Monthly Archives: June 2013

More Good Friends and Another Beautiful Wedding

Since we last left you we have played more golf and had LOTS of visits with friends.  Bill Lane joined us in Truckee for a couple of dinners.  Although his wife Louise was not on the trip with him, she was kind enough to send a batch of her delicious shortbread – which Gary devoured;-)!!!
Louise’s short bread is to die for!!

Deb and Steve Lenzi suffered through a round of golf – and a couple of dinners with us (one dinner in Magic!!) after we moved to Lake Tahoe.  BTW, our ‘spot’ in Lake Tahoe is one of our favorites – Zephyr Cove – a great location. 

Magic’s spot in Zephyr Cove.

And the view of Lake Tahoe.

My golf at Edgewood Tahoe was a little less than stellar.
BIG traps..beautiful views.

A new experience was had here.  We decided to do a dinner cruise on the Lake and had a wonderful evening;-)

A quiet dinner cruise on the Lake.
After 12 great days in the Truckee/Lake Tahoe area it was time to head to Ojai for another wedding.  To break up the trip south, we stopped in Pismo Beach.  After setting up we did a ‘tour’ of town and found a beautiful spot on the water for dinner that included a TV to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Nice dinner view at Pismo Beach – Stanley cup watching and the Ocean.

Then Ojai – for the Jim & Rebecca’s wedding (another retired Touche partner) and a gathering of lots of ‘old’ friends;-)  The wedding was BEAUTIFUL and the visits were soooo enjoyable. 

Lunch after a round of golf with friends, old and new, at the Ojai Valley Inn.

Jim and Rebecca’s wonderful wedding celebration in Ojai.

Dinner and dancing at the wedding reception.

These couple of days went way too fast and we were all sorry to see the time end.  But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.  So, we were off to our old home – Park City – for a couple month stay and visits with lots more ‘old’ friends!
Park City or Bust – Elizabeth & Gary

The Cool Pines of Truckee

The past few days we have truly enjoyed our place in the pines here in Truckee, CA.   (Yes – Truckee of the Donner Party fame.)  After the cold wave came through, the past two days have seen highs in the 70’s – lows down in the low 40’s.  Brrr – but a welcome relief from those 110’s we are reading about back home. 
The funky little town of Truckee reminds E of Park City about 25 years ago.  There are several good restaurants that we have come to like and their “Main Street” is lots of fun to walk and shop – especially the kitchen shop and the local Ace Hardware;-)  Besides that activity we have caught up on laundry, cleaning, reading and GOLF.  Our favorite anywhere course is here – Coyote Moon.  We enjoyed the views here the other day although the course was VERY mean to both of us;-(
E’s favorite par 3 at Coyote Moon – NOT:-(
(PS – funny story about the hole pictured above.  This is a ‘not too long’ par 3 – BUT, across water which always psych’s E out!!!  A couple of years ago when we played this course, E’s ball hit those rocks you see across the water  – went sky high – and landed on the green.  Just happened that Gene Upshaw (of football fame) was on the next tee looking down and watching this little activity – AND, doubled over in laughter at this little trick shot of E’s!!!)
Then we played a new discovery – Tahoe Donner.  A wonderful muni course that is right up there with Coyote Moon (AND – lots less expensive!!).

One of Truckee Donner’s holes is the highest elevation golf hole in the Sierra’s.

While we could spend a few more days in Truckee and play Tahoe Donner again, it is time to find our place down at the Lake.  So – off to Lake Tahoe and a new parking spot —-

Magic nestled in the woods of Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe.

The view from our spot out to Lake Tahoe.

More golf and lots more activities to come – E & G 

More Family Fun

We sadly left King Canyon NP and our beautiful ‘parking’ spot amongst the Giants.  BUT – there were lots of family events to keep us happy.  First – granddaughter Haley spent the night with us in Magic – with all the fun that comes along with that especially the games of “Go Fish” and “Old Maid”;-)  Then, we attended our first “Cruise Widows” pot-luck dinner to say good bye to one of Heather’s friends who is being transferred.  (The Cruise Widows are the female friends whose husbands are out on ships – in case you didn’t figure that out.)  And – finally – we got to see Haley graduate from pre-k —-
Our little “Star”..

..graduates from preschool and heads for kindergarden.

Mother – daughter mortar boards.

The three days in Lemoore were packed full of fun activities.  Now the heat wave was upon us so we hightailed it to higher territory.  Off to Truckee and perhaps a little golf – as our very favorite golf course is here.  First, set up camp for the next week – spot isn’t too bad and it is lots cooler at 6,500’ than at 600’!!

Magic’s new spot in Truckee Calif.

After spending a day running errands and checking out the area, we were off to golf.  Today was a new course for us, and the day proved to be interesting.  We started with HOT, blue skies and were chased off the course at 17 with thunder, lightening and pouring rain!!  The course was a pretty one though and we enjoyed- –

On the first tee at Schaffer’s Mill Golf Course.

I think we both cleared the creek and missed the traps on this hole.

More golf to come until the next wedding two weeks from today;-)
From Truckee, CA – E & G

Walking Among the Giants

Our last few days in the Kings Canyon NP have been a bit lazy.  We did manage a drive down into the canyon with a very short hike to Roaring River Falls – 
Roaring River Falls in Kings Canyon NP.

Unfortunately, the canyon was hot (down to 4,000’ and in the 90’s!!) after getting used to the 70’s at 7,000’ – so we scratched the long hike we were going to do in the canyon for a ‘reading day’ at Magic.  What a nice relaxing, quiet day – eat, read, eat, read and eat some more.  Speaking of s’mores – we have a new ‘do’;-)  Instead of using the Hershey bar – replace it with a Reese’s peanut butter cup – UM-UM-UM!!!!

S’mores anyone?

Our last day in the NP’s we did manage to get our sorry butts up and do one final hike – Redwood Canyon.  Here we were walking among the Giants in the largest sequoia grove in the world.  Again, pictures can not do justice to the magical feeling that envelops you as you walk through these guys.  It is pure majesty –

“Log Cabin” in a fallen Sequoia.

Even had a fireplace.

Spectacular grove of Sequoias in Redwood Canyon

The photos just don’t do justice to their majesty.

A farewell from this wizened one.

After one last sunset from our campground, it is time for us to say farewell to these wonderful National Parks. 

Until next time.

If you have a National Park anywhere close – get out and visit!!  Support them, as they are ours to enjoy for VERY little.
Sorry to go – Elizabeth & Gary with long faces;-(

Just A Few More Tidbits

It is so hard to describe the majestical feeling one gets when in the groves of the Sequoias.  AND – we are camping in the middle of them.  Just about a mile away from the General Grant tree, we have already made a couple of walks over to sit and wonder at this Monarch – over 1700 years old, 268 feet tall and 40 feet wide!  For some perspective – Magic could be parked behind the tree and you would NOT be able to see her!!  
General Grant Tree – two giants!!

It is hard to believe that something so large and grand could come from something so small –

These little tiny seeds from a dinky pine cone like this one are the origins of the mighty Sequoia.

This tree is so special that President Coolidge proclaimed it to be the Nation’s Christmas Tree in 1926 and President Eisenhower designated it as a National Shrine in 1956 – the only living memorial to those who have given their lives for their country.
Time for some more cardio – so we were off to Little Baldy.  Only a 4 mile roundtriper, but with a 700’ vertical climb.  Again, views were pretty spectacular, but being on top of Little Baldy was NOT nearly as scary as being on top of Moro Rock.

A view of Big Baldy and Chimney Rock from the Little Baldy trail.

Snacks and views at 8,000 feet.

Tokopah Falls and The Watchtower from a very different vantage point than our earlier posting.

Please help me I’m falling!

Our day was completed by a ranger talk from John Muir.  OK – not the real one but a ranger that did a pretty good job of giving Muir’s life story and his importance to the Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP’s. 
Upon returning to Magic after the talk we found NO power.  We learned that running the generator for only an hour during the day did NOT charge the batteries enough.  Luckily the refrig and freezer were cold enough to last through the night until quiet hours were over and the generator could be turned back on.  It did prove to be a restless night for G, though, not knowing if all would be OK until morning.  All is well now and the generator is charging as E is writing and posting;-)
Perhaps a drive into Cedar Grove is in store for today – Relieved E & G