At Marion’s, Saturday, Aug. 27th, 1966

Dear Family,

We arrived here last evening, having driven 12 hours. Most of it was across the Nevada desert- very boring. We stayed in a Motel at Elko Nevada on Thursday. This time I let Mother pick the Motel and we were gyped again. We were limited to a place that would give us both car parking and trailer space. The better Motels, not soliciting the Hobo trade, do not have this facility.

We arrived in Reno about noon. Mother was a bit “desgustado” because I would not stop at one of the Casinos. I did stop for lunch on the outskirts of town at a place that was equipped with “stoic stealers”. When we finished lunch, we played out change and won the cost of our dinner. I think this was the first time Mother ever walked out of a Joint, a winner.

We enjoyed our stay at Bill and Fran’s very much. Lloyd Edward, in spite of the fact that he looks like a McKay, closed his chubby little fingers around our hearts. His fingers are not so chubby at that. He has hands and feet that indicate a big frame and he is very strong for a one month old.

We went to the top of the mountain, where Bill works, for a couple of days. We nearly froze. In spite of the fact that fish were supposed to jump out on the bank to take the worm, we did not catch any. I guess I am not much of a lake fisherman. It was at this camp that we had our first loss- by theft. Some slick fingered “Raffles” gum shoed into our camp and stole a pound of butter. We heard a vehicle in the distance that sounded a lot like Bill’s old heap. We left the next morning and could not confront him with our evidence- anyway it was his butter.

……………..(indicates a lapse of two days)…………..

David was on duty last week-end and could not come to see us. We are going to see him today (Monday) after he is through work. According to the Meekers he is complaining about having to burn the mid-nite oil because the course is getting harder and harder.

We will leave here to-marrow, 30th of August. We will spend one night with the Jenkins on their Ranch. They have sold their business, as well as their home in Pinole. I understand however, that John and Jake, (his pardner) have bought two more run-down Taverns in this area, so it does not look as though he is going to retire.

We will leave the Jenkins’s on Wednesday morning, but due to the fact that we can only travel 50 MPH in California with our little Trailer, we will probably take two days getting there. We will drive to Marta’s and Bob’s. I hope they can go to Lloyd and Carol’s with us when we go to assist in blessing the Baby next Sunday- anyway you Stobbes might write us at Marta’s. We would like to know some of the details of your trip back to the Islands.

Speaking of the “Smog Smellers”, I suppose you have all received cards by this time, letting you know that we goofed in the spelling of the newcomer’s name—it is Brian Jon, (must be some Swedes somewhere in Carol’s background), anyway, I am sure we will love him just as much if they called him Snickledefritz”.

The Meeker family are fine. Marion works from 4 to 10 A.M. The children are shuddering at the thought of going back to school and Bob is working on a new Stadium in Oakland and will be kept busy probably all winter.

We attended the Services here yesterday. The only people we knew were the Lotts. I don’t know what sort of influence was brought to bear on Bob, but he went to church with us.

Vaya Con Dios,

Dad