Washoe County, working towards the grader good at year’s near end as we

took a frosty walk, packed up and were out the gate and down the road by 10:13

to California, gas at $4.79/ga.,

Sierra Valley, the Summit of Donner – with Japanese tourists clowning in the snow –

and the wonderful Mysteries of CalTrans to slow us considerably down.

In the Valley Cali drivers mind their phones, trust the algorithm to drive their Cybers

and it took an extra [and exhausting] hour just to get to a freezing house and well into the night before the heaters had any effect.  Last day [of the calendar year], same weather

but at least one traffic cone finding comfort in its relationship with a concrete wall while

the hill became and remained, well, wet.

We spent the year’s last day damply in downtown Benicia

before settling in for

the Eve’s feast of various delicacies and, thanks to Bryan [who spent the week in Vienna],

 some very interesting champagne along with the last of his chocolates as we waited

to toast the installation of New York’s first Muslim Mayor, then onwards unto TWO-OH-TWO-SIX!