South Lake Tahoe CA, Stateline and Reno NV

On Tuesday we caught the early train and bus combo to South Lake Tahoe via Sacramento. The town is beautiful - has nothing on Banff with its imposing surrounding mountains but the Lake really is amazing to look at. Supposedly if it was drained it would take over 700 years to refill - its a huge lake! The town is really spread out with little public transport, yanks definately like to use their cars!! Spent our first 3 days looking for housing which was definately the lowpoint of the trip as most of the housing had already been taken. We managed to find an oversized motel room with full size kitchen and bathroom for the 3 of us for a really cheap rate which was great, but I feel sorry for any people arriving now as there is nothing left - not even motel rooms. We have 3 to our room which isn't too bad considering some South African friends at work have 10 people on blow up matresses in a 2 bedroom cabin!

have met some great people here already - locals, americans from interstate, kiwis, south africans, canadians, fellow aussies, heaps of brazilians, argentinians and a few brits make up most of the town.

HB and I had our work orientation on friday which was fine and I started work on Sunday as a ticket seller at one of the California Base Lodges (the ski area spans two states - california and nevada, its huge, at least twice the size of perisher). Its easy work and I have a great group of people to work with. getting up at 6:15am for work is the only pain, but considering I finish work most days at 2:15pm which gives me 2 hours every day to ride the mountain 9and my days off) its a great job. Unfortunately as half the hill isn't open yet HB doesn't start work until the 17th. Tony is spending his days up the mountain or at the casinos (theres 5 of them). I think he is $350 up currently, after a massive $600US win the other week - good way to pay off the trip!

A few nights ago our Brazilian neighbours had a bit of a party and then we all headed out. I definately think the Brazilians are the hardest partiers, have never seen a group of people so energetic at 5am, especially when we all had to be at work by 7:30...

Today (Wednesday) has been my first day off since starting work on sunday and I'm in Reno filling out the last of my paperwork for the US Government. Nevada is the only state in the US that has legalised gambling and it shows, the main street is filled with 10+ casino's and nothing else. If it weren't for the casino's I don't think anyone would live here! This idea has been further reinforced by the lack of scenery once you cross the border from california - there aren't any trees here! just savanna, shrubs and desert! Have seen my first drive through ATM, drive up bank teller windows, and a 24 hour drive thru pharmacy! americans love their cars...

snow is forecast for the next week so hopefully ill get some good riding in soon. thats all on the cards for now! ciao. i hope everyone is enjoying the summer back home, i heard it was melbournes hottest day in 30 years the other day 9and with the fires going on as well!) hope we smash the poms in the next test!