Wandering Wednesday: Lake Tahoe

For the first Wandering Wednesday post of 2025, here's where we went for New Year's, a non-snowsports visit to Lake Tahoe. This picture was on the drive there, up on Echo Summit. It was a little sad to see the 2021 fire devastation that swept through there, near the Sierra at Tahoe ski resort. The story of how they prepped for the fire by utilizing the snow making machines to blow water was a memorable one.

It was an absolutely beautiful New Year's Eve day. We walked over from Nevada to California and back again. I don't know if I've ever crossed a state border on foot before. This is the dock at South Lake Tahoe.

It was pretty cold out, but we were prepared with actual cold weather wear. Honestly, we had to dig it out as it's been quite a while.

Here we are walking along the kind of snowy shore. Photo credit, to friend Jaye, who had the idea to go somewhere for New Year's instead of just out to dinner like we usually do. It was a Great Idea!

The teeny tiny black and white shells were cute, but are probably the non-native and invasive ones that are hard to control in the lake. All the boat inspections help, but once they get established it's tough to go back.

The traditional picture of my own shadow on the shore.

Finally it was time for the new year, after a lot of searching, we found a nice Italian restaurant to go to and had a lovely last meal of the year. Here's a view of the New Year's Eve fireworks at the Golden Nugget casino across the street, the lake is in the background. One of the finale rockets went horizontal on the roof, but thankfully no fire resulted. It was fun to see the fireworks from a distance.

And then on the way back home, we got to drive in some very light non-sticking snow which was kind of lovely for someone who doesn't get to see actual snow very often.

Wandering Wednesday - King's Beach

 Post-Sunset pictures from King's Beach in North Lake Tahoe. We took a little too long eating our fabulous pizzas at Whitecaps. If you go, try the Arugula Bacon Peach that has:

applewood bacon, summer peaches, fresh arugula, gorgonzola, balsamic drizzle, whole milk mozzarella. OMG was it ever good. You've heard of the Should Pineapples Be On Pizza debate, in my opinion there's No Debate with this peach pizzas.

 After such a crowded day at the beach, it was so lovely and quiet walking along the shore.

 The colors got softer and softer.

 The black sand on the beach was beautiful mixed in with all the other colors.

And at the end of the pier, the love locks have made an appearance.

Wandering Wednesday: Lake Tahoe

 We were lucky enough to spend a few days at Lake Tahoe with my sister-in-law's family last week. One of the days we went over to Nevada to Sand Harbor state park. I looked up into the blue blue sky when I sat down in my beach chair and there was yet another fire rainbow.

 The beach was very crowded most of the day, so I waited until the afternoon right before we left to take some pictures. It's just so beautiful and clear and omg C.O.L.D. (53F!!) Did I go swimming? Yes, yes I did. One of the few benefits of the extra weight I carry around, it's excellent insulation.

 Seagulls and geese coming in to clean up after all the beach goers left. And apparently I smeared the lens of my cellphone camera with sunscreen.

 And then the geese showed up, so it was time to leave. Geese tend to hate me for some reason.

I liked the little bit of light coming through underneath the roots of the tree.

This Old Dock

As I'm still on the hunt for my camera (come out come out wherever you are darling) I thought I'd share a few more vacation photos from Lake Tahoe.
The first view I had of Lake Tahoe up close was at early sunset. It was a fairly clear sky, and warm outside. There weren't many people or boats out and about, just ducks and the Tahoe Queen. I was instantly drawn to this image of the old dock footings going out in a line off into the lake. They looked so otherworldly.

But the ship is interesting too, especially with this beautiful reflection. And the sky began to turn color, also changing the water color of course.

Finally I laid down right there on the dock, set my camera vertically on the edge, and got the ship out of my view. That was what I was trying to capture.

This illusion that there is something just underneath, just out of view.

Or stepping stones one could jump from one to another to cross to the mountains on the horizon. Maybe it is the left-behind, defunct marker of where humankind has made our mark on the timelessness of this vista.

But I think it is the ever-present reminder as one goes around Lake Tahoe of what has been forever lost. ie the water. So much of it is just plain gone. Countless docks jut out of the water many many feet above the surface. It is a sad picture to me because of this irretrievable loss.

Snow Lilac

Just a couple weeks ago I was bundled up and walking around in the snow at Lake Tahoe. And now I'm wearing shorts and tank tops and complaining about how hot it is already this year. So I thought I'd dive into the hundreds of photos I took there, to "cool off". Looking at pictures of snow is somehow psychologically cooling. Another reminder of how strong our minds truly are.Whenever we go on a car trip I bring a piece of something from my garden to put on the dashboard. Usually rosemary since it is next to the driveway. Having the greenery and scent of home is a way to stay connected when we're out exploring. This time it was one of the zillions of lilac blooms. I could only bring one because of the powerful scent, it would have being too much. After being in the car for a few days, it looked ready for a little snow. So I left it as an offering near Fallen Leaf Lake.