Preparing Trip Two to San Diego…Celebrating July 4

So nice to have a place to stay in cool and visitor friendly San Diego.  Restaurants, places to visit and wonderful fireworks display while you sit on the beach sipping a cool one. 

Going to go to one of my favorite Italian restaurants,  Pomadoro, live on the beach and might even go with the family deep sea fishing!

The only sad thing is we wonder how Tiny Tina will react to us being gone again.  The week alone with her old nemesis Slinky cat was pathetic.  When we got back she would not leave us.  Her head hung down and there was no happiness.  She is back now, wild and happy.  PS she doesn’t know she is a cat.  Even wants to drink coffee with us. 

Looking forward to the trip.  We’ll be back Tina.

 

Home Again From the Sierra’s 40th Bash

Our drive home was great, 375 miles down Highway 5.  Sure was great to get home.  Outstanding family celebration. 

 

River Otters, Deep Water, Turkey Fight!

We loaded up the vehicles for the drive down to the Tiger Creek and its old power plant. 

The pristine area was was full icy water pouring down the tiger creek from the snows in the Sierra’s.  The trout are thriving AND so were the River Otters. 

What a nosey creature.  He swam and watched everything we did.  What a gorgeous place to take the grandkids.

Along the creek, there must have a big wild turkey fight!  Their feathers were scattered around much to the happiness of the kids who suddenly became “wild Indians.”

All in all, it was one of the most beautiful places I have been to in many years.  Unexpected pleasures.

Last day that we all were together.  Joy.

 

Top of the Mountain

The foothills of the west side of the California Sierra mountain range are known for two kinds of hill tops;  the hills covered huge pines and huge hills covered with California Oaks and tan grasses.

Our rental house is on the pine covered hills climbing into the Sierras and the friend we visited yesterday is situated on the very top of a hilltop with a 360 degree view of the world.  Of course we got lost even with our GPS and phone Google maps…entered the address wrong so couldn’t blame technology.

When we got there, it was unbelievable!  Total silence except for the wind blowing through the oaks.

Bear, bob cats, mountain lions, deer, snakes, california condors etc etc.  A world of wildlife and views of the those living below you.

Nineteen acres, a couple of tractors, storage sheds an near new beautiful home that blends in with the hillside and built to be environmental friendly.  You need a couple of big dogs and a handgun and long gun to be safe.

A long reminiscence of past decade over grilled chicken and fresh veggies.  Life is good. 

 

 

Waterfalls, Deep Blue Clear Water, Deer Herds

We loaded up in two cars and by 830 a.m. headed east on highway 88 deeper into High Sierra’s.  Deer were foraging around every bend and you needed to hope that they would not start and dash into your car.  We were lucky and we had a clear run higher and higher nearly to 8000 feet before we stopped for photo’s of the snow capped mountains.

Waterfall were pouring down the mountains to rush into the already filled lakes and reservoirs.  Down two thousand feet the cars and the water rushed down the east side of the Sierra’s and as we came around a curves the grand kids shrieked we needed to stop at the “island.”

It was their first view of Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe. 

We drove slowly around the lake and wondered at the beauty and size of a mountain lake at 6200 feet high.  We gathered at the beach and grand kids ran off their excessive energy.  

The two hour drive back, a nap and a big home-made taco dinner with Joe and Irene.  Life is good. 

 

Treasure, Food and Explorers

Day two of the family 40th started a cool down of the weather.  The mosquitos got hungrier, with the light clouds overhead so we all headed out.  The kids/grand kids headed out to explore a cave and with Libby’s dislike of dark under ground spaces, we headed to Jackson to grocery shop for enough food for a a few days.

We all met back at the house and worked hard to get all the food into the refrigerator and gathered together to eat.  Teachers, police officers, managers, ex-military, nurses and good cooks.

After a nap, we all gathered around to watch the grandkids do a self organized treasure hunt.  I think the ghosts of the gold mining past got into their heads about gold!

 

Our only grand daughter is the explorer of the group out in the forest.

Time for a two hour drive to 6300 high Lake Tahoe tomorrow. 

 

A Week of Celebration of 40 Years of Marriage…in the Gold County of the High Sierra’s

When Libby and I got married 40 years ago, we certainly were not planning what we were going to be doing to celebrate this momentous occasion. 

Over the 40 years we both had great careers, had two kids, three grand kids and traveled the world.  The kids are self-sufficient and are looking like they are going to fare even better then us in their careers and grand kids are doing great in school. 

When we approached the big 40th wondered what should we do to celebrate?  There was no question the celebration would revolve around the family as we found over 40 years that that was by far the most important to us.  But where, when and how could we get everyone together?  How about a week in Disneyworld or Disneyland?  Grand kids would love it.  How about renting a flat in London/Paris/Barcelona and enjoy ourselves with the European way of life?  What did you say the airfare was and have you ever flown with a 5 year old for 11 hours?

To make a long story short, we rented a 5 bed room house deep in California’s High Sierra mountains and the “gold country.”  Only a 7 hour drive and an addition plus, it is very close to Libby’s sister and her husband and an hour from a very close friend who lives there too. 

Everyone enthusiastically agreed and we all arrived yesterday ready to spend a week together.  Stay in touch with us on the blog and  see what a week long celebration of 40 years of marriage is like.