We embark on yet, another history-making day during our 23-day Hwy 50 journey. After leaving Bush and Kerry behind in Reno we head toward Carson City and Lake Tahoe. We gas up at Tahoe, along with everyone else in town, to the tune of $2.55/gallon, and continue on Hwy 50 only to be re-routed shortly after entering Lake Tahoe. Seems the fires that started on Wednesday, consuming an estimated 17,000-acres of California timber, closing two trans-Sierra highways Thursday are now here in the South Lake Tahoe area. We turn on the radio and learn Kyburz and Silver Fork in the Sierras were evacuated after Fred’s Fire ignited west of Lake Tahoe Wednesday burning some 5,000 acres and shutting down a 20-mile stretch of US 50 between Pollock Pines, CA and South Lake Tahoe. The Power Fire exploded to the south, burning 12,000 acres closing 88 on Thursday between Omo Ranch Road and Mormon Immigrant Trail.

On Thursday Fred’s Fire began burning north of 50 in steep, rugged terrain, timber and brush. Ten percent of the fire was contained by Thursday and full containment is expected by Sunday about 6:00 p.m. About 490 firefighters have been battling the blaze with the help of helicopters and air tankers. Driving bits of US 50 before we’re re-routed we can hear the helicopters overhead, and pass by two fire stations. The Power Fire isn’t expected to be fully contained until October 23, and has exploded 400-3,000 acres in size.

We’re detoured onto 88 through the town of Amador and the Eldorado National Forest. After driving for one hour on 88 we’re rerouted again. The smoke is getting thicker, obscuring the beautiful view of fall colors, pine trees, mountains and Lake Tahoe. This is Pat’s first time in Tahoe. Hopefully, she’ll be able to see some of it. The roads are blocked off at the Mormon Emigrant Trail and we’re rerouted once again. We pass two fire stations set up for fueling and supplies. We continue on Mormon Emigrant Trail and turn west back onto US 50.

In spite of the smoke the fall colors in the Lake Tahoe area are perfect. The number one Tahoe tree for fall foliage, notes "Tahoe This Week" (through October 27, 2004) guide, is the Quaking Aspen, turning every shade of yellow, gold, orange and red. Growing along streams, around lakes and in moist meadows, the Aspen fill the slopes here in Tahoe from 6,000-10,000 feet. Cottonwoods, mixed with Aspens also grow here along rivers and streams up to 9,000 feet, and Willows and Alders. The Willows are either small shrubs or small trees and turn various shades of gold, with yellow and red branches. Many of the mountain shrubs turn colors and include the Mountain Ash, Mountain Spiraea, Creek Dogwood and Mountain Maple. Also adding to the beauty of fall colors in the Sierra area are Bracken Ferns, Firewood (so called because the red leaves and fuzzy seeds suggest flames and smoke), and many grasses and sedges.

Our detour through Lake Tahoe set us back a couple of hours. We arrived in Sacramento around noon and it’s a beautiful sunny, 70-degree day. We take the exit off Hwy 80/50 and it leads us right to the Capital building. Immediately, we like Sacramento. We find a place to park right in front of the 40-acre Capital grounds. Two men are standing across the street from the grounds taking pictures. We ask if they will snap our history-making photo in front of the Capital in our Hwy 50 t-shirts. They kindly oblige, one of them a "professional" photographer. There is loud music and a small crowd near the steps of the Capital. Walking over I begin a conversation with a woman sitting at the literature table. "What’s going on," I ask her. "This is a Hip Hop venue," she answers. "It is to encourage African Americans and other minorities to come out, perform for the crowd-aspiring musicians-and also register to vote. I take the information, curious about the mostly anti-Bush propaganda and continue on around the block searching for Arnold’s tent he is supposed to have erected on the Capital grounds so that he can continue to smoke cigars while he works.

After an hour we tried (operative word) leaving Sacramento, and once again find ourselves driving in circles looking for I-80/99 to head southeast.

Not really sure where we’ll stop for the night, we end up outside of Jamestown, CA at the Southshore Lake Tulloch RV Campground and Marina. The sun has gone down, we’re tired and after putting up the camper we walk over to the on-site restaurant and get some sandwiches. We eat dinner, build a small fire and end the evening with our S’mores ritual!