Ahh...Tahoe. Take two!

Driving to Tahoe seems to take forever. It reminds me of driving through Kansas. Flat, wide open spaces, and windy. Passed all the old familiar sites; the windmills, the Jesus Saves cross on the hill, the huge ships in Stockton, and the huge cut out metal art of the bunnies chasing the fox, before the scenery changed to hills and trees.

As my poor little four runner, loaded down with luggage and bikes, chugged its way up and over the mountain (I think I can, I think I can) we began to see snow. First it was far away on the mountain tops. Then it started to appear in shady places alongside the road. As we climbed higher it spread out quite thick over the hills and through the trees, and we began to get a little nervous. Mountain biking through patches of snow can be fun, plowing through a few feet of snow on your bike doesn't seem quite as much fun. We started to think "Oh well, we brought snowpants just in case. And perhaps now we'll get to have our winter vacation that was cancelled in January." But by the time we had come down over the hill into Sout Lake Tahoe, the snow had mostly disappeared, and all looks promising for some "extreeeme mountain biking" as Brian would say.

Checking in was an adventure.

We've stayed at the same hotel in Tahoe for the past three visits, always booking the honeymoon suite, mostly for the space it gives us with the bikes, plus the refrigerator and microwave, rather than any romantic aspect. This time at check in though, the clerk surprised us with a bottle of champagne! This was after he confirmed Brian had visited before. Maybe he thought Brian was bringing a different wife each time? Rodeway Inn is updating their look. They were installing new carpet by our room, and we did our best to avoid sharp cutting tools, extension cords and workmen as we attempted to bring up three bikes, 6 pieces of rolling luggage, and other various bags and backpacks. After that we were both tired, Brian had a headache and I had that "give me something to eat NOW" feeling. So we crashed on the bed and ate dorritos and read through the touristy Tahoe daily newspapers. Ahh, vacation.

May in Tahoe is certainly different then any other time we've visited. It's not tourist season. Summer is not here yet, and winter has just gone and the ski slopes are closed. The grocery store was mostly deserted last night, there are only a handful of people staying at the motels, and it's so quiet. No tourist familes wandering the streets, no loud frat boys having a "par-tay" out in the parking lot. It's colder too, everything crisp and clean, and so much snow on the mountains. I like it. I think it's going to be a good vacation.

This dude visited early morning.