Today, I officially said goodbye to Las Vegas and started the drive toward Lake Tahoe, trading slot machines and neon lights for mountains, rivers, and weather forecasts that sounded to cold for this Floridian.
The drive was absolutely beautiful. Nevada has this weird way of looking empty and stunning at the same time. One minute there is nothing around for miles, then suddenly you are surrounded by mountains that were high and beautiful. Along the way, I passed signs for donkey crossings, deer crossings, and cow crossings. At this point, I was half expecting to see signs for camel crossings, alien crossings, or Elvis crossings. Nevada clearly believes anything can wander into the road at any moment.
One of the highlights of the drive was the incredibly scenic 21 Mile Beach area along the Walker River. The combination of the river, giant mountains in the background, and the open landscape was amazing. As I got closer to Lake Tahoe, the drive became more intense, with winding mountain roads climbing higher and higher. Then came Daggett Summit at 7,300 feet. My ears started popping like microwave popcorn. The views were incredible. Mountains everywhere, towering trees, and finally getting those first glimpses of Lake Tahoe made the climb worth it.
While I was eating dinner, the rain started pouring, the temperature dropped fast, and then came a little hail just for fun.
Tomorrow should be another amazing day as I ride along the western shores of Lake Tahoe and continue north into Oregon. The only problem is the forecast is talking about rain, snow, and temperatures in the 30s, generally conditions better suited for penguins than tourists. Just a few days ago I was melting in the Las Vegas heat, and now I may need a parka. This road trip has officially turned into a four season sampler platter.
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