After we awoke (and NOT early, because we wanted to sleep in), we asked Tori's dad about Lake Tahoe, and the best way to experience it for the day. Tori couldn't join us, because she was working until 5. Her dad suggested we drive around the lake and make a day of it.
The ride would take about two hours, and it was supposed to be beautiful. It didn't disappoint! First, we went to a scenic overlook area, where we walked right up to the water and stood on these really smooth rocks. Mike decided to test the waters, so to speak. He stepped off a rock and into shallow water, and it was cold! He didn't stay standing there for long. Lake Tahoe is huge. I didn't expect it to be that big, or that deep. The lake is about 6,000 feet deep!
After the scenic overlook, we kept driving until we saw a lot of cars parked on the side of the road next to a clearing. We took one of the paths down to the water's edge, which led to a really cute beach. It wasn't as crowded as the others we had seen, and it was free too. I finally built up the courage to get in the water and once again .... it was cold! I got up to my waist, but Mike decided to completely dunk himself in it. There were actually quite a few people in the water, but most were still on land staying warm. The water in Lake Tahoe is so clear, and fresh. And there's no sharks or gators to worry about, which is a plus for me. We got to talking to a man on the beach who was really friendly, and may have been drunk. He kept telling us that this was the life, that he lived not too far from here and always came to this beach because it was dog friendly. Oh, and he had this beautiful Australian Shepherd that spent the whole time chasing the toy that was thrown into the water every few minutes. He was a dog on a mission.
We were getting hungry, so we kept on driving until we came across a Subway. We split one of those new Turkey Bacon Avocado subs that Mike had been wanting to try. We took it to go and ate at a park right next to the lake.
Then we kept on driving. By far the most spectacular view of the lake is at Emerald Bay. There is a small island that you can see from this scenic point, and it is just so picturesque with all the mountains and water in the background. We took pictures there as well, then decided it was time to head back to Tori's since she was already off work.
After arriving at the house, we showered, and Tori and her dad treated us to one of the BEST meals we've had on this trip thus far. Her dad cooked some king crab on the grill, along with hallibut. Tori cooked an artichoke, and some kale with balsamic vinegar. I had never had whole crab legs before (I know, kind of embarassing seeing as I live in the Keys), so Tori's dad had to show me how to properly eat them (crack, dip in butter/lemon, eat) and they were soooooooooo good. Also, I'd never eaten whole artichoke before, so I didn't know what to do. Fortunately, Mike showed me.
We were so stuffed from our dinner, we knew we couldn't just go to sleep right after, so we did the next best thing: casinos! Tori's house is about 20 minutes from Reno, so we got dressed and drove to one. Most clubs/bars in Reno are in casinos, so it's kind of inevitable to find yourself in one if you want to experience the nightlife there. We went to a sports bar in a casino that Tori's friend was bartending at, hung out there for a bit, then decided to try another place that Tori liked. Before we left the first casino, though, I had to try my hand at one of the machines.
Me: "Ok guys, I'm only gonna spend a dollar."
Mike: "Right ...."
Me: (after losing my dollar's worth) "Ok, one more dollar."
Mike: "Uh huh ..."
Me: "One more?"
Ok, ok so I spent more than a dollar. But only five! I actually won $1.25, but put it right back into the machine. Nowadays slot machines don't even give you quarters anymore when you win, you just get a lousy ticket saying how much you've won. And who's gonna go cash in a buck twenty five? So, that was that. Tori and I pulled ourselves away from the machines and we all continued on our way.
The next bar/casino we went to was also fun! We just hung out for a while, but it was 2 in the morning at this point, so we decided it was time to get some sleep. Tori was going rafting in the morning, and Mike and I were going to attempt an early start. Tomorrow we drive to Park City!
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