Subaru Road Trip: June 11-13, 2021

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Snow Plant aka Snow Flower, Tahoe Rim Trail

This is the first time since we’ve had the Airstream that we’ve taken a road trip without it. Our niece was getting married in Minden, Nevada. Normally, this time of the year Amelia would be out of school, and we’d make the wedding a part of a longer Airstream trip. The pandemic changed all of that, and school started two weeks late. So, we blasted up in the Subaru on Friday. Then Sunday morning, we pulled the southbound hammer down routine back to San Diego.

Boy, oh boy is it different not towing. It’s less stressful, but you aren’t traveling with a kitchen so you make poor food choices and eat out too much. I never seem to sleep well in a hotel room and they are not cheap, but the gas mileage on the Subaru is three times better. Like everything in life, there’s pluses and minuses. We prefer the Airstream. It’s comforting having your second home with you.

It took a lot of sweet-talking, but I convinced Amelia we should bring our bikes.  How could we drive past Lower Rock Creek and also be in the Tahoe area and not ride?

We saw our first Fuck Biden bumper sticker while in Nevada. Of course, it was on a big pick-up truck with a lift kit. The woman driving it looked bitter and angry, no doubt pissed off that Biden stole the election. She’s probably counting the days till Trump gets reinstated to the presidency in August. I wonder what her and her pals are going to do when that doesn’t happen…hopefully not have another insurrection. Unfortunately, one thing is fairly certain, they will believe the next lie told to them.

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Geeking out on our reflection at the Crystal Geyser plant in Olancha, California.

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Mulholland and his pals sure did a number to the Owens Valley. If you haven’t read or seen the Cadillac Desert, it’s worth checking out. It details how Los Angeles got the water. I’ll never get used to seeing City of Los Angeles Private Property signs three hundred miles from Los Angeles.

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The bottom of the second leg of Lower Rock Creek. That road is the old 395 between Paradise and the top of the Sherwin Summit.

 

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The start

 

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Such a beautiful trail.

 

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Amelia wasn’t too happy about the climb, but as you can see from her smile, the descent made her super happy.

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We stopped for a picnic along the Walker River with the new Playmate cooler! I still feel horrible about ruining her original one on our last trip, but this one works so much better.
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The beautiful Walker River

Carson Valley Inn, second floor. If you can’t have fun, what can you do?

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I bet she’s got some Glen Campbell stories. RIP Glen


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Amelia on the Tahoe Rim Trail


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Scenic Lake Tahoe


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Snow Plant: a flowering springtime parasitic plant that derives nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that attach to tree roots. What a treat to see so many of them.

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The happy newlyweds: Jackson and Alex


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Father daughter dance. It was truly a special moment.

2 thoughts on “Subaru Road Trip: June 11-13, 2021

  1. So glad you got some pedal Pushing uphill makes the downhill so much sweeter! You both are inspiring. Reminded me that I need to finish Cadillac Desert; a staple for SD/LA water politics. Limited and power; makes people crazy. Water = currency in these here hills! See you soon!

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