Today has been a really lovely day. Some time ago I was in contact with the Tahoe
Library and the friends of the library – Denise Haerr contacted me, about a
library event while we were here in Tahoe…well, we struck up an online
friendship and today we met for the first time.
We had arranged that Denise would pick me up at 10.30 from the hotel and
we would go to an early lunch and then visit Vikingsholm – a castle at Emerald
Bay on Lake Tahoe.
Firstly we stopped for lunch at a ** which is a camp ground but
has a restaurant right on the lake. We
dined on a deck barely feet from the water’s edge joined by a gaggle of
Canadian geese who honked as mamma geese escorted her babies across the sand.
That is the one thing that has surprised me that it is sand – because this is a
fresh water lake, not the ocean. Enquires confirmed that the sand has not been
brought in so I guess it’s very very crushed rock of some sort formed over
time.
From lunch we headed across the hill tops – and they were
really hilly- but the views were
spectacular showing clearly the different color of the lake water which
indicates its water depth. At one point
we were driving across a very high (and extremely narrow) road with no barriers
on either side – one side went straight down to Cascade Lake for which there
was no access to of any kind, it’s totally natural. Vikingholm Castle was gifted to the State
Park some time ago. Built by an
extremely wealthy woman – Lora Knight in 1929.
She apparently loved Scandinavian style and used pictures of places she
had been to as a guide to her architect with the proviso no trees were to be
cut down. It’s on several hundred acres
and has a small island (the only island in the lake) just a few hundred yards
off shore. Mrs Knight had lots of wealthy/famous
friends including Charles Lindberg. The
home is exactly as it was all those years ago, even down to the antique
furniture some dating back to 1700s.
Only 2 cars are allowed to go down the road to Vikingsholm a
day (guided by a conservation car) and
everyone else has to walk down a mile path that is very steep- and of course walk back up again. I got to go
in the conservation car as my friend is a volunteer at the information centre
there.
Tahoe is really quite a lovely town. Apparently there’s not
a lot of work here which I found surprising given the casinos, but they are not
doing so well these day.
Also, Neil just said that apparently last night there were
some bears in the carpark just opposite here stealing food from a car! Cool to see, but just not too close.
Only got the net for a short time so not much loaded today, LOTS MORE TOMORROW
Jane, it was a pleasure to show you Lake Tahoe. If we had more time, we could have done and seen so much more. Camp Richardson is the historic area where we dined, lakeside. It was delicious and delightful.
ReplyDeleteYou are so easy to be with and I so enjoyed meeting Neil at the library's Wildflower talk.
Let's stay in touch. "Strangers are just friends we have yet to meet!"
THank you so much Denise for taking me out today, i learned so much and also at the library talk last night on wildflowers! Oh glad u reminded me of the name of the camp!
ReplyDeleteCars today and more cars and then on to Bonanza country
jane
Jane
ReplyDeletethis is magic. I love the trunk on that redwood, how many years it has taken to reach that size...and give a little shiver, there are two growing in the garden next door! No doubt put in as tiny trees.
The lake pictures are superb and the water so blue. How lovely to meet up with an on-line friend, a just reward for a lady who is so good at maintaining on-line friendships.
Enjoy Bonanza Country tomorrow. Will you see the cemetery where Mary is buried and the wind chimes the second wife hated so much! Or are you not visiting the film set. LOL. Have fun!
Shirley, the film set /area it was filmed was closed down some years ago, just got to Ely after 5 1/2 hours drive, will write up blog on our drive and bonanza country shortly
ReplyDeletejane