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Wednesday 14 November 2012

Wonders Of The Golden West Part 11...

Leaving Columbia behind we continued our journey to our stop for the night, Lake Tahoe, passing the beautiful Silver Lake Reservoir.  The Old Emigrant Road was a long loop around the Silver Lake basin, this difficult portion of the road was used by thousands of vehicles from 1848 to 1863, when a better route was blasted out of the face of the cliff at Carson Spur (the present highway route).




 through Jackson Creek, where we stopped for a coffee and bought a sandwich for lunch.
On the road again watching the scenery



on the way to Caples Lake, a beautiful place,





 where in 1849 Dr. James Caples passed through on his way to California's Gold Country.   After a brief stay in old Hangtown (Placerville) Caples remembered the lake and returned here with his family to establish a way station, that served weary travellers for thirty years. The lake, known variously as Summit Lake, Clear Lake and Twin Lakes, is two miles long and has a surface area of 600 acres.   We stopped for a photo opportunity

before we were on the road again



and at Lake Tahoe.
Named the "Big Water" by the Washoe Indians, Lake Tahoe holds enough water to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 inches! 

We just had time to settle into our hotel, shower and change before we were heading down to the lake
 to join the 520-passenger, award-winning M.S. Dixie II, the largest cruising vessel in South Lake Tahoe, for a Sunset Dinner Dance Cruise to Emerald Bay.


 Sailing off into the sunset, we were on our way to a magical evening of dinner and starlit strolls.
Listening to a narration featuring intriguing stories about Fanette Island and Vikingsholm, whet our appetite for dinner, which we had selected from entrees like Center-Cut Certified Angus Beef New York Steak, Seared Blackened Salmon, Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken Breast and Spinach and Roasted Garlic Ravioli. After dinner we strolled on deck to admire the scenery.









MWM even went up on the bridge



 where the Captain let him take the wheel.



After that little adventure we retired to the bar where we joined some of our fellow travellers
to listen to Safari playing hits from all eras, we even had a dance!
All too soon the cruise was over and it was time to return to our hotel to sleep and dream of our next destination - San Francisco.  I hope you'll join me for that little adventure in Wonders Of The Golden West Part 12.

22 comments:

Valerie said...

Lake Tahoe is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. I love that 'sailing off into the sunset' ... you lucky things. What a fab experience.

Anonymous said...

Spectacular pictures. We forget how vast the states in America are and how different the areas can be. Pictures you've published of California could be two different countries.

CJ x

Flowerpot said...

amaz\ing pictures - you lucky things!

katie eggeman said...

My company had a meeting in Lake Tahoe many years ago and we all took a dinner cruise. I remember it was very cold. So I didn't enjoy myself because Mr BC wasn't there to keep me warm.

Daryl said...

oh what an amazing trip this is ... and San Francisco is my favorite West Coast city

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

what a lovely day!!!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxo

Ron said...

Yaaaaaay! I've been so eagerly anticipating this post on Lake Tahoe and you did not disappoint, m'dear!

Beautiful photos!

The ones you shot while on the road reminded me of the drive we took from Vegas to Tahoe; recalling how scary it was looking down over the guard rail - HA!

Stunning photos of Fanette Island - WOW!

The images of the lake itself brought back so many wonderful memories of sunning myself along the waters edge.

Wonderful post! And thank you for sharing it!

X


Akelamalu said...

It was a lovely evening Valerie :)

Oh yes it's vast Kathryn and places can be and are very different.

We do consider ourselves VERY lucky Flowerpot :)

Oh you definitely need the one you love with you when you do that cruise BankerChick! ;)

It was an amazing trip Daryl and San Francisco was our favourite city too.

It was indeed Bee :)

I'm so pleased our photos brought back some lovely memories for you Ron xx

Commander Zaius said...

Great pictures! Been to California several times but never got out of the Mojave Desert.

cheshire wife said...

You certainly pack a lot into a day. I bet you came home for a rest.

Maggie May said...

The skies seem so blue and clear and everything looks so clean.
Action packed holiday but I don't blame you for wanting to see as much as possible.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

Travis Cody said...

Lake Tahoe...another gorgeous place in the west.

Cloudia said...

the look on your face is wonderful!



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Melanie said...

Totally keep them coming! Pictures mall he me happy!

Adam said...

great view of the lake

MorningAJ said...

I've heard of Lake Tahoe but never really had a clear picture in my mind about how it might look. It's lovely!

(I'll have the seared salmon, please.)

Akelamalu said...

Next time get out of the desert Beach :)

When we got back off our trip we were kn******d Cheshire Wife (in a nice way), which is why we're having 10 days in sunny Egypt in December. :)

Oh yes the skies were beautiful Maggie and we always like to see as much as possible as we know we won't be going back.

It is indeed Trav!

Thankyou Cloudia x

Lot's more to post yet Melanie :)

Thanks Adam

Lake Tahoe is much more beautiful than you can imagine I found AJ :)

Winifred said...

One of these days I might get to the West Coast. Mind you it will probably just be on a cruise. So many lovely places to see and so little time left to see them.

Your photos are wonderful. We had a friend who used to live near Tahoe. We were always going to visit but never got around to it. Sadly too late now.

Secret Agent Woman said...

We used to go boating on Lake Tahoe when I was a good - this brings back good memories for me.

Lea said...

Lake Tahoe is awesome! You did a great job by taking us with you there through the pictures. I viewed your other posts on the Golden WEst and I love them all. Looking forward to part 12 :)

Akelamalu said...

Shame you didn't get to see your friends at Lake Tahoe Winnifred but I would go see it anyway, it's worth a visit.

Glad it brought back good memories for you SAW :)

I'm so pleased you have enjoyed my Golden West posts Lea :)

dmarks said...

Nice photos . I've never seen Lake Tahoe in the day.