Declaration of IndependenceJohn Hancock. Now that guy had a signature to write home with! And no other document reflects his quill tip finesse better than the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4th, 1776. The fact that within our daily diets we have options other than baskets of deep fried fish n’ chips, alone, is considerable in our separation from the British Kingdom. But on this day, we Nevadans commonly share our appreciation through displays of the American flag, patriotic parades, backyard barbecues, and capping it all off with thunderous fireworks presentations. My neighbor walked over in the afternoon and rescued me from a long day behind the drawing board, ushering me to their backyard where the annual July 4th gathering of friends and family was well underway. And with my neighbor being the most patriotic person I’ve ever met, I knew the tri-tip feast would be accompanied with military stories, some nostalgic tears, a lot of bragging, and a sincere affection for Old Glory. To round out the day, the only thing left to do were to sit back and digest a Nevada sky exploding with color.
Virginia City, NV- 4th of July, 2008 Photo by Kevin KarlLike a fly to a porch light, around 8pm I set off up Geiger Grade (Hwy 341) to Virginia City (website) for the town’s renown fireworks display. There’s plenty of other area pyrotechnic eye candy to see at Lake Tahoe, San Rafael Park, and Sparks, but I personally love the intimacy of a place like “VC”. Plus there’s always the possibility of seeing the volunteer fire department hunt down and extinguish the rogue embers before things really get out of control. After recently climbing Mt. Davidson above “VC”, I had a spot in mind on the mountainside that might offer the perfect vantage point to take pictures. A brief push in 4WD up a washed out road brought me to an all exclusive parking spot, and from there I donned my wool sherpa hat and hoofed it up to the ridge line. Not long after getting set-up, the amplified bells of St. Mary’s in the Mountains (website ) began to echo the Star Spangled Banner. There was a respectable moment of silence, then the mortars begin launching the bursting shells into the airy canvas. The display was relatively short, but memorable, and definitely worth the climb.
Guest relaxing in the formal parlor of the Cobb Mansion Photo by Kevin KarlComing off the mountain and getting back onto pavement I figured any hints of traffic would be long gone. I was descending to “C” Street level, saying goodnight to “VC”, when I drove past this warmly lit Victorian building. In every window I could see a Tiffany style lamp, or people sitting, conversing. The front door was wide open, offering a splendid view of the grand staircase leading up to the next floor. Within the back porch, people were toasting with wine glasses, laughing, and suddenly I felt like Jimmy Stewart peering into the window of this “Wonderful Life”. I stopped briefly only to take a couple of romantic exterior night images, and soon found myself mingling with friends and guest inside the Cobb Mansion B&B (website ). The proprietors, Paul Yandre and Jeff Teague, didn’t hesitate and offered the grand tour of this meticulously restored mansion. I honestly felt like I was walking through the pages of an architectural photo album. The attention to the details is stunning. And unless someone points it out, you don’t notice things like the slight drop in the 12 foot ceilings to accommodate a new, recessed, fire sprinkler system. Do you like to cook? Then you’ll also appreciate the gourmet kitchens (yes, more than one), appliances, and features. The only downside to the day? Arriving home after visiting the Cobb Mansion, all of the interior trim in my home appears to be just slightly better than popsicle sticks, compared to the thick, clean, moldings which I had just ogled. Well I’m still King of my castle, so at least I’ve got that going for me. Sigh.
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