Driving through goldrush country, in a landscape that this time of the year takes the term “gold” very to heart. Started the day in Sacramento where we visited the old historic center – gives you the feeling you’re walking in a commercialised filmset of an old cowboy movie. Nice, old buildings but all cramped up with some sort of commercial merchandise – fun is quickly over.
Needless to say we didn’t spend much time there, and left for goldrush country. Nowadays it’s also known as California’s top spot for growing fruit and vegetables. So miles and miles of fruit orchards, which gives the landscape its goldish glow (time of the season and all). Really nice, but since I am kind of a water girl, it doesn’t move me as much as those places where land meets water.
In that aspect, Lake Tahoe today was something right up my alley. We let the Queen Tahoe – an old mississippi like steamer – take us on a journey. It ended up being a great trip, not in the least thanks to the old captain – who loved to share with us all he knew about the Lake. From the bare facts to funny little ‘inside’ stories (as to where Bonanza was filmed, and The Bodyguard and parts of The Godfather), to the legends of Captain Dick (who amongst other things cut off his own two toes) and Mrs Night (very wealthy, little teahouse, middle of the lake).
You could really hear he loved this place, and seeing this – who wouldn’t?
