Lake Tahoe

C: Lake Tahoe is really beautiful...especially when seen from above. Today, Todd and Kit took us for a ride to Emerald Bay on the SW corner of the lake. The picture shows an island and a lot of boats around the island. It shows just how big the lake is. Todd told me that the lake is 12 miles wide (E to W) and 22 miles long (N to S). Most of the pics show the E to W view, with the one with two points looking NW to SE just north of Emerald Bay

The other photos show how high we are and the shear drop off the trail we were on, also that the water has a turquoise look in shallow water and deep blue where it drops off to deep water.

Tomorrow, while Kit and Todd are setting up for their show, Vicki and I will probably take the gondola up the mountain (called "HEAVENLY") for a photo op at a MUCH higher viewing point, 3000 ft above Lake Tahoe which is already 6200 ft high...therefore at least 9200 FEET...OH JOY!!!!

v:I thoroughly enjoyed today visiting and hiking with Kit and Todd. We had a delicious sub lunch sitting on a large rock in the woods above Emerald Bay. Afterward, we took a hike UP the mountain overlooking this gorgeous lake. The photo opportunities were constant, though wisely, Curt had the camera. Kit and Todd very graciously went slowly and turned around when these "oldies" knees whispered to us that they hoped they could make it DOWN. Because the rocks and rock steps are covered with sand and pebbles, going down required the helping hand of my Knight in Shining Armor - Curt. The lake colors, the rock formations, the variety of living and dead trees and bushes were such a delight to experience. They have been here for eons and will be here for eons after I'm dead. So humbling! These pictures hardly do the views justice, but we hope you enjoy them. Getting them was an adventure. Curt and I are having a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoying each others' company. We are indeed, best friends.

Gorgeous, Scary and How did that happen? Fairfield to South Lake Tahoe

What an sweet day! We got up at 6am which is our pattern on days we are driving - so that we can be packed, loaded, sandwiches made, ice in the cooler and gas in the tank - and - on the road by 8am. We are not early risers by nature, but persevere so we can be off the road by 3 or 4pm most days. So far, this pattern has been pretty successful. Not today...we lingered sending Dick off to work after watching 10 turkeys scurry over for seed...then visited with Sandy. Today was a short ride, 3 hours, to South Lake Tahoe to visit my sister Kit and her husband Todd.

We saw lots of rice patties (they are the only green ground in CA) as we left the Sacramento area. Before we knew it, we were climbing again. In 1 1/2 hours, we went from dry straw ground to mt pines and deciduous trees to mt and very tall pines. I even saw a new kind of pine tree to my eyes. Took lots of pics.

After going up and up we started going down and around. Fabulous motorcycle roads and amazing scenery. While we were going down we noticed the South Fork of the American River...it was flowing over rocks UP STREAM. How does it do that? We know that this side of the Continental Divide rivers flow to the west, but up stream??? Yet the further we drove in free fall (not using the gas-steep) every sign we passed said we were another 1,000 ft higher. How??? Apparently, somewhere in that down and around through the mountains on narrow roads, we must have been sling-shooting upward. And the river kept flowing upward... I decided to just savor the moments. At one point, we came over a hill and went around a curve and the world fell off the mountain. I stopped breathing and Curt said he was looking at the (very curvy) road because he didn't want to scare himself. GOOD IDEA!! His arms were about to fall off by the time we came out of the mountains and down to the Lake. The Lake sits at 6200 ft above sea level. When we saw the Lake through the tall pines and curves of mountains, it was turquoise along the shore and deep blue further out. WOW!!

Our motel is about 2 blocks from this glorious lake. We walked down to the lake and sat on the beach for awhile until Kit and Todd picked us up. We watched this lake ringed by mountains and the changing sky. It was mesmerizing! Slowly, big dark clouds started coming over the mts and we just sat there and watched. Later, we went for a picnic on the beach of Lake Tahoe with Kit and Todd. It was so grand to be with them again. We shared the beach with some Canadian geese and 1 Snow goose. Hopefully, the pics are clear. It even sprinkled a bit while we were eating and none of us moved. They were really surprised by this cloudy weather as this area has clear skies July and August. Joyous day!! We even got to talk with Julia (1 11/12 yr), Barb and Heidi too. This trip is so-o-o-o-o much fun!!!

Have a sweet day yourselves!

C: Last day in Fairfield, CA, went to the Budweiser plant for a tour and beer tasting. Dan and Amos would have loved it. Tried to get a tour at Jelly Belly but the lines were as long as Disneyland so we went to a vineyard and tasted some of the local wines. We are in Salano Co. which is next to Napa Valley. Also we went to a local produce stand and saw produce we had no idea what it was or what it could possibily used for. I hope the video works and the turkeys come through for the Doyles. The back yard is open range and not only have turkeys but also have free ranging cattle. Very interesting place.

From Grants Pass to Fairfield, CA - San Francisco

C: Started out waking up to 48 degrees. Went to church and left about 9:30 at about 54 degrees. More mountains and more passes..Oh joy!!! Dropped dowm onto Sacramento Valley and the temps changed...from 62 to 75 in 25 miles. From Redding to Fairfield it went from 85 to 101 degrees. We were ready for a shower. Thank the lord, Sandy and Dick were ready for us with cool water both in a glass and a shower head. Slept well and didn't have to get up until 8 am.

We went to San Francisco - Fisherman's Warf - and shopped all day. At the Coser's house it was supposed to be mid 90's...at Fisherman's Warf it was in the high 50's all day...Didn't mind it at all! Wow, all the fresh seafood everywhere. We ate at a nice restraunt at pier 39. Vicki, Dick and I had a crab melt sandwitch and a I also had bowl of clam chowder. Sandy had the largest Crab Louie any of us had ever seen. We also had smoked salmon w/ toast and an order of calamari for appitizer. To say we had fun does not do it justice.

Going back over the mts. the temp went back to 71...but it's a dry heat...again Oh joy!!!

V: Very cold! Beyond HOT!! I prefer the cold by a really long mile! Yesterday was a much tougher day than either of us expected. Curt did a really good job of driving and getting us off the road to cool down.

Our friends, Dick and Sandy, are wonderful and showing us a great time in CA. It was fun in San Francisco with entertaining nationalities, yummy seafood and unusual stuff. We got Curt a really nice leather jacket for the bike, as he didn't have one. Tomorrow we are off to the Jelly Belly factory, Ice cream factory and maybe Napa Valley for wine tasting... Interesting tastes come to mind.

Wednesday we are off to South Lake Tahoe to visit with Kit and Todd through Friday. I know that they are really busy with shows on Friday, but I would just like to see they both in action for just a bit. We are both excited to be with Kit and Todd and to see the various places mentioned in his books. "Tahoe_____" by Todd Borg. I highly recommend the series. Great reads, with action and mystery, personalilties and clean. Saturday, we will head toward LA. Our friend Lyle has been in the hospital, so we are hoping that he will be well enough for visitors by the time we come. No, we are not staying with them. That would definitely be overwhelming.... we are such quiet people!!! Well, I'm off to the hot tub with Sandy and her wild turkeys. Another story.

Be good and God bless you all!

Pics Seattle to Grants Pass, Oregon

Curt and Aunt Ruth Vicki and Aunt Ruth



First blue sky and lasting sunlight we've seen in 3 days - Yahoo!!
Oregon decorates it's highways with these plants - amazing


Challenging roads Farms at foot of mts



Arid areas of mid-western Oregon Pretty farm
One of the roads where I talked to Curt ...

Coast Mt Range in western Oregon


Another driving moment when I put the camera on Curt's helmet - oops!

Pictures of Washington-Spokane to Seattle

Columbia River central Washington

Eastern Wash Farm...ARID

Northern Cascade Mountains...Cold and windy driving

Seattle to Grants Pass

C: We had a great time with Aunt Ruth and she was sad to see us leave. We had to stay an extra day when we mentioned that we might leave on Friday. She looked so sad and sounded so dejected we just had to stay another day. It wasn't really hard though. She's a lot of fun to be around and a good cook.



We left Sat am in the rain and clouds and 56 degrees. By the time we got to Grants Pass it was 72 and sunny. Great trip but a little long..428 miles. The mileage went up though, 38 mpg. We needed a shower/bath just to relax. Great to get back on the road again and see this wonderful country. It seems to change about every 25 miles. Vicki is taking so many pics that the battery in the camera keeps going dead about 3/4 through the trip.



I finally found somewhere that might give Minnesota a run for its money in being liberal. Washington is very liberal. We also saw that Ann Rivers is running for state representative in Wash. I told Vicki maybe we should campaign for her. Must be a relative some how.



My turn in the shower....heeeers Vick.



V: I also really enjoyed Aunt Ruth. Her body might be 94, though she doesn't look it, but her mind is witty and her humor gives Curt a good run for his money. We spent alot if time visiting and laughing. We are so pleased that we were able to spend so much time with Ruth. After all, she is the reason we took this trip. The rest of you are all extra blessings to us.



We called Pete today to wish him Happy Birthday - 38...WOW how did he get that old...I'm not!! He is a fine man and we are very grateful he is our son!!! Have a fabulous year, Pete!!



Curt is right, I'm having a ball taking pictures..for me and for him, as he is always busy driving the motorcycle....this is really a good thing, but he misses so many g-o-o-d views. He told me this morning that I could rest the camera on his helmet when I needed to steady it for a photo. Well, true to my nature, the first time I did this, we had just started into a 6% grade with several sharpish curves. Imagine how he felt when a plunked the camera on his helmet without warning. $*&^( Actually, he calmly, but intensely said, NOT NOW! For a smart person, I can do some really hair-brained stuff. He was really very kind and we laughed about the fact that the only time I tell him something really important is when we are in a steep grade with curves. For the next 3 hours, as we came into that "situation", I always wanted to talk to him....but didn't. That was really hard!! He is amazingly patient with me and his humor has saved us on more than one occasion.



We did find out that you can "transport" on a motorcycle to Milwaukee, Salem, Dallas, Albany, Lebanon, Springfield, and Cottage Grove without ever leaving Oregon. We are having a blast together. Today we had mountain ranges on both sides of us all day. We have seen fewer cows and alot more sheep. Giant oak trees are taking over the lower lands and on the leeward sides of the passes things are really starting to dry out. Oregon is beautiful and has water, rivers and even farming on the flat lands. Tomorrow we head down to Fairfield, CA to visit Dick and Sandy, friend's transplanted from MN. Then onto visit Kit and Todd, my amazing sister and her talented husband. Both are artists - Kit with a brush and Todd with a word processor. They live in South Lake Tahoe. I believe that we have turned the 3,000 mile mark on our trip as of today. I'm still impressed that we are actually doing this. WOW!! This is a marvelous way to see and feel the beauty of this country and it's people. I/We highly recommend it!



Happy Birthday, Pete - we love you hugely!!!