USA 2004

Lake Tahoe - Sacramento - San Francisco

As always, we set off early and drive along the stunning “Sonora Pass” road through the high mountains—the last of them on our tour.

Lake Tahoe looks amazing—the azure-blue water described is truly that azure-blue and clear. It’s also not nearly as cold as described, so we manage to get down to the water after a rather awkward scramble, and I’m even able to dip my feet in the cold water. If I’d brought my swimsuit, I would have gone all the way in, but the walk back to the car would have been too exhausting. By the time we finally got back to the car, we were more out of breath than we’d been in a long time. The thin air and the strenuous climb really put our lungs to the test.

We eat at a beach and then drive on to Sacramento.
Here we look for the downtown area that’s been described as so great. After a long search, we find it—we’ll just drive by for now… The Western town, partly rebuilt according to old plans and partly preserved, turns out to be very small, but definitely worth seeing. We’re not sure why the stores close as early as five o’clock and there’s hardly a soul to be seen. Not that it bothers us, but it is certainly strange.

After visiting downtown Sacramento, we decide to head straight to San Francisco instead of staying in Sacramento, contrary to our original plan.
The Comfort Inn, which we had originally chosen as our accommodation, turns out to be too expensive (230 USD for two nights), so we end up staying at the Best Inn, which is just as good and even cheaper.
We don’t do anything else in the evening, since we’re totally wasted again.