Testimonials

Reno Reunion – November 2017

    Nagel Tours was taking their 40^th Anniversary Reunion to Reno
Vickie, taking her 40^th trip with Nagel Tours did also there go
Tour left Edmonton early, picking up passengers along the way
Weather was not good, it was a cold, wet, icy and snowy day

Tour passed many communities, on to Lethbridge, for tea
Duty-free at Coutts, border crossing into another country
To the east were visible the high peaks of the Sweetgrass Hills
Montana is sparsely populated, but NO state tax on your bills

Travelling along, day’s destination was Holiday Inn, Great Falls
Long travelling day over, passengers hurried along the hotel halls
Passed through Helena, with State’s Capitol copper-topped dome
Travelled through Butte, ore born city, Evel Knievel’s birth home

Tour crossed the Monida Pass and entered the state of Idaho
By-passed Spencer, opal capital of U.S. and saw less snow
Idaho, being a dry state, without irrigation crops would be naught
Passed a geological site, home to the Yellow-bellied Marmot

Had an afternoon break at Garden of Eden, a truly unique spot
Onward, to the tour’s overnight stop, Cactus Pete’s, in Jackpot
Breakfast in Wells, lunch in Winnemucca, with time to play slots
Passed a geothermal plant, steam coming from the ground, in spots

Circus, Circus, Reno was day’s stop, visiting, champagne, and FUN!
T-shirts were worn, group picture was taken, prizes for everyone
Casino-hopped. Got coupons for food and drinks, also cash to play
Harrah’s, in Sparks was first hop, breakfast at Rosie’s, saw goose display

Off to the Silver Legacy, where we saw the replica silver mine
Back to Circus Circus, to get to the casinos we rode the shuttle line
Minden was next day’s first hop. Left early because of fire alarm
On to Virginia City, took a tram tour, enjoyed the Old West charm

Next day, at Diamonds Casino we got water bottles and decks of cards
Cal-Neva was our last hop but no go, we left with their kind regards
Fun-time in the “Biggest Little City in the World” was over and done
Time to retrace route, homeward bound, last stop being Edmonton

Stopped in Wells, where we turned our watches back one hour
Cactus Pete’s, Jackpot was day’s stop, last chance to spin reel power
Tour entered Idaho State at Twin Falls, crossed Snake River Canyon
Morning break in Burley, in the distance we saw Range of the Teton

By-passed American Falls and Ft. Hall, home of Shoshone-Bannock Hotel
Lunch was in Idaho Falls, river’s falls were seen – awesome we yell
Entered Montana State, into the Mineral bearing region of Butte
Saw Our Lady from a different view, continued reverse route

Once again, tour used Holiday Inn, Great Falls, as overnight stay
Passengers enjoyed a wine-cheese reception and called it a day
Last leg of return route today, crossed border into land we call home
Passed Milk River, whose motto is “Under Eight Flags” – history tome

Morning break was taken in Lethbridge – home of Henderson Lake
Tour is slowly ending but there are many more kilometers to make
Passengers were dropped off, here and there, memories brought home
A successful tour for Nagel, and with Nagel Vickie will continue to roam

Composed by Vickie Murphy from Airdrie, Alberta.

Reno/Northern Nevada Sightseeing – November 9 2019

Tour originated in Edmonton, home of singer K.D. Lang
When all of the passengers were collected it was a Happy Gang
Tour lunched in Calgary, afternoon break in a Lethbridge mall
Crossed Canada/US border, entered Montana, least populated state of all

Overnighted in Great Falls at Holiday Inn, tour enjoyed wine and cheese
Travelled I-15, passed Helena, capital city, viewed Our Lady of Rockies
Crossed Monida Pass, entered Idaho, ‘Gem State’, exporter of potatoes
Lunched in Idaho Falls, 4th largest city in state, where Snake River flows

Had an afternoon break at Garden of Eden, Eden, Idaho
Overnighted in Jackpot, Nevada, at Cactus Pete’s Resort and Casino
Jackpot is a gambling town, created by Cactus Pete Piersanti
Nevada’s nickname is ‘Silver State’, capital is Carson City

Tour booked to visit ‘Trail of the 49er’s Interpretive Centre in Wells
Because of a glitch it didn’t happen, had a coffee stop at the Shell
Lunched in Winnemucca, named for Paiute tribe Chief Winnemucca
Winnemucca is only unincorporated city in Humboldt County, Nevada

Overnighted in Reno, for 3 nights, at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino
Circus Circus, Silver Legacy, Eldorado join, making “The Row”
Departed Reno for morning break in Genoa, birthplace of Nevada State
Viewed town statues, visited Mormon Station Park, a history gate

Picked up a step on guide, had an enjoyable tour of Carson City
Historic buildings include, Stewart Nye House, oldest residence in city
Abe Curry House is most historical, Ferris Mansion, Bliss House we saw
Also Capital Building, Governor’s Mansion, both structures related to law

Saw Old Nevada State Prison, original campus of Stewart Indian School
Departed for Virginia City where we took a trolley tour, pretty cool
Viewed Piper Opera House, Spite houses, cemeteries, St. Mary’s church
Silver Queen Saloon, schools and courthouse, sitting on its perch

Returned to Reno, next day visited Incline Village Visitor’s Centre
Drove beside Lake Tahoe, clear blue water, never freezes, scenic adventure
Lunched at Biltmore Lodge, UC Davis Lake Research Centre we did enter
Listened to talk on fish in Lake Tahoe, saw a video, toured exhibits in Centre

In Reno we had shopping time at Meadowwood Mall, largest in Reno
Bade Reno farewell, entered California ‘Golden State’, thus far no snow
Took a break at Niles Roadhouse, Alturas, HQ for National Forest
Travelled beside Modoc Forest, 1.6 million acres of vegetation of West

Viewed alkaline Goose Lake, 8 metres deep, formed by precipitation
Entered Oregon, which has most diverse landscape of any state in Nation
Lunched in Lakeview, at Julia’s Café, with wine-tasting on bi-level
Lakeview is billed as the ‘tallest town’ in Oregon, 4,862 ft. above sea level

Visited Hot Springs Resort, natural geothermal springs, saw ‘Old Perpetual’
Old Perpetual is a hot water geyser, erupting 30-60 ft. at 90 minute interval
Continued on through Salem, capital city of Oregon, inc. in year 1857
Overnighted in Klamath Falls, ‘City of Sunshine’ sunshine 300 days/year – Heaven!

Had morning break in Chemult, unincorporated community on US97
Combined with a Walmart stop, some passengers thought it was heaven
Lunched at King Buffet in Bend, largest city in central state inc. in 1905
Afternoon break in Biggs Junction, shortly afterward John Day Dam did arrive

Followed southern shore of Columbia River, Washington was on other shore
Overnighted in Pasco Washington, one of the 3 cities of Tri-Cities corridor
Washington was named for George Washington First President of the USA
Lunched at Spokane Valley Mall, Spokane is birthplace of Father’s Day

Tour entered Idaho, passed through Coeur d’Alene founded as city in 1878
We met Mr. Detour’s pal Road Work near Pend Oreille. He rules we wait
Pend Oreille Lake is largest in Idaho, glacial formed by Ice Age, long ago
Crossed Kootenay River at Bonner’s Ferry, travelled toward Eastport, Idaho

Crossed US/Canada border into BC, had last time change, forward one hour
Overnighted in Cranbrook, enjoyed Farewell Dinner, received earned flower
Home going day has arrived, emails, hugs exchanged, anticipation is high
Had a break in Blairmore, first drop-off there, sadly we said goodbye

Tour is breaking up, drop-offs along way, to final destination, Edmonton
It was educational and fun-filled, Nagel tour planners did a job well done

Composed by:  Vickie Murphy, Airdrie, Alberta