Susanville
Travel article for Susanville
From:
Kreuzlingen
Age:
26-30
Travel time:
in December 10
14th Day of Jami's Western USA Travel Journal - On the road from Redding to Lake Tahoe
December 1st, 2010
This day was a pure road day. I did not stop very much because there were 250 miles (400 km) at rather small streets.
Mount Lassen
I startet in Redding and went Highway 44 in the direction of Mount Lassen. Mount Lassen is a volcano of about 10,500 ft (3,200 m). And of course, just as everywhere in California, there was also a national park around Mount Lassen. There is one entrance at Highway 44 where it crosses Highway 89. Unfortunately, Highway 89 is closed during the winter due to snow. And so it was also closed when I came by. But I could drive through a very scenic winter wood.
Susanville
Then I drove further that road 44. My next goal was Susanville. Already a few miles before Susanville, I came down to about 2,000ft (600m) and trees were gone and I saw a lot of stones. Then, when I entered the valley, it was magnificent. Everything seemed to be bright orange to brown. It was because the stones around and because I have entered the veld. It was the complete opposite of the woods. In the woods, you see only what is next to you because trees cover the sight. But here was nothing to cover. I had the feeling, I could see forever (well, or at least until the next mountains 30 miles away). Susanville was named after the daughter of the city's founder and was nothing spectacular. The one café which my guide recommended was closed and for sale. So, I went to a fast-food place to grab a salad.
Reno
Just after Susanville I followed Highway 395 to Reno. Although, I still plan to go to Las Vegas, I wanted to know what would expect me. And I have to say, I was rather disappointed. The city lays in a dessert I guess because I could not see anything green. Where you would usually expect greens to grow there was only dirt. However, I wonder if it was really in the dessert because through Reno runs a river and usually there are no rivers in a dessert, aren't there? And then there is this one street - Virginia street - where all the Casinos are. That street was really shiny and sparky and there were also a lot of shows. However, it somehow did not attract me very much and I went on to Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe
In order to get from Reno to Lake Tahoe, I took Interstate 80. On the way there is also a stop where they make everybody stop and ask if you catered some open food with you. I guess that had something to do with traveling from Nevada to California. I was lucky that day because I did not need any snow chains. It is very common during the winter that you have to put snow chains on. I was especially lucky because I did not have any because I did not really think about California and winter. When I came to Lake Tahoe, there were a lot of cute houses just as you would expect in the Alps. Since my guide recommended a hotel in Tahoe City I went further and got finally to the hotel River Ranch Lodge, which was very sweet. It is located at highway 89 and a river.
This day was a pure road day. I did not stop very much because there were 250 miles (400 km) at rather small streets.
Mount Lassen
I startet in Redding and went Highway 44 in the direction of Mount Lassen. Mount Lassen is a volcano of about 10,500 ft (3,200 m). And of course, just as everywhere in California, there was also a national park around Mount Lassen. There is one entrance at Highway 44 where it crosses Highway 89. Unfortunately, Highway 89 is closed during the winter due to snow. And so it was also closed when I came by. But I could drive through a very scenic winter wood.
Susanville
Then I drove further that road 44. My next goal was Susanville. Already a few miles before Susanville, I came down to about 2,000ft (600m) and trees were gone and I saw a lot of stones. Then, when I entered the valley, it was magnificent. Everything seemed to be bright orange to brown. It was because the stones around and because I have entered the veld. It was the complete opposite of the woods. In the woods, you see only what is next to you because trees cover the sight. But here was nothing to cover. I had the feeling, I could see forever (well, or at least until the next mountains 30 miles away). Susanville was named after the daughter of the city's founder and was nothing spectacular. The one café which my guide recommended was closed and for sale. So, I went to a fast-food place to grab a salad.
Reno
Just after Susanville I followed Highway 395 to Reno. Although, I still plan to go to Las Vegas, I wanted to know what would expect me. And I have to say, I was rather disappointed. The city lays in a dessert I guess because I could not see anything green. Where you would usually expect greens to grow there was only dirt. However, I wonder if it was really in the dessert because through Reno runs a river and usually there are no rivers in a dessert, aren't there? And then there is this one street - Virginia street - where all the Casinos are. That street was really shiny and sparky and there were also a lot of shows. However, it somehow did not attract me very much and I went on to Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe
In order to get from Reno to Lake Tahoe, I took Interstate 80. On the way there is also a stop where they make everybody stop and ask if you catered some open food with you. I guess that had something to do with traveling from Nevada to California. I was lucky that day because I did not need any snow chains. It is very common during the winter that you have to put snow chains on. I was especially lucky because I did not have any because I did not really think about California and winter. When I came to Lake Tahoe, there were a lot of cute houses just as you would expect in the Alps. Since my guide recommended a hotel in Tahoe City I went further and got finally to the hotel River Ranch Lodge, which was very sweet. It is located at highway 89 and a river.
