Week 9

June 3

Travel day from Red Bluff, CA to Reno, NV

Driving along I-5 we passed through the valley where fruits and vegetables were growing.  Then close to the Nevada border we chugged up Donner Pass at 7237 ft.  This part of California is very pretty and has many ski areas in and around Lake Tahoe.

Donner Lake in Truckee, CA

 Truckee River

 

June 4

Today's road trip takes us to Lake Tahoe.  It's been about 30 years since we've been in this area.  And oh what a beautiful lake it is.  The pictures tell the story.

 The color and the clarity of the water is awesome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Eagle Falls

  

 So clear

 

  

 Haven't seen barn quilts since we left Kentucky/West Virginia.

 Beautiful cloud formation beyond our RV park.

 

June 5



Today our rode trip took us to Carson City, Virginia City and Reno, NV.

Nevada State Capitol (in Carson City) - the most drab state capitol that we've ever seen on the inside.

Clematis Vine outside the State Capitol 

Carson City Historic District 

 Virginia City - The Fourth Ward School, ca. 1876

Mackay Mansion, ca. 1875

 St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church



 

 The Comstock Lode was the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States.

Saloons in Virginia City

 Looks like somebody I've seen on TV!!

 A smaller version of Vegas and not quite as elaborate.

June 6

Travel day from Reno to Winnemucca, NV.  Not much to report except seeing this wind tornado whipping up the tumbleweed.

June 7

Travel day from Winnemucca to West Wendover, NV

Wendover Will welcoming us to town.

We then took a short ride out to the Bonneville Salt Flats.  Were expecting a lot more, but it was just a short drive on a paved road...

 that ended here.  No museum, visitor center or test drives!!

Salt crystals

 From this location (supposedly) you can see the curvature of the earth!



June 8

Travel day from West Wendover, NV to Salt Lake City, UT -- yes we've come full circle.  Took care of much needed chores.



June 9

This morning we got up real early and are heading back south and east to Arches NP and Canyonlands NP for a 2-day rode trip (with the car only). 
On our way to Arches NP we took an out-of-the-way road so we could follow the Colorado River into Moab.

Arches National Park - to reach some of the arches we hiked about 3 miles in the searing heat -- high temps today 101!!
Three Gossips

 Balance Rock

 Arches NP with the Colorado mountains in the background.

 North Window Arch

 Turret Arch

 Turret Arch

North and South Window Arch

 Near the Windows section

 Garden of Eden

 Delicate Arch - is the most widely-recognized landmark in Arches National Park and is depicted on Utah license plates and on a postage stamp commemorating Utah's centennial anniversary of statehood in 1996. The Olympic torch relay for the 2002 Winter Olympics passed through the arch.

Devil's Garden

Skyline Arch

 Finally, some shade!!

 Park Avenue Viewpoint

Till next week...