Welcome to Washoe Lake State Park, where the desert days are warm and the deepening shadows give way to stunning hues and a plethora of sounds. Just prior to the sun bidding farewell, laughter and the pounding of horses’ hooves can be heard as campers enjoy a sunset ride along the lake. Locusts, crickets, and all matter of creepy-crawly creatures move to the rhythms of the night. Coyotes circle around, whether to howl at the full moon or to serenade us, who can know? Their cadence quickens to a piercing cacophony of shrieks and howls (quite eerie). Most likely they are banding together for the kill, hopefully not one of the shy jackrabbits we see bounding around our camp site. Such is the symphony at sunset in these parts.
This is the Nevada desert and it could be Arizona as I admire our 360º view of mountain ranges, enormous billowing clouds and aromatic sagebrush. Place a grouping of prickly cacti in this picture and I am transported back to our Arizona home.
We lucked upon site #8, a pull-through, facing out over Washoe Lake and the mountains – pretty sweet. The suggestion for this state park came from our RV buddies Nina and Paul of Wheeling It. Not sure how we would have found our way this past year if not for their fabulous tips (lol).
Our favorite pastime while here has been to pull up a rocking chair with wineglass in hand (filled with a nice Zin of course) and watch the sky explode into a fireball of oranges and reds as the sun slips below the mountain peaks, only to transform itself a few moments later to cooler shades of pinks and purples.
Lest you think we haven’t peeled ourselves out of our chairs the entire time we have been here, we did run some errands in Reno and take a day trip to Lake Tahoe, which we had never seen (can you believe it?!). Beyond this, we have been most content to pour a glass of wine; pull up a chair; point it west; and as the sun dips lower in the sky, marvel at our Creator’s stunning work, the constantly changing colors penetrating the clouds. Tomorrow we head for the mountains, but for tonight, we await the symphony at sunset.
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Paint Your Landscape 
Beautiful, and only a few hours away from where I am. Hope you have a great rest of your travels.
Yes, I’ve already seen signs for Sacramento so I knew we were getting close. Hope all is well with you Joan.
Photos lovely as always…..but your writing outstanding. Very enjoyable post 🙂
Thanks Ingrid. Have a lovely week. 🙂
Sounds like good times :). Beautiful shots!
Thanks Boomie. It is beautiful here but we are ready to head to the mountains and hopefully see the changing of colors. Have a lovely week. 🙂
Good that you’re enjoying yourselves. Life is good, eh?
Life is very good! 🙂
What stunning photos. You are in one of the most lovely areas out west. Enjoy.
We are certainly enjoying this area and are heading to the mountains today to hopefully see some fall colors. Have a lovely week Marsha. 🙂
As usual you excel at finding beautiful photo shots. I like coming here, it’s like a little holiday everday.
Thanks Stefan. Have a great week. 🙂
Hey again LuAnn, okay back to being envious, in a good way as I am happy for the two of you and the pleasure you are experiencing in your adventures. Your narrative is so fulsome and the photographs. I agree with Ste J. I do ‘sorta’ feel there too. hmmm…awaiting the symphony at sunset, yes indeed! 🙂
Thanks Penny. We are now in the mountains of CA hoping to catch some beautiful fall colors. Hope you are having a splendid week as well. 🙂
Inspiration for the photo in my blog certainly is somewhere in the depths of your beautiful these photos, photos with my visual power is quite impressive , thank you for share it with us!
Thank you for your beautiful words Stefan. 🙂
I love the word pictures you paint. We/I haven’t been there sounds like a place we would want to build into a future SW trip.
Thanks Ardythe. I think you should definitely plan this one into a SW trip. Have a wonderful week. 🙂
I can never write the way you do. It takes a year for me to complete a good writing piece. My Jellyfish Experience III took a year and a half. Hehe. Beautiful words, awesome pictures!
The Fannette Island looks very interesting to go to.
Thanks again. The Fannette Island has a small building on top, if you look closely. Many years ago it was built as a tearoom for a socialite. 🙂
Many years ago? Let’s go build one, and have our own blogging socialites. Bwahahahaha. Joke. I’m not a very big fan of teea anyways.
That’s good because I don’t think you would find any there today. 🙂
I am an artist/painter. I would love to use some of you pictures as reference if you permit me to do so. Please let me know. My name is Rency Punnoose.
I have no problem with that Rency. I would love to see the finished results. 🙂