If you've never been to Lake Tahoe, I highly recommend putting it on your bucket list of places to see.

I drove down the hill from Virginia City and decided to cruise around the shore. I went to high school in Truckee (10 miles from the north side of the lake) and spent many summers swimming and biking around this beauty, and winters snowboarding and hiking the mountains above. I really is one of the most amazing places in the world.

Emerald Bay.  This is where Tahoe Tessie lives. — Emerald Bay. This is where Tahoe Tessie lives.

Fannette Island.  A man named Captain Dick "Them's my toes" Barter lived here for a decade in the late 1800's.  True story. — Fannette Island. A man named Captain Dick "Them's my toes" Barter lived here for a decade in the late 1800's. True story.

We used to swim around here and jump off "Bonzai Rock".  The waters are super clear with tons of boulders to spelunk around. — We used to swim around here and jump off "Bonzai Rock". The waters are super clear with tons of boulders to spelunk around.

I went to the historic CalNeva casino, but it's being remodeled.  I found their old limo and my van posed for a portrait with it. — I went to the historic CalNeva casino, but it's being remodeled. I found their old limo and my van posed for a portrait with it.

I love this town.  I lived here from 1990 until 2005, with a couple years in Incline Village during college and S. Lake while making a Neoproto snowboard movie. — I love this town. I lived here from 1990 until 2005, with a couple years in Incline Village during college and S. Lake while making a Neoproto snowboard movie.

Truckee's history is rich with the gold rush and transcontinental railroad.

The Donner Party made some grave mistakes on their voyage.  Not me, I've got this trip all planned out and have plenty of canned soup in my camper. — The Donner Party made some grave mistakes on their voyage. Not me, I've got this trip all planned out and have plenty of canned soup in my camper.

A nice dusting of snow on the train tunnels of Donner Summit. — A nice dusting of snow on the train tunnels of Donner Summit.

These tunnels have been abandoned for a long time.  We used to have parties in them with keggers and bonfires of course. — These tunnels have been abandoned for a long time. We used to have parties in them with keggers and bonfires of course.

One of the tunnels serves as a graffiti artist's training grounds.

While walking 1/4 mile through this pitch black tunnel, I totally felt the ghosts of the immigrant workers around me.  This self-portrait was spooky. — While walking 1/4 mile through this pitch black tunnel, I totally felt the ghosts of the immigrant workers around me. This self-portrait was spooky.

After reminiscing around Tahoe and Truckee, I cruised along 1-80 to Reno. I lived there for a handful of years after I retired from professional snowboarding, to experience a bit more of a city lifestyle. It can be a crazy place, for the casino gambling environment produces some interesting characters.

The downtown strip.  They say "Reno is so close to Hell, you can see Sparks!"  (Sparks is the next town over, haha) — The downtown strip. They say "Reno is so close to Hell, you can see Sparks!" (Sparks is the next town over, haha)

In 2010 I co-founded Pie-Face Pizza Co. with a couple friends.  It's on the ground floor of the historic art-deco El Cortez hotel in downtown next to the river, now branded as Noble Pie Parlor. — In 2010 I co-founded Pie-Face Pizza Co. with a couple friends. It's on the ground floor of the historic art-deco El Cortez hotel in downtown next to the river, now branded as Noble Pie Parlor.

The 3 Wise Men of Pie-Face.  Note the awards on the wall, we won "Best Pizza" & "Best Late Night Dining" when we opened for business, and they've continued winning awards each year.  The trophies are for their amazing ho… — The 3 Wise Men of Pie-Face. Note the awards on the wall, we won "Best Pizza" & "Best Late Night Dining" when we opened for business, and they've continued winning awards each year. The trophies are for their amazing hot wings. Be sure to stop in when you're in Reno. Mmmmmm, I'm getting hungry...

Next I'm traveling through some wine country and up to the town I was born in, ol' redneck Redding!

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