San Jose to Twin Falls, USA

Monday, 1st July, 2019 - 

Up early, packed up the car and ready to leave by 7.30 am.  We had a big day travelling to Twin Falls to stay with Lawrence and Tina, nearly 700 miles.  Travelling via freeways via Sacramento and through the mountains and Tahoe National Forest to Reno in Nevada and then up through the Nevada Desert to Idaho and Twin Falls.

Highway to Reno through mountains

Stopped at Donner Summit, in Tahoe National Forest, north of Lake Tahoe.  This is where the Donner Party died in 1846-1847 from exposure and starvation.

A lot of skifields in this area and snow in winter.

A small lake at Donner Summit with picnic area.

Snow on mountains from Donner Summit.

From here we drove through more mountain country covered in pine trees, past a lake and onto Reno in Nevada were there are lots of casinos.

Arrived in Reno in time for lunch and found a park - Idlewood Park close to centre of Reno which had a picnic area, the Reno Municipal Rose Garden, a Sensory Garden, a children's train (which wasn't running), plenty of space and trees and a variety of sports fields.  A delightful spot.

The rose garden was beautiful, lots of roses in full flower.   There was a band rotunda at one end.  Unfortunately I didn't have time to explore it completely.  Never thought I would see roses like this in Nevada.

After lunch in the park drove through Reno looking at the Casino buildings but never went in !!!

Gateway to Reno in Main St

It was then miles of driving through the Nevada desert, they call it the "high desert".  Miles of barren land with some visible dried up lakes and interesting rock formations.  The freeway has 4 lanes, 2 on each side and lots of trucks, some pulling 3 trailers.

Freeway across the Nevada desert

There were also the trains with up to 100 cars on them.  Quite a sight and going on for miles.

The start of the train, note 2 engines in the front and there were 2 at the rear.

View across the desert.

Eventually after 686 miles and 10 hours 30 mins of travelling time we went over into Idaho and to Lawrence and Tina's in Twin Falls.  It was great to see them and a lovely chicken dinner which Tina had for us and into bed.