Lake Tahoe CA to Oregon - 28th May to 4th June

Lake Tahoe – “Campground by the Lake”  California    

 

Drove 200kms to the next camp and what a difference!  We were now amongst the tall pine trees in an alpine village overlooking Lake Tahoe.

 

 

Lake Tahoe is 7,000 ft above sea level and the air is pure and crisp.  The colour of the Lake was magnificent and it was so quiet and peaceful.  It has 72 miles of shore line and two thirds sit in California and one third in Nevada.

Spent some time looking around the local Museum and took some photographs of an early settler’s log cabin.   

 

Found an Arts and Craft Market in town.  We were really impressed with some of the photographic exhibits.

Fishing Trip to Hope Valley

 

The Camp Host recommended Al should take a trip to a fishing haven in Hope Valley, approximately a 30 minute drive from Tahoe.

 

We set the GPS and drove through some fabulous scenery; snow capped mountains, rugged terrain and found a perfect fishing spot. 

Al caught 2 Brown Trout and we had an awesome day.  

 

I was sad to leave Lake Tahoe but I soon got over it when we stopped at a Lookout on the north side.  The water was crystal clear and we could see the most fantastic views across the Lake, snow on the top of the mountains, a blue sky and sunshine. 

 

 

Quincy  CA

The Pioneer RV Park was tucked away in the Sierra Nevada Valley.  I don’t think much happens in Quincy but the people are very friendly!!

The owners, Dianne & Wes, came over to introduce themselves and asked if we needed anything.  Their friendliness and eagerness to help was much appreciated.

All my friends know that I’m one of those clean freaks from way back…..well, I can honestly say I could eat my dinner off the floor.  The facilities were IMMACULATE!   

Sorry Dianne we accidentally drove off with the key to the Shower Block.  Promise we’ll mail it back. 

Rocky Point Campground

We were heading to Lassen Volcanic National Park but took a turn off to explore Rocky Point and found yet another amazing piece of paradise. 

 

 

Little camping areas dotted around Lake Almanor, drove past No. 94 and said “this will do nicely”.   

 

 

We only intended staying one night but it stretched to 3 nights.  The million dollar view from the RV was hard to beat. 

 

Allen caught 2 Bass from the Lake. 

Meet “Gauge” a 100% pure Wolf and only 16 months old.  His owners wanted to introduce him to camping, new people and places.  

He was very timid with humans but after a lot of coaxing he ate something from Allen’s hand (no it wasn’t a finger). 

The lake was home to a couple of families of geese.  The parents were so protective of the chicks. 

 

Also saw a snake and a beautiful butterfly on the lake’s edge.

 

 

 

On our last day at Rocky Point we drove to Chester for some groceries.  Not much happens there either.  Came back via Canyon Dam Store at Lake Almanor, it had a large collection of chain saw carved bears. 

 

Lassen Volcanic National Park - 8,511 ft above sea level

 

We bought an Annual Pass for $80 which gives us access to all the US National Parks.  It will be worth it’s weight in gold as we love the parks and intend to see as many as possible.

Lassen Park only opened 2 days ago due to heavy snow blocking the roads.  Al steered the RV around hair-pin bends and navigated through the melting ice/snow like a pro.    

In 1914 Lassen’s peak erupted and continued to erupt for 3 years.  The following year it blew a huge cloud of ash over 30,000 feet into the air.  The area is called Devastated Area and is quite eerie looking.   It is currently being re-vegetated but it still looks rocky and sparse.          

Also in the Park was a bubbling mud pool called Hot Springs Valley.   You can smell the sulphur fumes from miles away.   The whole mountain was smoldering.   

 McArthur

After driving through some magnificent scenery we eventually arrived at Intermountain Fair RV Park in McArthur.   Jim, the wonderful Camp Host, was a legend.  Thank you Jim for giving us your Internet password so we could check our emails.  No, it doesn’t cost more to send emails to Australia!  

Left McArthur on a cold and wet morning.   We started to drive towards the general direction of Oregon. 

Along the journey we found an Industrial Area where someone had made a Zoo out of old machinery.  The animals were on the side of the road and looked quite impressive. 

Recognise the VW

 

The person who created them must have been short of work because it would have taken ages to assemble these creatures.   

The locals have joined in the fun and have kindly left their old motor vehicles and farm machinery so he can continue making the giant animals.   All in the name of art.      

 Crystal Lake Hatchery

The sign Crystal Lake Hatchery jumped out at Allen.  We had the whole place to ourselves.  Found some massive albino trout that they keep at the Hatchery as they would be attacked by predators if they were released. 

Albino Rainbow Trout

 

We watched as the fish were being sucked up from a holding tank into a truck.   They were being transported to neighbouring “Lakes“ to help stock the local area.  

Nearby was Baum lake where we braved the Mossies to find the most beautiful untouched area to try for a wild Trout.

Linda settled down with her magazines while I rigged up.

On the very first cast a 3lb Brown trout devoured my lure and it was all on!!  

For the next 3 hours I tried everything, to no avail. I got the only fish in the whole lake – and very tasty it was too…….  

The weather forecast was for thunder storms in the evening so we stopped at the side of the road and there we stayed.  Not a single car passed us all night.   

                    End of 6^th Post