own seating. A large bunch of kids were in the area reserved for the club and did not leave. After lunch everyone went their own way. Some returned to Reno and some stayed in V.C to shop until they dropped. In all, if you missed this trip, prepare for the next event. Join the experience and have fun.
By the way, if you missed the trip, this is a very pretty drive that you might want to take someday.
Click here to view the video and Click here to visit the picture gallery
Virginia City is an experience going back 150 years. Let your adventure begin with a step back in time. The 19th century mining boom turned Virginia City into the most important settlement between Denver and San Francisco; and grubby prospectors into instant millionaires. They built mansions, imported furniture and fashions from Europe and the Orient, and helped finance the Civil War... and then went on to build empires around the world. The finest example being San Francisco. Click here for information about Virginia City.
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- Fred Watson
