South Lake Tahoe

We move north towards South Lake Tahoe making our way up the 395 - ignoring the GPS which tells us to take a windy back road and after making it recalculate, it is quicker and shorter - go figure!

We still end up going up and over a curly road, via road works and finally make our way into the town - we are now in Nevada but part way up, we cross back over to California.  

South Lake Tahoe as we cruise through town.

We find our camp and eventually get set up.....lovely tree setting but the facilities are not the best and the staff don't seem to know how to run the place - we have a lot of drama over the next few days with them.


 



Next day we went for a drive around Lake Tahoe, stopping at Emerald Bay, where we watched the paddle steamer cruise around the only island, then continued along to Tahoe City.  The drive is a bit like driving round Lake Taupo - very scenic.





We stroll along the boardwalk and hit the local markets where we find some real honey (not runny) & pate' - yummy.  Then we head back to Jake's on the Lake for lunch as it looked nice and popular - we had a very nice lunch before heading on our way over to Virginia City for a look.

Daryl couldn't resist photographing these two cuties on the roof.

 Bonanza - we all watched it in our hey day....










The Bucket of Blood Saloon - we had to have one to soak up the atmosphere.

Virginia City - old town with wooden boardwalks - just needed some horses tied up outside to make it authentic.   It was a late night back to camp but a good day out.

Twin Lake, June Lake Loop & Mono Lake - Day Trip from Mammoth

We head off after breakfast back up to do the Twin Lakes loop which we missed yesterday and then head back via Old Mammoth Rd, before looking up the other route in town.

Mammoth

Next we headed up Mammoth Mountain to see what was up there - quite a lot to our surprise.... we park and have a look around - there is a gondola & adventure centre, shops, zip lines, climbing walls, etc etc.
We talk to one of the ladies who says the trip around up to Devil's Postpile would be more for our money for a first trip, so we head off in that direction, stopping at the Minaret Vista Lookout.

 Did I mention it is freezing up here......most people are wearing high altitude tramping wear, big jackets and long pants!

Anyway, we head into the national park and at the gate are told that you can not drive this yourself, you must catch a shuttle from back at the village.  We head back and decide to find out more, get some tickets and there is a huge line.....we stand in line for 30-45 minutes in freezing wind when I decide to go back and ask for a refund as it is now 12.30pm and the buses still aren't here - we have discovered there are ten stops and if you get off you have to wait for the next bus - of course you cant see anything if you don't get off.  It is so cold and we would be going further up - even colder.  They were very reluctant to refund us and then say that the walk between two points is 2 hours long - this seals it for me - we really need a full day to do this in a warmer temperature. Finally I get our money back and we head back to the RV for lunch before heading off to explore other areas. 

 We decide to head around the June Lake Loop - a very scenic drive encompassing four lakes.






Daryl at Silver Lake

Wildflowers are still out this time.




Below is the local wild irises with one of the plentiful yellow butterflies floating around.






Next we go to Mono Lake - got some nice shots out of the RV last time and always wanted to go back as I have seen some beautiful photography of this area - you really need a sunrise or sunset shot - stunning.

Southern Tufta - Mono Lake has a PH10 and is 2 & half times saltier than the ocean.

A big day out and got to see lots we missed on the first trip thru this area.  Tomorrow we head off north towards Carson City & Reno.

Our little Bluejay (I think?) was back in camp tonight.

Lone Pine - Mammoth Lakes

We decide to move on the next day even though it is a nice camp - we snap a couple of pics on the way out.

We cruise into Bishop and find a tyre shop where Daryl arranges for a new tyre and puts the spare back onto the rear of the RV.  The owner, Paul, was impressed enough to offer Daryl a job.  Then we head back down town, find a park in the back block and walk down to the RV repair shop at the other end of town for the hot water bung that broke the other day.  We find the correct part and head back to the RV - hitting the road again, looking for the train museum but somehow didn't find it.....?

After a few more miles of up hill climbing, we pull over in the scenic overview and have lunch - not a bad view back over where we have come from.  We arrive in camp and set up with a few issues, having to unhitch and then stretch all our leads and pipes to the max in order to connect up after some maneuvering to find where we could park and reach them all - not a helpful camp at all. 

 All settled in, we head out to have a look around - first stop we head back to Convict Lake which we passed about 8 miles back.


When get there, the wind is blowing a gale and the temperature is very cool.

A very popular spot - party boats for rent and lots of  fishing.  Next we head back into town and up through the village into the mountains in search of the Lakes.  Snow still on the tops of the mountains.

Base of Twin Lakes(waterfall in background)

Overlooking Twin Lakes

Top of waterfall

Horseshoe Lake

Back to camp for dinner.  The temperature is dropping - weather is for gales until 11pm and when we take a walk after tea, I check the thermometer on the outside of our RV - 45F or 10C - just like being at home except the sky's still blue and the suns out!  We spot a Blue Jay on our walk - pretty.

LA to Lone Pine

In the morning we pack up and set off on our holiday.... heading north out of LA to Victorville before turning off up the 395 to Lone Pine along the Eastern Sierra's - a large mountain range in California.

We full up just before Victorville - petrol is more expensive over here at about $4.30 a gallon - still cheap compared to home but expensive for the States.  A pretty non eventful journey, although when we stop at a rest area along the way we see one tyre is worn badly and take it easy the last 40 miles to the camp we are heading for.

Owens Dry Lake

We stay at Boulder Creek again as we know it is a nice camp beside the turn off to death valley.  Once we have set up Daryl changes the tyre over with the spare so we know we are set and can make it to Bishop tomorrow to see if we can get another one.  

They put us in site 54 which is a nice site overlooking the mountains in the back away from the road, which is not a busy highway in any case - not many trucks to be found makes it nice to travel on and liked by the bikers.  

Having sorted the RV, we take a dip in the pool and relax before enjoying some cheese and crackers with a beer - its quite warm again in the pleasant mid nineties but not over 100, so we like it.

Boulder Creek RV Resort

They provide coffee & muffins each morning, which we don't say no to.

LA Roadster Show 2014

We leave Buellton heading south down the 101 for Pamona to attend the LA Roadster Show and catch up with some friends who are touring around also.  We stop in Ventura and take a look around the shops, make some lunch and then hit the road again as we want to beat the worst of the traffic crossing Los Angeles.

It is a long painful journey across the freeways, sometimes seven lanes wide on our side and Daryl has to concentrate on the driving which is a mixture of stop, start, crawl, go, stop, etc.

We finally arrive just after 3pm and get set up before meeting up with Bruce & Raelene, then heading out to dinner together with Peter & Diane and Yo & Iqbal at Applebee's.  Great night out and so good to catch up with friends again and hear their stories about travelling around New York.

Next day, Bruce & the boys kindly drops us girls off at Corvina West Mall where we all go shopping without them and they head over to the swap meet & open days.  Had a great day at the mall with the girls and bought a handbag, skirt & top - we all had bags galore when the boys collected us at 5pm and away we all went to Waldens open day - Daryl and I caught up with Tony who we purchased the 40 Coupe off last year, John Gower, Sparrow, Ned & Val Coulter, Darryll & Sandy with Bob Lord, Dave & Kay, Steve & Wendy, Neil Baker, Magoo, Richard & Kieron and Robin Silk who works at So Cal, ..........the list goes on - common joke is that there are no kiwi hot rodders left in NZ as they are all over here!

We were in the place a couple of hours and never made it inside the shop because we were too busy catching up with people....Se la vi.

We decline the dinner invite tonight as it has been a big day and a quiet one is needed!  We have toasted sandwiches on the BBQ - just what the doctor ordered.

Next day we spend at the LA Roadster Show after a small delay when the hot water sprang a leak outside and with a little tightening, it gave way completely, so we turn that off and head out.  That's a problem for later and it isn't major....

Daryl & I spend the morning walking the swap meet but didn't buy much and about 12.30 head into the air conditioned building as it is just too hot out there on the tar seal in the heat.  We catch up with Bruce & Raelene and arrange to go to dinner again.  We meet up with Duane, Geoff, Johnny Pugh, Jimmy & Kerry Keys, Curley, Kiwi Rex, Squeak, Jodie, Noel Jessop...again too many to write down but lots and lots of kiwis.

Rammie snapped spending up.....

By two o'clock I have done my dash and after tracking down Tony again, Daryl drops me home and picks up the poster & rodding magazine featuring the 40, we brought over for Tony and returns to deliver this and catch up with a few more people.

Later we join Bruce & Raelene, Yo & Iqbal, Peter & Diane for dinner - again a great night out and we discuss our various travel routes as we all depart in the morning but in different directions.  We have helped with their itinerary so we hope they enjoy it!!