Ohhh oooo, Tahoe!!! (but sing like James Taylors Mexico!)

Drove 2 short hours from Nevada City to South Lake Tahoe. Along the way you go over Donner Pass and Donner Lake where I learned a little more about the incident that bears the name.  Really sad story.  It was all about a short cut!  A party traveling through decided to separate and try a shorter route. The terrain is terrible.  Trees and grass growing right on pure rock.  The group that stayed on the original trail made it to their destination in a week.  The Donner party was stuck for 6 months after a big storm socked them in making it impossible to leave the lake.   A search party, on it's 3rd attempt rescued the last few members of the party that were alive.  Members of the party resorted to cannibalism...uhhh..  all over a wrong turn! I was pleasantly surprised seeing Truckee.  I had always envisioned Truckee as dumpy and larger for some reason.  I think because the name.  But just the opposite.  Another great, small mountain town surrounded by beautiful mountains and rivers. A wealth of outdoor activities to partake in.  Donner Lake/Pass is actually there in Truckee.  I didn't stop in Truckee but would definitely like to come back to the area in the future.  It is very close to the Nevada line. Another fact I was unaware of, Lake Tahoe is in both CA and NV.  It is about a 2/3 to 1/3 ratio. It is 21.6 miles long and 12 miles across. 72 miles of shoreline and you are able to drive along the edge most of the time.   GORGEOUS to say the least!!!  Definitely could spend a few days chilling there but had to be on our way to bigger and better.  We stayed at the Best Western right on the lake.  The boys loved the balcony.  I believe this was a first for them and they loved that they could be both inside and OUTside, continuously surveying the courtyard for dogs, birds, squirrels.....  The pier below was right across from the hotel and where I had lunch.  I had seen the bear crossing sign one other time near Mt Shasta interstate and didn't get a pic.  Hilarious to me...mama and baby next 2 miles.... Really?  However, I didn't see any so.......  Anyway, dogs aren't allowed on the beach or any area that I was near so we didn't get to get in the water....boooo....  Maybe next time!  I can see why Tahoe has it's reputation...It's like Aspen but with awesome summer stuff to do....tons of boats, parasailing, kayakers, hot air balloons or just enjoying the beach at a yummy 72 degrees....  We are now in Sacramento and off to Yosemite tomorrow for 7 days of camping.  REALLY excited about this next week.   Partly for the company of Lori and partly to see this amazing National Park.  Some of you may have heard about the sickness associated with Yosemite.  It is an airborne disease spread by the urine and feces of deer mice that infested some cabins there at the park.  We will not be affected bc we are staying outside and not in an enclosed area so should be fine.   This will be the first campground in which we will have to secure our food in bear boxes that are provided however.   The boys dog food contains high levels of fish oil for their joints so all that will be going in!!!   And I have about 20#'s worth :).....