30th June, 2009. Travel to Fresno, California. What a day, got away at 8.30am, temperature was 77F, first climb was back over the Sierra Mountains, height of 7500 feet, not bad from 6300, but then we went down on Carson City side, a drop of 2500 ft and steep, a few back roads and we were back on the main highway to Yosemite National Park. Passed many lakes, quite green area and plenty of stock in the paddocks. Through Mono, a small town where fuel is gold, a gallon of 87 was $3.69.9 US, highest we have seen. Then off to [View Full Entry]

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29th June, 2009. South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Sore Butt this evening, we decided to go on a 11 mile bike ride, up early so we could get in before it heated up, hired two push bikes and headed off around a section of Lake. Through houses, industrial, anything else but lake, in the end we had to take detours down to the Lake every time we wanted to have a look. Still a great ride, had a look at a couple of the beaches and a Ranger walk, Lake Tahoe is an Alpine Lake, 6300 ft up, average of 989 feet [View Full Entry]

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28th June, 2009. Travel to South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Up and out of Reno, over some big hills and down into Carson City (another Nevada Casino town), passed through quickly and onto the bottom of the Sierra Mountains (forever crossing these), a climb up to 7500ft and then dropped down to Lake Tahoe, absolutely stunning, not a cloud in the sky and the Lake flatter than a pancake, followed the Lake around until we hit California (it's like a line in the sand, Nevada border has Casino's right to the edge, California nill). Only travelled a distance of 57 miles today [View Full Entry]

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27th June, 2009. Reno, Nevada. Into downtown Reno this morning, the depression has hit here, four Casino's have closed down, in the main street and numerous other buildings with no tenants - the Pawn shops were doing a good trade (again you can buy cheaper new than in the old pawn shop). We saw a number of people with their hands out looking for a bit of cash and the ever hopeful dreamers plugging away at the slot machines in the casino's. The main street s were closed to traffic for the weekend for Blues Brews and BBQ's, take note Tauranga [View Full Entry]

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26th June, 2009. Reno, Nevada. Up and into it this morning, 77 degrees (23.5C) at 8.30am - nice. Had heard about a small Cowboy town, Virginia City about 23 miles from here so off we went. What an interesting place, centre of a huge gold strike, they too over 73 million dollars of gold out of there in the late 1800's. The town is basically in its original state, that is after it had been rebuilt for the 3rd time after fire. Footpaths are the old boardwalks, lots of cowboy bars, one with numerous bra's hanging from the lights - must [View Full Entry]

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25th June, 2009. Travel to Reno, Nevada. Left Auburn nice and early (8.30am) and headed for Reno, great run on Highway 80 even though we struck road works on a large section of road. Climbed to over 6500ft, rising over the Sierra Mountains. The road works involved pouring a foot of reinforced concrete over the existing road, huge job when you are doing a 4 lane highway. Down into Reno, a stop at Cabela's (a sports shop that every town should have), then to the Grand Sierra Resort (hotel and RV Park). All booked in by 12.30pm, so a walk through [View Full Entry]

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24th June, 2009. Auburn, California. Driving home this evening the temperature was still 94 degrees (32C), cooling down from a very nice day. Heard on the radio that we can look forward to three digit temperatures over the weekend, personally I am not looking forward to getting my Butt cooked off, but we have found an RV park with a pool in Reno so that should help. Today was a bit of a catch up and time out at the pool so not much to report. Went into Old Town Auburn and had a look around, an historic area that has [View Full Entry]

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22nd June, 2009. Travel to Auburn, California. 71 degrees this morning, clear skies, another beautiful day, BUT we are travelling in the Chevy!! No problems for the first part of the journey on SH1, then as we got to Marysville the GPS decided we should go cross country, at the same time we were due to get onto SH 65 so we got lost, had to turn around, read the map and do our own navigation, bit hard when you have come to rely on the GPS. Never mind she decided to get over here drunken spell after a while and [View Full Entry]

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21st June, 2009. Redding, California. Lucky Craig - fathers day here in USA today, so breakfast in bed for me, bit disappointed though, no cards from the kids, never mind you will be able to make up for it in September. Went for a Sunday drive out to Shasta Dam, provides power for over 2 million people, and more importantly irrigation water for as far down as Los Angeles. Also a recreation area and we saw lots of boaties and fishermen making the most of this beautiful day. Went for a walk across the dam and spotted all the Osprey Hawks [View Full Entry]

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20th June, 2009 Travel to Redding, California. Crossed back into California this morning, left Gold Beach at around 8.15am, down through Brookings and a short time later we crossed into California, stopped by Homeland security at the Border, they were checking for Advocado's, Citris and plants, of course we had none. Ten mile further on we started to get into the Coastal Redwoods, these are some of the tallest trees in the world standing at 200 - 300 ft tall, bases are pretty damn big too. They are on the side of the road so no shortage of trees to view. [View Full Entry]

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