Sunday, October 18, 2015

It Never Rains in California

Last week Kent and I traveled 1400 miles through Nevada and parts of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The rain followed us everywhere we went and at times we got caught in it, but it didn't stop us. We enjoyed a few of the small towns along the way, especially Lee Vining and Bridgeport in California and Eureka in Nevada. It was fun to see Mono Lake for the first time and revisit Lake Tahoe and Virginia City, places I had been to as a child. We didn't get in the hikes we had hoped due to the rain, but we found other places to explore. Who knows, we just might come back again someday, when the rain doesn't fall in California.

We started out at the Shady Motel in Caliente, Nevada; it's located across from the old train station and it isn't "shady" at all

Rachel, Nevada's claim to fame is Area 51

Extraterrestrial Highway sign loaded with stickers

Are those Jet Streams or UFO trails.....?

"T" for Tonopah, Nevada

Boundary Peak is Nevada's highest peak at 13,143 feet

Rock Creek Lake in California

The beginning of the Mammoth Lakes Basin

Lake George......closed for the season

Did I mention it rained......it didn't stop us from having fun

We were the only ones at the Fish Hatchery......imagine that !

Steamy Hot Creek Gorge

Danger means danger!  Many people have been seriously burned or lost their lives here

Hot Creek Geologic Site

On the 'rainy' road again !

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has 28 lifts

The sun came out in the afternoon....woohoo !

We decided to hike to Rainbow Falls


Hiking above the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River

Rainbow Falls has a 101 ft. drop

This way to the bottom of the Falls

Kent looking for fish.....no doubt

Sotcher Lake in Reds Meadow Valley

A beautiful Fall day

Devil's Postpile is not far from Rianbow Falls

60 ft. high Columnar Basalt

Symmetrical, vertical, hexagonal columns

Perfectly shaped

Mono Lake

South Tufa Reserve boardwalk

Before today, I've only seen Mono Lake from the window of an airplane

Little Arch

Tufa formations

Kent said it didn't taste very good

Looking towards the north side of Mono Lake

View of Mono Lake on our way to Lee Vining

Fall colors along HWY 395 south of Bridgeport

We came to see the Sierra Nevada Mountains !

So happy it isn't raining !



Lake Tahoe !

Emerald Bay and Fannette Island



What a neat place for a castle

I'd love a tour.....maybe next time ?

A boat circling Fannette Island, do you see the Tea House ?

Closeup of the Tea House

Storm brewing on the other side of the lake

Here we are !

A beautiful spot on the Nevada side

Stormy sunset at Lake Tahoe


Fourth Ward School opened in 1876 and closed in 1936

Does the map look familiar?  Do you remember the TV show Bonanza?

Little church, Big church

Ceiling and lights in the Visitor Center

Cute shop

We walked the entire downtown before the rain started

Watch your footing on the boardwalk

Wild horses roam freely around town

Interesting rain gutters

They actually work.....I don't think I'k park under one !



Alkali flats along HWY 50 looked like snow

High up on a hill in Austin sits Stokes Castle. It was built in 1897 to be used as a summer home

Austin, Nevada

Old building along HWY 50, known as the Loneliest Road in America and the Lincoln Highway

We were treated to this rainbow for several miles between Austin and Eureka

The sun is shining as we drive through Eureka, Nevada

We followed another rainbow on our way to Ely, Nevada

We saw more cows than cars along State Route 21 in Utah, no kidding !

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