Wheels, Wonders, and Unexpected Obstacles: A Road Trip to Reno

From Serene Pines to Lava Beds & Reno: A Wheelchair Wanderer’s (Mis)Adventures!

Our day kicked off bright and early at 9 AM, 64 degrees of pure, unadulterated sunshine. We were bidding a fond farewell to the WorldMark Running Y, a true gem of a stay. Seriously, that condo was so amazing, it practically whispered sweet nothings of comfort. And the shower? Let’s just say it set a new gold standard for “accessible” at any WorldMark or Wyndham. Our two-bedroom accessible unit was a dream. It was on the ground floor, mere yards from the parking. It was practically hugging a serene forest of towering pine trees. It was like living in a postcard, finished with a tiny, perfect grassy yard.

First order of business? A pit stop at the Fred Meyer fuel center to prepare for our days journey of 300+ miles. Because even adventurers on wheels need to top off their tanks!

The Lava Beds: Where Steps and Shenanigans Collide

By 10:39 AM, we’d rolled into Lava Beds National Monument. We’d cruised through here a few years back. Since it was conveniently on our route to Reno, we decided to give it another go. Nevertheless, we would soon find out it may be inconvenient. Our target: Black Crater.

Devil’s Homestead

Around noon, under a beaming 77-degree sun, we arrived at Black Crater. We snagged an accessible spot in the paved lot – a promising start! A lovely ramp led to a concrete walkway, which looked perfectly navigable. So, we strapped on the Firefly (my trusty wheelchair sidekick), donned our hats, grabbed a water bottle (singular, a rookie mistake, as you’ll see!), and our designated camera phone. We were ready to conquer this crater!

Then, plot twist! We hit the end of the concrete walkway. Staring back at us were two steps down onto a gravel trail. Two steps, just casually mocking our forward momentum. After a quick huddle, we did some strategic eye-balling. We decided that dropping down with the Firefly attached was a recipe for a comical (and painful) disaster. So, Firefly detached, Leesa, bless her heart, expertly helped me navigate the first step. It wasn’t pretty, but we got down without too much drama. The second step? We cleverly circumvented it by veering off-road, embracing the wild side with a fairly level slope. Who needs stairs when you have off-roading skills?

Safely on the gravel trail, Firefly reattached, we were off! My wheelchair, with its knobby tires, is practically a gravel-gobbling monster. Despite the “natural massage” of a bumpy ride, we made good progress. Until… we hit the inevitable “way too sketchy to continue” point. Leesa, ever the intrepid explorer, grabbed the phone for pictures. She left me with the single water bottle. I had a prime spot for existential contemplation. I watched her disappear behind a hill. She was a few hundred yards away. I wondered if this was how all great adventures ended. Was I stranded in the desert, slowly dehydrating? Meanwhile, my partner bravely (or foolishly) chased crater pics.

About 10-15 minutes in, my paranoia started to kick in. Was she okay? Had she fallen into a lava tube? Were we both doomed to become permanent residents of the desert? Just as I was mentally drafting my last will and testament, I thought mostly of my mom, my nieces and nephews, and my family. “Tell them I loved them,” I would have said. Then, I heard Leesa’s distant, reassuring shout: “I’m OK!” My hero! She reappeared a few minutes later, both of us thankfully intact. Our brush with desert doom averted, we began the journey back to the parking lot.

And that’s when the second plot twist hit: those two steps. Gravity, our fickle friend, was now firmly against us. Getting down was one thing; getting up was an entirely different beast. Again, off came the Firefly. We successfully circumnavigated the first step, going off-road once more. But that second step? It was glaring at us, daring us to try. My carcass and wheelchair had to somehow ascend this mini-mountain. My walker was useless here, thanks to the slope. And, naturally, no one else was around to witness our impending struggle (or offer a helpful hand). This was on us.

After a spirited debate worthy of a philosophical society (“Forward or backward, that is the question!”), we decided forward was our best bet, with Leesa positioned strategically behind me. With a Herculean effort, we popped the front tires onto the top of the step. Leesa lifted, I pushed on the tires, and with a triumphant heave, we conquered that step! SUCCESS! It was a moment of pure, unadulterated triumph. It confirmed that together, we truly can do anything. We can even defy small, annoying steps.

Our hard-won lesson from this trail escapade? We’d broken a few cardinal rules of wheelchair adventuring:

• Leesa should ALWAYS scout the path for accessibility before we commit. Seriously, this needs to be tattooed on our foreheads.
• Always take BOTH phones. Because if one dies, you’re not just stranded, you’re un-Instagrammable stranded.
• Always carry TWO bottles of water. One for you, one for your paranoia.

Safely back in the car, a bit dustier but infinitely wiser, we continued to the Visitor Center. I opted for a luxurious stay in the car, while Leesa popped in for a quick recon mission. She returned shortly, and we were officially out of the park and headed toward Susanville.

Burgers, Shakes, and Reno’s Quirky Charms

Our stomachs were grumbling. We hit Frosty Mill in Susanville. This place apparently doubles as the local hangout for epic burgers and shakes. We weren’t ones to argue with local wisdom. So, we indulged. We shared a hot fudge shake. Sharing is caring, especially when it comes to deliciousness. We also had two cheeseburgers, fries, and, for a little adventurous flair, fried pickle spears. It was the perfect refueling stop for weary adventurers.

Then, it was full speed ahead to Reno! We rolled into WorldMark Reno around 5 PM. We’ve stayed here before, and it’s… an experience. It’s essentially a hotel that decided to identify as a condo, resulting in some truly bizarre room layouts. Our two-bedroom mobility unit boasted a bathroom so massive it could host a small dance party. Honestly, it was half the size of our tiny house! It did have a full kitchen and a washer/dryer, which are always a win. The living room was cozy and situated right off the kitchen. The second bedroom, featuring two twin beds, and the dining area were separated by a wall. The dining area was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. It was challenging to navigate chairs around, but hey, it served its purpose for a one-night pit stop.

After Leesa checked us in, our final mission of the day was a pilgrimage to 10 Torr Distillery and Brewery. Conveniently close to the resort, this place is unique. It’s the only vacuum distillery in the United States. They only need to distill once. Mind blown! We opted for a flight of their six flagship beers, followed by a cocktail flight. They were pretty darn good, making for a perfectly satisfying end to our adventurous day.

Our night was whole. Back to the resort for some well-deserved shut-eye, and an early start to Vegas tomorrow!