Lake Tahoe, Nevada

One thing we noticed immediately as we traveled towards Nevada was how the landscape changed. The Eastern Sierra Mountains were a different color and the land was becoming flatter. It was becoming more arid and you could see a difference in the plant life.
We stayed at the Carson Valley RV Park in Minden which had a casino and wonderful steak house where we dined for two consecutive nights. It was amazing to see all this flat land with mountains in the horizon. It was just beautiful.
We took a driving tour of Lake Tahoe on our second day. Lake Tahoe was just magnificent with its gleaming waters displaying three different shades of blue. It mostly had rocky beaches with a few sandy ones scattered along the way.
Now, the California/Nevada state lines bisect the lake. On the California side, the area around Lake Tahoe was highly developed with shopping, residences, lodges, restaurants, etc. There were a few national parks but it was the incredible amount of development that blew us away. Coming from Yosemite Park and Crater Lake, we were amazed to see all this activity. Houses were built into the cliffs for the dramatic water views (Click on the top picture to get a better view of the house amidst the trees). There were certain times during the drive that you couldn't see the lake because of all the private homes built on the water's edge with big stone walls or gates blocking the view.
I just read that during the last 50 years, increased human activity in the lake basin has caused the lake's clarity to decrease at a rate of one foot a year. Recognizing this threat, certain organizations are monitoring the contents in the lake (sediment, nutrients)and working to keep the lake beautiful.
Along the Nevada side, we found more forests, campgrounds, lodges, and private residences.
If you were a cyclist, the Lake Tahoe area offered miles and miles of biking lanes which went all around the lake. It was definitely a cyclist paradise.
When we drove across the California state line into Nevada, we passed the Cal Neva Lodge. I bet this sounds very familiar to a lot of you reading this blog. Before the Las Vegas Strip ruled the gambling world, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr helped make the Cal Neva Ledge on of Nevada's coolest casinos in the early 1960's. We passed by it so fast, I couldn't take a picture of it. Oh well, it was still a thrill for me.
Well we will be off tomorrow on our next adventure. Stay tuned!!!