Day 2

Day 2 started off with the typical hotel continental breakfast of make-them-yourself waffles and orange juice. The kids had hard boiled eggs, toast, and other fun stuff. Driving across Nevada isn't too exciting, not much to say about the landscape. Except that we often felt we were making our way across the dust bowl with the Joads.

Here's a highlight: we stopped for gas in Sparks, NV, and saw this beautiful sight! This truck, as well as its trailer,was decorated top to bottom (literally) with knick knacks, household implements, and bling. We had to stop and look.

Lunch was another "picnic" in the middle of absolute nowhere, NV. Windy as all get out.

Another highlight: crossing the California Agricultural Inspection Station at the same time as the Joads! And, no we didn't plan it. We heard the Joads being stopped by the inspectors on the CD, and not minutes later we were surprised by the same thing.
Shortly after entering California, we climbed into the mountains, and decided it was time to stop. We came across a sweet little park, Donner Lake State Park. This beautiful mountain lake enetertained us for hours, and  we could have stayed for hours more. We would definitely be here, camping a lot if we lived closer ;-p

Giant pine cones, relatively warm water, beautiful rocky and sandy beaches.

Down the mountain (oh my ears) and past Sacramento to our next hotel. The kids are thrilled to see the plant life :-)

That evening we went out to a chain brewpub for dinner, and then the kids and I had a relaxing swim in the pool.
 Vacaville, CA