Counterclockwise Tahoe.....

(CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE)

5:42 am - Tuesday - 42º F, humidity 85%, wind - CALM - clear blue skies from horizon to horizon...back to work today, hence the early time.

Monday we decided to combine two things into one day......get our big shopping in Carson City done, and then continue on around the Lake in a counterclockwise fashion.  We departed TVC about 9:15 am, and were in Carson City by 10 am shopping at Walmart, and TJ's (we also made a donation to the local Goodwill Donation Center next to TJ's).  We finished our shopping by 12:15 pm and headed back up US-50 over Spooner Summit turning right at SR-28 which took us up the Nevada side (east side) of Lake Tahoe.

As is typical during the summer around the Tahoe Basin there are a lot of 'cone zones', and SR-28 is no exception.....there was a lot of winter storm damage which is still being repaired, plus the usual road repair that is always being done during the summer months......we got caught up in one 'cone zone' long enough that I turned off the VW whilst we awaited our turn to drive through it.......

.....even with the road construction we still arrived in Tahoe City by 1:30 and promptly snagged the last parking spot at 'The Bridgetender Tavern and Grill' where we found an alfresco table for lunch......

.....we make an annual pilgrimage to The Bridgetender when visiting Lake Tahoe....they have the best Bleu Cheese and Bacon Burger I have ever had, so you know what I ordered, right?

Bleu Cheese & Bacon Burger

From our table we could see the historic 'Fanny Bridge', which at the time of my picture had no fannies visible......

......of course we had to get one picture with a 'fanny' present, and TLE readily volunteered.....

......all of the gates are open at the Lake Tahoe Dam, which is also the headwaters of the Truckee River, and the sole drainage for Lake Tahoe.......

......the water is just below Fanny Bridge, and is higher than I have seen it for a couple of decades......

.....and so the 121 mile journey of the Truckee River to Pyramid Lake begins......

  

.....when things are 'normal', and the past 5 years have been anything but normal on this stretch of the Truckee River due to an extended drought, you can rent a raft and float down the Truckee River from Tahoe City to River Ranch where the trip ends.  Now that we have had a heavy snowpack this past winter the river is much higher than normal and the water is so high you cannot get a raft under many of the local bridges which span the Truckee......

 

.......many sections of the Truckee River Bike Path are under water, and unrideable.........

.....for most people, that is........

(Photo courtesy David Lester)

......after lunch, and a short drive along the Truckee River to River Ranch we continued our counterclockwise drive around Lake Tahoe stopping briefly near Homewood to snap this picture.....last year this beach was about 100 feet wide, and it was impossible to moor boats this close to the beach due to exposed rocks......

......and then again at the iconic Emerald Bay for the view.......

.....and another annual 'usie'..........

.....we were home by 4 pm, and putting away our groceries.  It was a day lived well, and a perfect way to end our two days off from work.

Thanks for stopping by!

When you need to buy something from Amazon, think of us.......we will appreciate every purchase you make using our Amazon Affiliate link, and  remember, using our link will not add one penny to your purchase, plus we will receive a small commission.