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June 16, 2019

Inyo to Tahoe - Road Trip 2019


We tried to count how many times we have driven the Eastern Sierra roads.  Over the past 50+ years it has been many dozen if not hundreds of times.  I-5 is the fastest, 101 offers ocean views,but 395 is our favorite.  Always looking for a new way to visit family.  This trip I decided to include Monitor Pass which recently opened and the last of the east-west routes we have not used, although we have gone west to east. .

WTH - I should have used an elevation graph!  It is about 15 miles of low gear grunting!  About 20 MPH with the cooling fans screaming!  Nope NEVER EVER again!  It's not worth a check mark in a box, however with careful RPM and temperature management Rufus made it just fine.

(FYI -Sonora Pass is higher and steeper with 1-way sections.  Enjoy a day trip with your Toad, but not the RV!)


At least we had some beautiful scenery along the way!

We spent a couple nights at Fallen Leaf Lake west of Lake Tahoe.  The last time we were here it was mid-winter, many decades ago, to try out skill at cross country skiing.  That ski outing was a massive failure!, no amount of effort made up for skinny skies and no downhill!   But this trip made up for it.
The campsites are generally secluded, with nice pull through sites on the north along the river.

We made good use of the bike trails to get around, I did not take many pictures though.  Just a few of the Tallac Site.


I could handle this view out my parlor window!

Fran riding down the bike path, which is within an easy ride from the campground and connects with the bike path along the lake.

A last farewell to Fallen Leaf Lake

It’s a great campground with 24 channels of HD TV from our little roof antenna, but no T-Mobil cell service.  At least we could watch the Stanley Cup Finals!

Definitely No Bad Days at Lake Tahoe.

11 comments:

  1. Those mountain passes are spectacular but real killers for the RV. Love the snow covered mountains!!

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    1. The east-west passes connecting 395 to the west are steep and spectacular. Better suited for your Toad than your Home.

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    2. If you grunted up that mountain pass I am sure we would fare worse...

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  2. Nice to hear from you . that pass does not sound like route we could take though it looks lovely, keep on with safe travels and enjoy the journey as I know guys will.

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  3. We've been a few days without service. Nice to hangout in the backwoods of CA as we continue to inch closer to Jm, who advances from 2nd grade on the 19th.

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  4. We spend many hours reviewing routes and still we get surprised. All in the adventure.

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    1. Ah yes there are adventures to be found and memories to be made everywhere. Thanks for following along on our little outing.

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  5. Definitely no bad days in Tahoe

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    1. It is a fun place to enjoy a few days

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  6. I do so love driving mountain passes, but not in every vehicle I've ever ever owned, RV or otherwise. I could spend some time at Lake Tahoe as it's been decades since I've been.

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    1. In a car/truck Sonora Pass is more scenic, but lots more difficult than Monitor Pass. There's better ways to take your RV to Tahoe, which is a great destination.

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