Lake Tahoe was an interesting place – seemed like everyone was trying to get a piece of the 72 mile lakefront, and the invaluable views of the sparkly blue water. You could imagine how it might have been 50 years ago, with far fewer people and less mansions or private beaches lining the shores. It would have been a magical place with its cystal clear water and snow capped mountains surrounding it on all sides. However, now, it has a distinct glitzy resort feel about it, and is both appealing and repulsive, in a way! We stayed 3 nights in South Lake Tahoe town,
which straddles the Nevada and California border. We were fully planning on camping but we arrived mid-week when it is far quieter than weekends – and hoteliers are practically begging you to stay. Soooo, we found a 'el cheapo motel' that cost us peanuts, was virtually empty and looked after our needs perfectly. That is, until Friday arrived, and we disappeared when prices shot up 250% !
Did 3 excellent rides in Tahoe, on the south and east sides. First one was 23 miles and climbed about 3000 feet – a great, rocky climb that took in awesome views across the Sierra Nevada ranges and Lake Tahoe. It traversed the Rim Trail and descended down 'Mr Toads Wild Trail' – and it was wild alright. Probably the most technical long descent we've done, with rough rock gardens that were covered in slippery sand. What the heck! I did far more walking than I really wanted to do, and had several angry moments along the way! Brent was in boulder-hopping heaven! A number of fast downhiller boys flew past me on the way down...which made me feel even more like a nana!! So, the 2nd day we did something a little more gentile, and less 'angry' yet still fun (Armstrong Connector/Sidewinder). A nice satisfying 1.5 hr circuit close to town. Left us time in the day to go for a leisurely walk and swim in Emerald Bay, which was just divine. We also treated ourselves to a night on the town, at one of the Nevada casinos. A delish buffet meal followed by a fantastic & very professional Magic show. One of the magicians was the guy who played 'the Hand' in the Addams Family movies! Haha. Most entertaining.
The 3rd day we venture
d up the eastern side of the lake, and attempted some of the famed 'Flume Trail' which has quite a reputation in these parts! Heaps of riders on it, especially beginners, but the views were just awesome! The trail weaved its way high above the lake and busy highway, negotiating around big rocks and steep cliffs – and had fantastic vistas the whole way. We made it a bit more interesting by making it a loop along the more technical (and a lot quieter) Rim Trail. All in all, a great 23 mile, 4 hour circuit well worth doing!
d up the eastern side of the lake, and attempted some of the famed 'Flume Trail' which has quite a reputation in these parts! Heaps of riders on it, especially beginners, but the views were just awesome! The trail weaved its way high above the lake and busy highway, negotiating around big rocks and steep cliffs – and had fantastic vistas the whole way. We made it a bit more interesting by making it a loop along the more technical (and a lot quieter) Rim Trail. All in all, a great 23 mile, 4 hour circuit well worth doing! We left Lake Tahoe, as the weekend crowd started to arrive, and
ventured further north to Downieville. You probably won't find it on a map, as it's literally a tiny ickle town that has about 300 residents. It was a huge town in the 1850s, when the gold rush was happening (5th biggest town in California back then), but now it's just a little dot on the map. It's nestled along the beautiful Yuba River valley in the Sierra Nevada ranges, and happens to have some great riding! We camped out the first 2 nights in a free campground (bonus!), which was next to Snag Lake. First day was a super-technical ride in their Lakes Basin area. Only about a 9 or 10 mile ride, but took us 2.5 hours as was so tricky & rocky! Brent had his first decent 'off' – over the handle bars moment.
Was pretty impressive, and he has a few bruises to show off now. Some stunning clear lakes along the way that were begging for you to jump in....but riding in soggy lycra just ain't cool! (riding in lycra anyways isn't that cool, really haha).
Today we are still in Downieville, and did the most AWESOME trail this morning!!!! I think it could be our favourite so far. It is called the Downieville Downhill, and it's 17 miles of pure downhill fun (only 1 little climb to keep you honest) - with an elevation loss of 5000 feet! We parked at the top and flew down the trail in 1 hr 40 mins. Kept up pretty well with a group of 4 downhiller boys who were wearing full body armour, full face helmets and riding 6 inch full suspension bikes - so was pretty happy with that. Some good variety on the trail, with a mixture of shingle, bouders, sharp rocks, smooth dirt and a bit of 4 WD track to rest the arms for a bit.....as it definitely had its fair share of technical stuff! Brent just loved the trail, and was busting to go on it again - so we both got the 45 mins shuttle bus up to the top, and he rode down again (in a very very fast 1 hr 10 mins...phew!) whilst I drove Albert back in to town. Have splashed out on a river side motel room tonight, after our past few days of 'roughing it' at the primitive campground. It's a lovely spot here in Downieville - we have a balcony over the gushing river, and the sun is streaming in to our room! And it's 34 degrees during the day, and we have a prettiest swimming hole just outside the motel! Gotta love it! Aren't we very lucky indeed :-) Not sure what we're doing tomorrow, but probably another ride, and then head towards the coast, north of San Fran. Then we have to get to the big smoke by the end of the week, to catch our plane to Ecuador! Hasta la vista!! xx
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