Mama, ist das warm hier!

 

When I travelled around with my mother, I was allowed to say it once per day: Mama, ist das warm hier! While driving through the Sahara in an old R4 without air co I wasn’t allowed to complain about the warmth that much.

We had have busy two days. First we went to a cat exhibition. I was so afraid, Bossy is going to buy the 7th one here. But as in Europe, these kinds of shows are making me sad. Hundreds of cats in little cages, lots of kittens and most of them for sale. What is the need for it? They are looking so desperately, crying and seeking for hugs. But I also don’t like zoos that much or other kind of animal shows. Ok, one zoo was very nice, Emmen in the Netherlands. Plenty of room for the little critters. I am also not very attracted if animals can do kind of tricks, it is nice if they do them by choice but the training is definitely nothing for me.

We moved on, hit the road to Sacramento. There is the California State Fair at the moment. In San Jose, where we life it is warm but it is ok. San Francisco is mostly a bit too cold for my taste. But there I was thinking like I was melting. We got out of the car, walked over this huge area. There was a kind of amusement park and a bit further on the state fair. It was ok, nice objects were shown there. It is an independent state agency established by law and governed primarily by the California Department of Food and Agriculture codes. In addition to the annual fairs, Cal Expo hosts a number of other events such as the annual Dixieland Jazz Festival, car and RV shows, Christmas Tree Land, and doll shows. Also, the adjacent racetrack hosts harness racing meets almost year-round (with the exception, of course, of the State Fair dates that schedule thoroughbred racing), as well as motorcycle racing and concerts.

On our way back – which is the right way? – I was thinking of jumping into the fountain, Jacuzzi, to the turtles. Just into water to cool myself off. There was a shooting gallery too, but I was not allowed to try it. Bossy is to afraid I could get a taste of it. But I am not so in guns and rifles, I kill people with my crazy thoughts. There also was a little Cola Truck, driven by a Muppet!


We found our car back and I got burned my backside because of the hot seats. Maximum of air co, lots of water, and on the road to Lake Tahoe. On our way we passed a bridge and needed to pay toll. Robber barons everywhere!

Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains. At a surface elevation of 1.897 m, it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. It is 501 meters deep. The lake was formed about 2 million years ago and is a part of the Lake Tahoe Basin with the modern lake being shaped during the ice ages. It is known for the clarity of its water and the panorama of surrounding mountains on all sides.

Lake Tahoe is a major tourist attraction in both California and Nevada. It is home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. Snow and skiing are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation. Mountain and lake scenery are attractions throughout the year. The Nevada side also includes large casinos. Highways provide year-round access from Reno, Carson City and Sacramento. (The Ponderosa Ranch of the TV series Bonanza was formerly located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.)

Vegetation in the basin is dominated by a mixed conifer. There are not many deciduous trees like I know from Europe. From the side we entered, there is only one road. It was driving though the mountains, twisting road with lots elevation. It is interesting to watch how the Hybrid car is dealing with: how the engine goes into more than 5.5k rpm and also the battery tries to help. I am not allowed to drive too fast through so I let pass lots of cars during several spots.



At some points Bossy was screaming, as he got the feeling we were going too fast. (We weren't, I drive very carefully and slow, ask Jeff!) I can imagine that this roads are horrible to drive during the winter. Everywhere standing signs where you can put on or off your chains. We also saw a German, Swizz, and Italian restaurant along the road.

We found room in the Holliday Inn and moved on to the lake. It was 45 min before sunset and a bit colder than I expected so I only went a bit into the water. Sitting on the beach, watching the sunset and waiting for the last wave.





A nice huge sailboat passed through. Reminds me that I need to make my official sailing license. I saw jet skis but no windsurfers (that license I have already).

 


On our way back we did a few geocaches, one was really nice hidden, inside a huge grasshopper.




Next morning I took a shower in the huge bathroom. It had its own Jacuzzi and an open fire. The shampoo of the hotel made me smell like a cookie. Not very attractive. Also the mattress of the bed was sensitive like sleeping during an earthquake. Anyway, we hit the road again, more to the north to drive round the lake. I was later told, I missed a junction – but there was none - and we found ourselves back in Carlson City and needed to drive over Reno back to Sacramento. Reno was not that interesting, we saw a river, huge poker chips and a few large hotels.

While driving the hills up and down we discussed the topic what we would do if the breaks were broken and we played a bit “I spy with my little eye”. He lost. He couldn’t tell me, which green tree I meant.



 We drove again to Sacramento to have a look at the Capitol. We did a few geocaches and I burned my butt again while “take a seat” to find a nano. "Mama, es ist heiss hier!" At every water post I stopped. I think the weight I lost so far is only water i guess!



Inside the park there are lots of statues. "The sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone. [...] I hope you run into them, you who've been travelling so long." And I did!

We found a way into the Capitol. Like at every public place there was a security check and a scan of our bags. Fortunately they had have an air co inside. There were lots of little exhibitions and I found the original jacket of Buffalo Bill. Legendary! We also saw the office of the gouvernator. In front of his office stood a huge bear who shared his coolness with me.

On the road again I can tell you two things: driving dintances of more than 500 km per day is not so bad here, it doesn’t fell like that. And driving through mountains is more exciting than through the desert, even with the view of thousands of wind wheels.



Landscape of California and Nevada is still very beautiful in my eyes! So different places and views in so short distances. You are driving though a desert with more then 40°C and the horizon shows mountains with snow on the top.




Ok, for us European the distance is very huge, we have more different landscapes in-between shorter areas.  Let me say it is extra ordinary huge here. I got a real passion for this land and the people so far.