Trip to Tahoe

I am not a long-distance driver. I never developed that skill when I was younger, living in New England, driving off to ski country, down to Florida, or cross-country on my vacations, like my friends. I was pretty much a home-body that didn't care to go far, until after I'd been to college and lived on my own for a while.

Also, I don't own a car. Never have. Always used the parental's cars or shared one briefly with my brother during a year I lived at my Dad's home in Maryland, between quitting Philadelphia College of Art and heading back to Boston. I've always lived in towns with exceptional public transportation, and know how to get around like a pro. I also am a believer in taxis.

I hear horror stories about break-ins and mechanical issues from friends. I have had more than one experience of car theft, including one directly my fault, when I left Jean's car parked at Fruitvale BART while I took the last train home from some event in San Francisco (and which the police found in SF a couple days later). So when people say I should buy a car, I'm all "No thanks!" -- I don't want the financial or emotional issues that come with car ownership.

Instead, I work for City CarShare and as a benefit, I get an employee credit. So, it was with these credits that I braved the wheel and the road for a 3.5 hour drive up to Tahoe. Mind you... I haven't driven since the above car was stolen, and that was about 3 years ago.

Now... the highway between Oakland and Sacramento can be called, at the best, boring. And between Sacramento and Placerville, it doesn't get much better. However, at the gold rush era town of Placerville, which was named "Hangtown" at one time, due to all the hangings, Highway 80 changes into a 2-lane road briefly. At that point, you are well into the foothills of the Sierras and the road begins to both climb, twist, and switchback. Just outside of Placerville and near Kyburz, the ponderosa pines are very evident, and the mountains surround. As you reach an elevation of 7.3K feet, the road whips around the side of a mountain and reveals Tahoe Lake off in the distance.

This was my first visit to Tahoe, and I would definitely love to spend more time there. My Dad and stepmother were in town, to visit my cousin Joel and his wife Eileen, who live in South Lake Tahoe, and are about to give up their newish home, for life on the road in an RV. The altitude just killed me for two days, while I acclimated (had the same issues in Denver and Santa Fe/Taos). At least, what with hanging out with the older generation, we drove mostly everywhere you could go, to sightsee. Truckee, Emerald Bay, North Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Donner Pass... Totally a fun trip. Much of the older towns look pretty similar to what I saw in Amador, Ione, Jackson, Calistoga -- a lot of "western" style architecture. Cowboy towns. Wild wild west.

I'd like to go back sometime, but I'll leave the driving to someone else and enjoy the ride next time.