We need to be in the Reno area after Las Vegas but we wanted to take a few days off.  We camped over night in Tohnapah, NV, or our way from LV we saw beautiful colored mountains,

an electric power plant that is a tower in the middle of the desert with mirrors surrounding it focusing their sun beam onto the very top of the tower (when we passed by last time the tower top was as bright as the sun but this time it looks like it may have been shut down),

and in Tonopah we had a drink and dinner in the Mizpah Hotel where so many famous stars have stayed over night (I think that Tonopah is 1/2 way between Lake Tahoe/Reno and Las Vegas so they stopped there), Debbie Reynolds, Sharon Stone, Julie Andrews, Lucial Ball, Jane Fonda, etc., etc. (That’s what they say with all the signed photos in the hallways, but seems kind of far fetched to me but whatever.)

We ended up staying at the Fallen Leaf Lake which is right next to Lake Tahoe.  Lynn and I are always awestruck when we walk over the small rise and see Fallen Leaf Lake for the first time in a while.  Here Lynn takes in the lake,

then playing with the little kids playing on the beach (not sure who is the kid!),

Then I sat down and got contemplative for a few minutes.

Thinking about a friend of mine that we met at his cabin at Donner Lake a few years ago who took me and showed me his private place:

We went for a walk down about a mile long trail just looking and sometimes staring at the wonders of the forest.  We stopped by this old cedar tree and contemplated what had passed it by in the past and whether we were worthy.  Lynn thought she was and I took this photo showing showing how big we feel but how puny we really  are.

We decided to go to Emerald Bay which is a small bay on Lake Tahoe on the beautiful west side of the lake.  What makes it special is the small island right in the middle of the bay, like a jewel God formed for us to enjoy as we pass through life.

After a mile long hike down about 1,000 feet in elevation we reached the beach as the little island sparkled in the afternoon sun for us.

On our way down Lynn took this photo of me walking by this beautiful granite edifice that makes big men like me look very small.

On our way up the 1,000 foot climb we stopped by a little water fall and overcame the high altitude’s heavy breathing and hearts pounding and smiled for posterity in front of this very small but very beautiful waterfall (Lynn splashed my back with that coooooold water and it felt sooooo good.  Look at the sneaky grin while she was planning that).

At the bottom of the trail next to the lake and in back of the photo of Emerald island is Vikingsholm that was built in the 1920s by a rich widow lady who lived there for years and passed away and it ended up as a CA state park.  It is really different and beautiful in its own way even with a broken window with bear snout marks all over it that had happened the night before!   Wow!

Then we relaxed in our campground.

Then we moved down to Gardnerville, NV, and at the Elks Lodge and this is the view we had each morning!  We love the east side of the Sierras.  If you wonder if there really is a God, just look at beauty and grandeur of these mountains!