Alexey Solofnenko blog

Unlike our previous trip there, this Saturday we were prepared. I would say even over-prepared. Last time we were driving FWD Honda CRV and had to turn back few miles east from Bowman Lake. This time we were driving real 4x4 SUV, had GPS, during daylight, together with a friend on another real SUV, and, just in case, had a strong rope...

In the morning I found a relatively inexpensive gas station in Sacramento 73 miles from home. I always like to have an almost full tank before going into woods. Car's computer also told me that there is enough gasoline for 73 miles. That was not risky - for some reason the computer believes that the tank is 2 gallons less than it is actually and we already drove several times past "0 miles" when even analog gauge showed negative gasoline level. By the time I got to the gas station, the computer still reported about 20 miles left in the tank and we pumped only 20 gallons. I wonder what my car thinks about our usual way of driving... We met with Eugene and his son Gena and continued on the path.

Driving up on highway 80 was fun, except for few slow vehicles. I was surprised to see a Prius driving together with us. We turned on highway 20 and then took Bowman Lake Road. We stopped at Jordan Creek and jumped on the rocks. There was a lot of people swimming, but we did not take our swim suits. Regardless Katya swam in the creek far from the people.

At first Bowman Lake Road was fine, then it became a 1.5 lane paved road and then the pavement ended. It looked worse than the previous time we were there, but maybe I was driving slower on CRV. It was interesting to drive on a single lane road with a cliff on one side and a possibility that another car can be driving towards you. A recent fire was still smoking near the road. There is a shortage of water in California this year and Bowman Lake, being actually a reservoir, was about 15 meters lower than the maximum level. The weather was about 22 C and the water was not comfortable. It did not stop Katya from diving. Being a young man, Gene had to swim too. Then that my wife went swimming. After that me and Eugene had to go swimming too...

After a small picnic, we prepared to go further. However the road was fixed and the drive was uneventful. We went to Truckee. Eugene and Gene went home. We stayed, ate a pizza and decided to take Donner Pass Road back. We stopped on the vista. There was so much smoke in the air, Donner Lake was almost invisible. We looked at artificial railroad tunnel - a train track covered in concrete and noticed cars driving there. Obviously the tacks were removed there and we decided to go there too. We drove into two first tunnels, but they were narrow for just a single can to pass. The big tunnel was wider, but we decided not to go there yet. Maybe next time.