Page 54 company, and sad at the thought that I soon had to leave. They all came to the bus depot with ne. I sent my large case ahead and was ready to travel light. This was another leave taking with the anguished knowledge that there still was so much to be said. We milled around; Poopsie was excited among all the crowds and bustle, and I felt suddenly as if I were isolated and cut off. I got into the queue resignedly. Just as it moved forward Walt leaned over to me and said quietly.. "I'm proud of you, Ethel". So, after all, I went off in a warm glow, and sat contentedly behind the driver. Still feeling happy, I watched the lights go flashing by, we swept through Sacramento at 10.30pm where I saw the Californian Capitol State Building floodlit. Its golden dome seemed to float through the air and then I must have floated off to sleep. Saturday September 15th 26th Day --------------------------------------- I awoke with a start at midnight to find we had stopped at a place called Colfax. We were, I found, in the Sierra Mountains at a height of 2421 feet. All I could see was an unattended railway crossing with a flashing red light and a warning bell. In a short while a Southern Pacific train passed by. At 2am we drove through Reno and immediately I could see that we were now in IJevada the state where gambling is free. At the posthouse the walls were lined with one-armed bandits at which many people were playing. I wildly tried one 10cent piece and when this did not turn up the jackpot went for a cup of tea. I doubt Ron Ellik would have been disgusted with me! The stop at Reno was short but the bus drove right through the town. It was so brightly lit with neon signs that it appeared clear as day; despite the time there were many people on the streets. On the outskirts I goggled at the lights of a club called the Golden Nuggett-this had a huge sign showing a prospect- or and three dancing girls. I dozed off and on for the rest of the night awakening now and then to gape at the lights as they whizzed by. We stopped at 8am in Elko where for one dollar I breakfasted on fruit juice, eggs and bacon, potatoes and tea. From there the countryside became vary flat and sad-looking,the road stretched for miles with only scrubby- looking grass to be seen. There were some hills on the horizon and it all looked very like a Western movie--it is at times like this that you begin to