Continuing my crazy pattern of jumping back and forth between time (who doesn't want to time-travel??) and place, this post is part the second from my road trip to beautiful Lake Tahoe on Mother's Day 2016.
If you want to see my "test" shots from Emerald Bay and Eagle Falls at dawn, clickety click here!
After spending a couple of hours walking around Eagle Falls and Highway 89 in a light drizzle, I jumped back in the car and headed back the way I came. I stopped at the Historic Tallac site which is next door to three more fascinating, historical estates from the late 1800s through the 1930s.
Oh, indeed! to have the money to have purchased and cared for these huge, gorgeous, lakeside estates! My imagination was running wild as I walked around. All of the buildings were closed on this early, off-season morning. So most of my photos are more nature in...well, nature. :-)
But first, I want to post some of the landscape, nature, and local bird shots from around Emerald Bay and Eagle Falls.
I felt like I was on my way to Rivendell in the foothills of the Misty Mountains. (Nerd Alert)
I could almost hear the dwarves working away in Kazad Dum under the barren slopes of the mountains.
Next to Eagle Falls was this cool fallen tree.
A quick note on fallen and barren trees... I've stated many times in my blog that I love bare trees, however situated. As summer has arrived along with temperatures over the 100 mark, California (as well as the rest of the West, especially Arizona) is once again on fire.
Many homes and even lives have been lost as the flames rage through the dry, dry land with the situation made much worse by an unprecedented number of dead trees thanks to the loss of water and snow.
It's sad that something that, in the right circumstances, is beautiful and so photogenic is now something to be feared and sad about. Now that I've thoroughly depressed everyone, on with the pictures. :-/
This tree was struck by lightening at some point, but it's hanging on for dear life.
In that tree and the next one were a couple of White-headed Woodpeckers pecking away.
Despite my growing sadness over dead trees and fires, I love this photo and think it illustrates my point about how they enhance and look cool in pictures.
The only other birds I saw hanging around the falls and bay were the always-gorgeous, electric-blue Stellar's Jays.
This one decided he was shy. When I took his photo, he took flight!
And on that note, we'll move forward in time and about 6 miles down the highway to the fascinating and beautiful Tallac Historic Site. Again, it's hard to comprehend that all this beautiful, lakefront properties was privately owned. But I'm game to try!
Here I am walking down my private walkway to my private beach. :-)
Looking back towards Emerald Bay, you can see my dog-wrangler walking one of my many dogs. When you're this rich, you don't walk your own dogs. Of course not.
All mine! I love my beautiful views across the lake!
I even have my own, private Merganser ducks to add to my shoreline. This is Ta.
And his beautiful wife, Hoe. Wait...
Ta and Hoe. Tahoe! Not what you were thinking!
And of course, I couldn't really call myself rich if I didn't have a gorgeous, fancy yacht to sail away from my beautiful, lakeside home in. Here I am launching it from my private, lakeshore boathouse.
Whew! That was a lot of work! I think I'll just leave it moored and access it from my amazing pier and dingy.
Never underestimate the view from underneath a pier. Seriously.
I love Lake Tahoe. So. Much.
Even if I'm not rich...it's definitely fun to pretend.
Even if I'm not rich...it's definitely fun to pretend.
xoxo
