Don Barrett (aka DBs travels)'s photos

This is only a mild version of my irritation :) Sacramento seemed to be the worst of any place I’ve visited in terms of tourists on scooters (and bikes) on the sidewalk, with no sense of courtesy, no regard for pedestrians, and no regard for the law (its illegal to ride them on the sidewalks). More to come…

The Tower Bridge at sunset, taken from the west bank of the Sacramento River. Click on the ‘Tower Bridge’ tag for pictures of the bridge from previous trips. Source: livingnewdeal.org/projects/tower-bridge-sacramento-ca

The Tower Bridge, Sacramento, considered to be an exemplar of Streamline Moderne design and one of my favorite bridges. Built with New Deal funding, it was dedicated in 1935. This view is from downtown, looking west. Click on the ‘Tower Bridge’ tag for pictures of the bridge from previous trips. Source: livingnewdeal.org/projects/tower-bridge-sacramento-ca

All that remains of a large brewery, built in 1862 and torn down in 1966. If you look closely, you can see that the Zeisz cornerstone includes a sculpture of a brewery barrel. Source: malakoff.com/goldcountry/mcplaczb.htm

A quite historic building that stands out when you’re entering Placerville from the east. The building was built in 2 stages, the lower portion in 1859 and then the second story was added in 1897. From the description in the link below, it sounds as if the building would make an interesting exhibit on ingenuity (a water elevator) and the history of ice provision developing into soda works. Source: malakoff.com/goldcountry/mcplacsw.htm

Original detail at the entrance to the former post office (see adjacent picture). Source: livingnewdeal.org/projects/old-post-office-placerville-ca

Former Post Office in Placerville, CA, built with New Deal funding in 1939-40. In 1969 a new post office was built and this was converted to the District Attorney’s office (see adjacent picture); in 2017 the DA’s office was moved due to problems with the older building. The building is now vacant. Source: livingnewdeal.org/projects/old-post-office-placerville-ca

Having escaped the Lake Tahoe area, crossing the Sierra Nevada on US 50 at Echo Summit.

From somewhere near Incline Village (Nevada), looking past a wealthy cove and across Lake Tahoe to the mountains in California. I generally refuse to visit the Lake Tahoe area, it’s too much the epitome of consumerism at its worst. When I first went through there in 1967, there was quite a bit of open space with small villages of simple cabins, all in glorious forests with spectacular views. The glorious forests and spectacular views still exist, but too marred by ostentatious displays of gated-community wealth bounded by over-crowded developments of casino resorts with bad traffic. Want to see nature? See the natural aggression of bad traffic and fast luxury cars that think they own the roads.

Just what I didn’t need to know – that snowmobiling is popular in the national forest...

Late spring snow.

Snowing, at a small picnic grounds at the Spooner Summit trailhead on US 60, Memorial Day weekend.

Leaving Carson City. Though it was late May (the 26th), there was snow in the mountains and there had been chain controls further west that morning, due to ice. Since I didn’t have chains for my car, I had delayed heading out until after the chain controls were lifted.

Like others have discovered, its almost impossible to get a picture of the Nevada State Capitol Building due to it being surrounded by trees. It’s also small compared to most state capitols in the U.S., and not set in some sort of dramatic landscaping to make it look commanding – surprisingly subdued. To keep up with subdued, it’s not the same as other state capitols as the site of the legislature – the legislature meets in a different building, this is the site of the governor’s office. The building was completed in 1871.

An interesting building, impossible to photograph due to the surrounding trees. The building was a project of the New Deal, built in 1937 as the Supreme Court and Library with funding from the Public Works Administration. Source: livingnewdeal.org/us/nv/carson-city

A classic small casino, across the street from the Paul Laxalt State Building, which is part of the state capitol complex that is on the south side of downtown.

Though I’ve passed through Carson City many times, I’ve never stayed overnight or explored. My hotel was close to the old downtown, which was small and pleasant to explore.

A classic-looking 1960’s motel in downtown Carson City.