Sitting Now in Dayton, Nevada

As a typical move day, we packed up and hooked up and got on the road before 9am.  Got Buddy drugged up about an hour before - was quite a bit of a chore this time, he spit out the first pill and acted like he swallowed it, then I found it on the table.  So, down the hatch again, this time with success.

As we traveled down California Route 41 (one of 2 ways to get into Yosemite from the west) heading away from Yosemite, the traffic was constant.  Made a quick jog due west and got on Route 99 and headed north towards Sacramento, traveled past Modesto, Stockton, Rancho Cordova.  Lots, lots of traffic.  We were about 10 miles from the city of Sacramento and turned east on the Lincoln Highway (often called the loneliest road) Route 50 and headed up and over the Sierra Nevadas.

Traffic coming to Yosemite while we were going away - one after the other!

Wait - where are we?  Back in Cleveland?

First made a stop in Placerville (the heart of the original Comstock Lode - gold - discovery) and switched drivers, me taking over for Dave after him battling the constant traffic.  People are crazy - the ones in motorhomes did not care about the speed limit (55) but just zoomed by us.  And the 5th wheels and travel trailer boxes - zoom!  Wow.  Little did we know that I would be driving in the mountains, twisty, turn road, having to pull off to let others go by.  Steep grades up then dropped down and then back up.  Nerve wracking driving the RV and pulling the car.

Oleanders were just beautiful, lined Route 99

Weaved in and out of small towns into the Sierras we climbed and road along at about 7000 feet elevation which still snow pack on the ground.  The South Fork of the American River just gushing by on one side.  Then came around a corner and there was Lake Tahoe in the distance.  Dropped quickly down to the heart of Tahoe and was just slammed with people.  Crawled through the city, many casinos and lots of touristy businesses. We had not seen the south side of Lake Tahoe, only been in Truckee and Reno (north of the lake).  Bazillion people!!!!!

Route 50, Lincoln Highway, about 7000 feet. Lonely.

Still very lonely!

At some point (never saw the sign to say welcome) got into Nevada - good bye California!  We were both glad to be gone of that state.  Prices are so much higher, when we filled up the RV in Carson City, Nevada the price of gas was $1.50 cheaper than in California.  Too many people, too expensive!

First glimpse of Lake Tahoe, looking north

Very pretty

We are now in Dayton, Nevada.  About 10 miles from Carson City and 15 miles southeast of Reno.  Dayton is claiming to be Nevada's first settlement.  In 1844 John C. Fremont explored this area and blazed a trail along the Carson River where emigrants prodded along to California's goldfields.  There is a walking tour in town of old original buildings still standing from the mid 1800's.  Today the town boasts of 17,000 people, has a number of amenities, and a quilt shop!  Woot, woot!  Will stay here through the weekend just relaxing and catching up, then head out on Tuesday morning for Wells, NV for a quick 2 day stay then on to Idaho.  We cannot move day to day because of drugging up Buddy - want to give his body a break from the drug.

Very busy South Tahoe, that's Harrah's Casino (large building)

Dave was excited about this

Yep, we will stay in our lane

Welcome to the capital of Nevada

Pony Express and the Emigrants came through this town

Speaking of Buddy - go figure.  We were on the road over 7 hours, drove 304 miles, and he did not have any accidents.  Not sick, not pooping, no foaming at the mouth.  As soon as we turned off the engine and parked at the campground, he came out bright eyed and bushy tail (well, not so bushy since his tail was broken when he was a baby and it's much shorter). Can't figure the pattern out.