The Wahine and I were feeling a little bushed so we decided to park the bikes for a day and let our feet do the walking. We couldn't have picked a better day for sidewalk surfin' as today was the El Dorado Brew and Blues Festival. How does this work you ask? Simple. You shut down South Virginia Street from 5th Avenue to 2nd Avenue, line both sides of the street with pavilion style tents, invite 50 or so breweries, micro and big brewers alike to show up with truckloads of their finest product offerings, offer up a wide variety of food and then set up two big stages at either end of the street and have Blues Bands play all day and into the evening. Now call the weatherman and order up a hot sunny day and stand back. If you build it they will come and believe me they came...in droves.
Before we get to the Blues Festival let me set the stage for the day. As I previously mentioned we were feeling tired so sleeping in was the first order of the day. Close the drapes to shut out all light and let yourself go. Not so fast. At 9:30 a tremendous thunder of drumming comes crashing through the windows bringing us to full alert. Sleepily peering out the window we are greeted to the sight and sounds of a full-blown parade heading north on Virginia Street. We try to go back to sleep but the parade is loud and we sleepily peek out the window to see what float or marching band was passing by. It's all in good fun so we decide there's too much going on to lay in the sack all morning so it's up and at 'em.
What we find out on the streets is a sea of people wandering around quaffing beer to the sounds of a pretty hot blues band whipping out Freddy King's "The Stumble". We're feeling a bit hungry so we explore the food tents and settle on some New York style pulled pork on buns with coleslaw and a big dill pickle. Yeah this is breakfast. I don't drink beer and Lori figured it was too early in the day for her so we stick to water and soda.
What a deal!
Ms Lori-Belle and I are having a fine old time wandering the street listening to some great music and people watching. It's hot and sunny so from time to time we pop into one of the casinos for a restroom break and some air-conditioning. Both offer a welcomed respite.
Truckee River divides downtown Reno.
Blues Band performing.
Virginia Street in front of the Silver Legacy Hotel.
More Blues Bands.
We talk a walk on Virginia Street, north to Walgreens for some supplies and run the gauntlet of panhandlers working the street. Reno has a seedy side to it lying only a block of two off the main strip. Homeless, drug addicts, ne'er-do-wells, it looks just like Vancouver! On the way back to the hotel we opt for walking a few streets away from all the hub-bub on Virginia Street which proves to be a pleasant choice. This route goes through a residential neighbourhood and we get to see what inner city life in Reno is like. On the way back we are drawn to the 4th Avenue bus loop and give it the critical look-over. This is a big loop which is tied in with the train system and except for the bus parked' on a post outside it looks like any other bus station. While walking by we wonder what it's like to be a transit operator in Reno. Since both Lori and I are bus drivers in the Vancouver area we find fascination in what most people wouldn't give a second glance.
Fourth Avenue bus loop.
Back to the hotel for a shower, a little correspondence and a nap; afterall this is a 'lazy day'. Dinner beckons and we head down to Johnny Rockets, a 50's style diner located in the hotel. Decked out in the usual chrome, checkerboard linoleum tiles and booths, they offer up the expected diner fare, burgers, fries and shakes. The prices are good, the food is tasty and the staff entertain with dance routines from the era which has now been expanded to include the 60's and 70's. I find myself, munching my burger and singing along with K.C. & The Sunshine Band's "Get Down Tonight" as the staff hoof it up in a loosely choreographed routine. It was fun, they were enthusiastic and I enjoyed it.
Lori has a hankering for some Karaoke action so we're off on a quest for some singing fun. Personally I don't do Karaoke, but Lori likes it and she's good at it so I'm quite content to sit back and cheer her on. She has been a huge support to me going to tons of ROAD CREW shows so it's nice to have the roles reversed and I can be the fan. After stumbling around the Silver Legacy and the El Dorado looking for the appropriate bar we find that Karaoke is available at the Cal-Neva so off we go. The place is pretty busy but Lori picks her songs and we watch the other participants while we wait for her turn to come around. Like any other Karaoke bar this one has the good, the bad and the ugly. Lori's up and she belts out an excellent rendition of "Seven Spanish Angels" and earns a loud round of cheers from the crowd. It's getting late and the wait is now even longer for a reprise so we head back to the hotel as the morning comes early and there's a fair amount of miles to cover the next day.
Lori on stage at the Cal-Neva
It's one AM so we pack it and call it a day. The road awaits.
Steve
Reno, NV
June 21/14
No comments:
Post a Comment