12/07/08

Shortly after leaving Reno, we discovered that the road we intended to take to Yosemite, Tioga Pass on Route 120, was closed.  Not wanting to drive all the way to Death Valley, we decided to make an intermediary stop at Mammoth Lakes, CA.  The drive to Mammoth was again quite beautiful, with high desert scenery surrounded by snow-peaked mountains.  Just before getting to Mammoth, we saw the sunset over Mono Lake, a unique salt lake in the Sierra Nevadas.

We braved the 34 degree weather and had a pitcher of Mammoth Gold Ale and delicious nachos at Lakanuki Tiki Bar in Mammoth Village on Minaret Road.  The manager, Tegan, was especially friendly and attentive.  We decided to really live it up at the Motel 6 at a ridiculous rate of $74, but I guess that’s what you get in a ski town.  Luckily there wasn’t that much snow on the mountain so the rates were “low”.   After stopping in the morning for some pastries and fresh squeezed orange juice at the incomparable Schat’s Bakery, we headed toward the warm weather of the desert.