Oh, yes...Back to my job as a partner with Roger Evans in Tri-Valley Contractors. During the time we worked together, we divided up the jobs between us and then coordinated our labor to get them done. Most were small jobs, room additions and small commercials. We definitely weren't getting rich quick. We paid our suppliers on time and paid our labor well. All things that other contractors neglected to do whenever they had a chance.
Finally, in 1976, I had enough. It was time for a change. A Big Change. I decided to see what kind of life was available for us as a family, beyond the Los Angeles 'sphere of influence'. So I drove north one day; driving on US 395, a very familiar road for me. I stopped at Bishop and looked around. I liked Bishop, but it was going to be a hard sell to the family. It is somewhat bleak looking. In the back of my mind, I knew that Rick Thompson, my partner's former partner, had settled in Bishop. Hmm? Wonder where he lived? I spent the night there and in the morning, I moved on, passing through Bridgeport (Where I really wanted to live!) and then into Nevada; going through Minden/Gardnerville, Carson City. Finally I passed through Reno, still heading north. And this was now a part of the highway I had never seen before, so I paid attention to all of the new sights.
About an hour after leaving Reno, I drove into Long Valley in the Doyle area and I could see a valley and a lake ahead of me with mountains on my left. Interesting. The signs said that Susanville was about 30 minutes away. That would be my stop for the night.
