Our stay in Nevada continues. Compared to past weeks, this
was relatively quiet. Dick’s sister Susie and her husband David from
McKinleyville, CA (see an earlier blog entry for our visit there) are still camping
in South Lake Tahoe, so we enjoyed family time with them and daughter Hollee,
her husband David and our granddaughter Anastasia.
After a relaxing day at home on Monday, we drove into
Incline Village, NV to spend Tuesday morning at “baby school” with Anastasia
and Hollee. What a hoot! There were 7 little kids, ages 1-2, participating in
group activities, as well as playing on their own. We had seen most of these
kids last year when they were either crawling or just learning to walk. So fun to
see them growing up, becoming their own little persons with their own
personalities.
Dick took on some projects at Hollee’s and David’s house
after they had the master bathroom painted, such as hanging their bathroom
mirror and towel bar, and fixing the light fixture. That took up a good portion
of the afternoon before we headed back over the mountain and home. On the way
south on Route 28 before hitting Hwy 50, I saw a lone deer off to the right in
the woods. So beautiful, just standing in profile.
Wednesday was a “stay at home” day while Dick took our big
black truck in for major service. All fluids were replaced, necessary filters
changed, and a general checkup. Later, we met Susie, David and Hollee at
Fandago Casino for dinner at the Palm Court Grill for dinner. They offer a
$5.99 beef filet with choice of potato, vegies and salad. Yum-yum! Hollee was a
hold-out, opting for an omelet rather than steak. Susie and David headed back
to their campsite in South Lake Tahoe; Dick, Hollee and I took in “Jurassic
World” at the Fandango Galaxy Theater (connected to the casino with a covered
walkway).
Jurassic World is a film set 22 years after the original Jurassic
Park (1993), taking place on the same fictional island of Isla Nublar, where a
fully functioning dinosaur theme park has been in operation for 10 years. Chaos
erupts when a genetically modified dinosaur, Indominus rex, breaks loose and runs rampant across the island.
Packed full of action and wonderful special effects, we were totally captivated
throughout the entire film.
Our bicycles were crying out for us to ride around the park
Thursday morning, so we had to indulge them. Weather has been relatively cool
in the mornings, with temps reaching only the mid-70s, until the afternoon when
they soar to the high 90s. That evening was to be at Hollee’s for crock pot
chicken tacos so that afternoon we drove back over the mountain to Incline
Village for dinner. We stopped to pick up a few items, including ice cream (!)
on our way. This was Susie and Dave’s last evening here; they planned to drive
back to McKinleyville on Friday. As we did some preliminary prep for dinner and
relaxed, Dick continued with his project in the master bath. I made Rhubarb
popovers so the folks would have nourishment the next morning.
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| Clockwise from top: chillin' at Hollee's; Dave and Susie; me reading to Anastasia; Anastasia with my computer; and Anastasia with Susie |
These incredible photos of a sunset over Lake Tahoe were
taken on our return trip to our camper Thursday evening. Following in sequence L to R as the sun sets.
After a trip to the bank and Walmart on Friday morning, we
rode our bicycles around the park for a while.
This is the week of Hot August Nights in Reno and Virginia City, so our
park has quite a few beautiful classic cars that are part of that event.
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| Clockwise from top: '56 Chevy; '57 Chevy; '59 Chevy; '57 Chevy; '67 Chevelle; '70 GTO |
Later, Dick took a 65 mile ride on his motorcycle while I
stayed home to read. He took Jacks Valley Road to Hwy 206 to Hwy 207 to Nevada
Beach at Lake Tahoe, stopping at Genoa and an overlook of the Carson Valley where
he shot these photos. On his return ride a large doe crossed the road in front
of him.
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| From top: Carson Valley; Nevada's oldest cemetery located in Genoa (est. 1865); Snowshoe Thompson's grave marker |
Snowshoe Thompson, an Old West figure, was a nickname for
the Norwegian born American Jon Torsteinson (John A. Thompson), an early
resident of the Sierra Nevadas. He’s considered the father of California
skiing. Born outsite of Tinn, Norway, he delivered mail between Placerville, CA
and Genoa, NV (and later Virginia City, NV), from 1856 to 1876. His “snowshoes”
were 10’ skis, and a single sturdy pole generally held in both hands at once.
(He had learned this version of cross-country skiing from his native
Scandinavia, using it during the winter as one of the earlier skiers in the U.S.)
Thompson, as postman for the area, delivered the first silver ore to be mined
from the Comstock Lode. One rescue that was attributed to Thompson was a man
trapped in his cabin by unusually deep snow. Realizing the damage to the man’s
legs from frostbite would kill him, he skied out to get chloroform, skied back
to the man’s cabin with it, and saved the man by amputating the man’s leg
himself. Snowshoe Thompson died of appendicitis which developed into pneumonia
on May 15, 1876.
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| Nevada Beach along Lake Tahoe; Canada Goose; Sagebrush Lizard; Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel (different from chipmunk which has strips on its cheeks and up across its head |
Saturday morning we received the first rain we’ve seen since
we left Minnesota in mid-June. Didn’t last long, but it was refreshing. We did
ride our bikes around the park again for a while, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures (high 70s) before
the heat took over.
We’ve had such terrible internet issues here in the park
that we finally gave up and ordered a “Freedom Pop” Sprint LTE network hot
spot. We’ll see if that helps.
That evening we saw “MI5: Rogue Nation” starring Tom Cruise. Talk about action-packed! WOW! After intercepting nerve gas being sold to terrorists, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is convinced he can prove the existence of the Syndicate, and international criminal consortium. With the assistance of his MI5 team, Ethan once again overcomes the enemy. You’ll really need to see this film and its surprising ending! Dinner that evening was at In-N-Out Burger. Good stuff!
We met at Hollee’s house about 1:30 Sunday afternoon for a
trek on the Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail, at about 8,740 feet. Thankfully,
it was an overcast day with temps there at just under 70°. Anastasia walked
over half of the trail’s 1.3 mile loop, so it was a slow walk. Good thing, as
we’re still fighting the altitude thing a bit. (We’re at 5,900+ feet at our RV
park.) The only wildlife we saw were golden-mantled ground squirrels, a robin, a junko, and a mountain blue bird.
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| Orange route on map is the interpretive trail, which we took; David, Hollee and Anastasia |
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| Shots of the terrains in and around the meadow; can you imagine it covered in the 30' of snow they usually get? |
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These are some of the wild flowers growing in the meadow, at this altitude. Amazing! op then L to R: California Corn Lily; Elephant Head; Meadow Penstamon; Water Plantain Buttercups; Monkey Flowers; Wild Asters; Pussy Paws |
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| Anastasia loved these little creatures: Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels |
Upon our return to Hollee’s, Gus’s Open Pit BBQ in Incline
Village was the source of dinner for us Sunday evening. We noshed on pulled
pork sandwiches, tri-tip and chicken, with sides of grilled vegies and coleslaw.
Anastasia had mac & cheese. (That girl can eat!) Yum-yum! We haven’t
suffered for lack of food!
That’s pretty much it for this week. Although quiet, it was
good to enjoy time with family.
As the summer is drawing to a close, it being August 3, we
hope you’ve had an opportunity to get out and enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Until next week…
Blessings,
RJ and Gail
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