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Can You Smell the Sagebrush?

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass CA DRE# 01215160

As it is with many people, fall is my favorite season of the year. There's nothing quite like clear blue skies, a nip in the air, and leaves crunching under foot on a nearby trail.

This week in San Francisco feels more like summer, which is nice for Fleet Week and the air show, but I do think back to my recent vacation trip to the Pacific Northwest, especially my last days in Elko Nevada, where it definitely felt like autumn. 

One of my brothers has called Elko home for many years. He and his wife live in a house they built (and I really mean they built) about 10 miles outside of Elko, accessed by several miles of dirt road where no other building is seen from the house. That's the first photo--beautiful, isn't it? Quite a difference from my living in the midst of San Francisco! Two completely different life styles, both the right ones for each of us, both good places to be.

Many people know of Elko as a place to break a car drive on Interstate-80 between San Francisco and Salt Lake City, but next time you drive through, spend a bit of time if you can.

In town, highlights are dinner at the Star, the Basque restaurant favored by many, and boot statues like these two placed throughout the town. The Northeastern Nevada Museum, located on Idaho Street, the main street in town, gives a great overview of the settlement of the area and the flora and fauna. Of course, for some the ever-present Nevada casinos are a draw.

Finally, for the hikers and backpackers in our midst, Elko is the gateway to the Ruby Mountains!

 

Thurston, Jackstone Creek Road, Elko NVBoot statue in Elko NevadaBoot statue at the Red Lion Casino, Elko, Nevada

 

Show All Comments Sort:
Barbara Todaro
Retired...Mentoring Newbies - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Lottie Kendall wow.... talk about living in an area with no neighbors.... and you live in one that doesn't require owning a vehicle... you can walk to everything....or take  public transportation....

Oct 14, 2019 03:47 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Wow, what an lovely area, and you get the best of both worlds, with the ability to visit when you need space to breathe. Sounds likean interesting little town, and anywhere you can hike has to be a good place as far as I am concerned.

Oct 14, 2019 05:01 AM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Love those boots. Living in the middle of nowhere sounds heavenly. A lake close by would be a bonus. I have been close to Elko in my travels.

Oct 14, 2019 07:12 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Sharon Lee - next time you're near Elko, take a bit of time and get to know the town a bit. It's a nice one.

Oct 14, 2019 07:41 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Barbara Todaro - two such very different lifestyles. Interesting how siblings ended up living so differently. But then, I remember reading a little children's book called something like, "City Mouse, Country Mouse." 

Oct 14, 2019 07:45 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I have never been through northern Nevada, but Elko looks and sounds like such a wonderful place to visit.

Oct 14, 2019 07:45 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Good morning, Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 - if your wanderings take you west, you might wish to hike in the Ruby Mountains and explore Elko, too. 

Oct 14, 2019 07:47 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

We always enjoy visiting Elko, and always wish we had an extra day or two to hike in the Ruby Mountains again. Quite beautiful!

Oct 14, 2019 07:48 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Hi Lottie... could not live your brother's lifestyle! But I'd enjoy seeing it for a few days!

Oct 14, 2019 09:01 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Nina Hollander - I'm with you. I love visiting for 2 days (3 or 4 if I could hike in the Ruby Mountains) but my urban lifestyle is best for me. Once when Dan was visiting here, he said he could see how and why I like living where I do -- great to appreciate other ways of life, but know that our choices are the best ones for us.

Oct 14, 2019 09:09 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Lottie - hearing the sounds of leaves crunching is certainly evocative of the arrival of Fall.  A good description.  

Oct 14, 2019 09:24 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Lottie,

Nice of you to share Elko with us.  I don't think I could live there either, nor in SF proper as you do.  I love where we are now.  It is Goldilocks place to be for both of us!

Oct 14, 2019 01:08 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lottie now that is what I call Texas size boots ........ LOL

Oct 14, 2019 01:18 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hello Michael Jacobs - do I sense another autumn lover?

Ron and Alexandra Seigel - it's wonderful that we've been able to pick the right place to live. So many choices, and one style is just right!

George Souto - those boots decorating Elko streets are big, indeed. They are proud of their cowboy roots!

Oct 14, 2019 02:45 PM
Michael Jacobs

Lottie - there's joy to be found in each season.  

Oct 14, 2019 03:17 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Lottie= what a contrast from your San Francisco!!!   And those boots would go well here in Texas!!!

Oct 14, 2019 06:47 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

You're right on both counts, Kathy Streib - George Souto has already dubbed the boots, "Texas size boots."

Oct 14, 2019 08:00 PM
Craig Daniels
Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY
Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

Hi Lottie. Fall is absolutely my favorite season as well! (but I also love the snow of winter, the colors returning in springtime, summer... well I'd love more except for the NYC humidity!) PS - as a test can you do a reply comment linked here and @mention me to see if I get any notification. You'll know what I mean

Nov 01, 2019 09:32 AM
Lottie Kendall

Hi Craig - fall is delightful (except for the wildfires here in California.) Did you get notification of this comment thread?

Nov 01, 2019 10:21 AM
Lottie Kendall

When I try to hyperlink your name, Craig Daniels - do you now get notification?

Nov 01, 2019 10:22 AM
Patricia Feager

I hope you don't mind but I'm jumping on your test with an at symbol to Craig Daniels and include Lottie Kendall too. 

Nov 10, 2019 05:48 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX

Hi Lottie - If those boots were for sale, I could think of a number of Real Estate Agents who would buy them in a heartbeat. Like the story about the country mouse and the city mouse, I would not were them but would admire those that could! 

One good thing about having a sibling who has a completely different life style and home than yours is that neither of you will ever be living with each other but can still appreciate a visit. 

Ruby Mountain sounds intriguing! And the photo you shared on top with the sagebrush growing is absolutely gorgeous! I could see how useful and practical it would be to wear cowboy boots hiking on that land in Nevada. What's important is although you and your sibling are like night and day, you both get along and appreciate each other. Quality time and whatever time you get with each other is so important. I enjoyed reading your blog post and it got me thinking how different my siblings are too. 

Nov 10, 2019 05:45 PM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP - so you and your siblings also have different life styles -- interesting, isn't it, the different paths people choose? I'm glad you see the beauty in the picture with Dan's house in the distance--the only one to be seen anywhere. I love it!

Nov 10, 2019 06:00 PM
Patricia Feager

Lottie Kendall - I guess you  know when you get to Dan's house when you get there! 


P.S. genes are definitely not evenly distributed, are they? A great topic for us to pick up on at another time. LOL

Nov 10, 2019 06:12 PM