Lake Tahoe
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: June 23. 2005
It was time for good-byes this morning and it was difficult for some. We headed north through San Francisco and picked up 80 going across the Bay Bridge. The bridge is two levels, each going a different direction. We then made it to Highway 50 which we followed through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. For most of the trip it was cool; the ocean keeps the bay area cool and then the elevation of the mountains keep you cool. (Echo Summit is 7300 feet above sea level!) This is a beautiful way to travel west. Again I noticed the smells; the orchards of fruit, vegetables, hay, and clover. Water irrigation is very important in California and Nevada.
As we traveled through the El Dorado National Forest the smell of pine was very strong. Highway 50 follows along the South Fork American River. Some of the series, Into the West, on TNT takes place in this area. At a small place called Silver Fork, we stopped to see this totem pole and bear. Buzz kissed the totem for good luck and the wooden bear held Buzz in the air so he could get a good view of the river. We traveled on to State Line, NV, elevation: 6300 feet, before finding a place to stop and wade in the aquamarine water of Lake Tahoe, the most beautiful lake in the world! People can snow ski on the mountain top and then swim in the water of the lake! We moved on to Carson City, elevation: 4600 feet. The historic city would take weeks to explore but we had little time. We spent the night in Fallon, NV and ate at the Depot.