Day 36 - (09/07) Coleville, CA

We made the shortest move of the trip today, 46 miles south on US-395 to Coleville, CA.  We did it so we could take National Geographic's Ebbetts Pass Scenic Byway and leave the trailer behind (but reasonably close).

We left Carson City by 10am.

Site #12 - Comstock Country RV Resort

It was sunny and US-395 was smooth as we went from Carson Valley in NV to Antelope Valley in CA.

Sierra Nevada Mountains from US-395

Topaz Lake

Meadowcliff Resort was a great find.  Its RV park is new, has all the amenities, and offers the Passport America 50% discount.  And what a view!

Site #404

The motel is wrapped in cliffs and sage

We finished set-up and had a very nice lunch at Meadowcliff Restaurant by 1:15pm.  

Then we took off on the curviest, twistiest sightseeing outing ever.  The route:  CA-89 west from US-395 over Monitor Pass (8,314 ft) to the CA-4 junction, CA-4 to Ebbetts Pass (8,732 ft), Ebbetts Pass to Markleeville, then CA-89 back to US-395.

CA-89 heading toward Monitor Pass

It's a long, curvy climb

This was CA-4's first greeting

OK, OK.  We hear you!

Views up were dramatic

Views down were heart stopping
(Carol got very personal views ... no berm, no guard rail)

Toss in a beautiful fishing lake near the summit

We stopped at the summit

The ride down/home presented even more special scenes.

There are two deer here
(one is disappearing on the hillside, half way up)

Shadows fall over the valley

It's a long, curvy way down

Markleeville is a small mountain town (population about 210) that survives on tourist trade and as the county seat for Alpine County.  It's only accessible in the winter from the north by CA-88.  Monitor Pass and Ebbetts Pass both close for the season due to heavy snow.  The town was clean, quaint and a great resting spot for cars and motorcycles crossing the mountain.

We got back to the park before 5pm.  The evening was clear and cool.  We may stay here another day.