tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75370234507186848262024-03-05T17:58:01.436-08:00The Tucker Times"We are often so caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-28113603374946811172015-06-16T11:54:00.000-07:002015-07-01T11:59:13.477-07:00Our Snowflower AdventureHi Friends,
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How exciting are getting to explore new places and seeing new sights?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Snowflower</td></tr>
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So began our adventure to the Thousand Trails Snowflower Preserve in Emigrant Gap, CA. This would be the first time visiting this campground that seems to be just around the corner from home. How could we have waited so long to get here? Just about an hour and half from our driveway to the campsite, it seems like a logical choice for camping close to home. And compared to the campground at Stampede Dam, it is like night and day. Stampede was nice our first few trips out, but the lake is nearly gone now due to the drought and there is no power or water hook ups.<br />
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Tucked very neatly in the hills right off of Interstate 80, Snowflower was beautiful. Water and power hook ups with 2 dump stations available if needed and plenty of things to see and do. Once you get settled into the campground you have no idea that there is a busy interstate just a couple miles away. A couple times we could hear a distant train horn in the evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Home For The Week</td></tr>
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Vacations are always better when you have good friends to share the experience with and this time we were joined by friends Patty and Steve for the week. We set up just steps from the beach and amazing 23 acre Snowflower Lake. What a view we had right outside our camper! Snowflower Lake is another no wake lake and that means no loud boats or jet skis. It also means smooth waters for kayaking and relaxing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The View From Our Campsite</td></tr>
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I decided to take a walk one day as the rest of the group relaxed at the campers. Just a short distance from the main road and a short walk down the Cisco trail I saw a beautiful big bear. It was gnawing on a old log and making quite a bit of noise. I quickly turned around and started walking the other way. I glanced back to see the bear walking across the road towards the lake. Stupid me, I was so excited to see the bear, I forgot to take any pictures. Oh well, that was cool and i won't forget the experience. The next day I talked the rest of our group into hiking the loop trail with me, but no bear sightings. Just as a note to others hiking the trail around the lake .... It is not a really easy or smooth trail. It had plenty of climbing and not too many views of the lake. It did have plenty of trees and it was a good workout.<br />
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One thing we are learning about camping is that we love camping during the week, but weekends can<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaceful</td></tr>
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be a mess. We arrived on Sunday after the weekend crowd had left and had a wonderful week. Then all hell broke loose when we neared the weekend again. What a crazy turn around it was. Our peaceful days and quiet evenings were now full of loud voices and games of washers. We listened to so many games of washers, I don't think we will ever take up that game.<br />
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We ate way too much and had so much fun that when we left we needed a vacation from our vacation just to get some rest. We played <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowflower Lake Spillway.</td></tr>
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shuffle board (our first time) and played pool. We even played a little ping pong in the wonderful and clean lodge (fun). The pool looked really refreshing but we ran out of time for that. We celebrated Brenda's Birthday (her 29th again) but didn't have any cake because I forgot to pack the cake pans. Ug!<br />
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Can't wait to get back to Snowflower for some more R & R soon. And with it so close to home it will be easy to make it happen.<br />
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Until Next Time...<br />
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Don & Brenda and The Critters!<br />
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<br />NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-89949466917609067722015-05-19T07:47:00.000-07:002015-06-30T09:23:51.307-07:00Our Anniversary Camping AdventureHi Friends,<br />
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Ah Spring, and it is time to get out and go camping again. <br />
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As the temperatures wavered from cool to mild at home, it is usually already warming up in the Northern California Valleys. So with a bit of Spring Fever and our Anniversary on the calendar, we were off to Lake of the Springs in Oregon House, CA for few days of rest and relaxation. Just a few miles from Marysville and Oroville, Oregon House is a wonderful oasis nestled in the foothills just off highway 20. It takes us about 3 hours to make the trip from our place in Washoe Valley so it is a quick trip.<br />
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Boy did I goof up this year. As we were nearing our exit in Nevada City, the GPS told me to turn and save time by driving via Highway 49 through Downieville. Well, I guess I learned a lesson about traveling on un familiar roads. To me it was a nice route with plenty of new sights and little towns along the way. Some looked really interesting and maybe worth a few minutes exploring, but not after having driven some really twisty roads. Oops, not a good start to the trip. Lesson learned.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake of the Springs at the Dam.</td></tr>
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We arrived pretty close to the time we expected to arrive at Lake of the Springs. It was a good thing I didn't take that last short cut thru a farmers field about a mile from the park entrance... there was just no way I would have got the truck and trailer out of that road. Once we found the perfect spot, we got everything set up so we could go explore the park. It was beautiful and with the air a bit cooler than we expected...... nothing a sweatshirt couldn't fix.<br />
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We did all the usual things we look forward to on this trip. We walked the park and the trails. Looked around for the mountain lion and sat by the lake and talked. The park was pretty full as we got closer to the weekend, with a few people just dropping off their trailers for the coming Memorial Day weekend. As we stretched our legs and walked the trails we met some nice folks. That is one of the things we always remember about Lake of the Springs, there are so many nice people and they are happy to stop and say howdy.<br />
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Cell service is almost nil here so don't count on it to make calls. You can get a fair signal in section I<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our site.</td></tr>
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and on the benches by the lodge. That suits us fine, as we don't come to talk on the phone or surf the internet. Sure it is hard at first to not look at your phone to see if anyone has sent you a cat picture or video of a bear, but you will get over it pretty fast. I have been trying something new when we travel. I have been taking almost all of my travel photo's and videos with just my cell phone. They seem to be turning out good and it makes it so much easier to share and even make movies of our trips. I am still looking for new ways to make slide shows and such, but so far it has been fun and easy.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Oasis at Lake of the Springs.</td></tr>
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We didn't get out on the lake to kayak this trip because it was just a bit too cold. Next time for sure as this is a wonderful lake to paddle. It is calm and no power boats or jet skis to compete with. We thought about taking a pontoon boat out but nixed that idea again because of the cool air and the short time we had here.<br />
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All in all it was a wonderful, but too short, trip to one of our favorite places. We will be back soon and kayak the lake and maybe finally make it out to the bakery in Oregon House we keep hearing great things about.<br />
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Until next time, enjoy every day and have wonderful adventures.<br />
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Don & Brenda and the Critters...<br />
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<br />NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-87750266135448784662014-05-28T06:33:00.000-07:002014-05-28T06:33:36.597-07:00Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs ReviewHi Friends,<br />
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We wanted to share a quick review of the Thousand Trails preserve called Lake of the Springs, that we visited in May for our anniversary.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake of the Springs</td></tr>
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We are learning about reviews of rv parks and campgrounds the more we camp and make camping plans. At first we were excited about going to Lake of the Springs for a week to celebrate 32 years of life together. The closer we came to the date, the more we worried that just maybe we had made a wrong move. After first hearing how great it was, we started reading about how run down it is and that it was less than an ideal place to camp.<br />
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Well we had a wonderful time and are happy to report back that Lake of the Springs is a beautiful place, well run and well cared for. We joined Thousand Trails and are looking forward to returning to Lake of the Springs and also to try other Thousand Trails preserves in the area.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake of the Springs</td></tr>
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When we arrived it was pretty warm, about 95 degrees the first day. Our spot was in section G, a very nice loop in a grove of trees that provided a canopy keeping the temperatures down about 10 degrees or so. Sites in this section were mostly water and electric only, but that turned out to be just fine for us. <br />
There are plenty of restroom/shower facilities available in the different loops to more than make up for not having the sewer hook up. Plus there are sewer dumps (free) as you exit the park. They also have a honey wagon service that can come by a couple days a week for a small fee. You sign up for the honey wagon at the general store.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayaking on Lake Mildred</td></tr>
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We found the showers and restrooms to be clean and very well maintained. The people that keep the restroom/shower facilities clean need to be paid much more than they make. On more than one occasion we saw where folks had made messes that were just not acceptable in any situation. Oh well some people just don't have any respect for things that don't belong to them.<br />
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We used most of the fun facilities that were offered. We tried our hand at pickelball, rented kayaks twice and played horseshoes. We even played a little basketball. We still could have tried shuffleboard but ran short on time. Walking around the preserve is easy with nice walkways and a posted 5 mph speed limit that is very strictly enforced. We really were worn out by the end of our stay.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPegb-9GTJJju579kvXXbwnHz33uES2rukC4WuHLnHbBf1B_JJ33gL6M39lQ_OJL5uXgf_hRsw7c3E-wsuo1Hnzztvngm0g4-hJGv0GOxSxAU9JOvUOK_9w5Z_iYPRNA3DzBZ_Lltvvub/s1600/scanned_20140528-0614+(1)-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPegb-9GTJJju579kvXXbwnHz33uES2rukC4WuHLnHbBf1B_JJ33gL6M39lQ_OJL5uXgf_hRsw7c3E-wsuo1Hnzztvngm0g4-hJGv0GOxSxAU9JOvUOK_9w5Z_iYPRNA3DzBZ_Lltvvub/s1600/scanned_20140528-0614+(1)-page-001.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake of the Springs Map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Evenings it was refreshing to relax around the campsite to talk with friends and bbq. Our campsite had a picnic table and bbq to use. Then we capped of a great day with smores. The nights were amazingly dark. We don't live in a very light polluted area at home, but man was it dark at night. What a treat.<br />
<br />
As far as where to stay ... there are so many choices. If you have to have cell phone and satellite<br />
service, section "I" is your best bet. It has fewer trees but makes up for that by having beautiful valley views.<br />
Section "X" is for Thousand Trails members and is an all hook up area near the pool. It was nice up behind the general store. We noticed some park models and yurts up there to rent as well.<br />
"D" loop had pretty views of the valley but seemed to be pretty full of <br />
seasonal or annual sites. Nice units and well cared for more like a community of annual rv'ers that live at the preserve.<br />
<br />
From what we could tell "B" loop was mostly big rigs. Some pull thru sites in there and bit more sun than the other sections. Probably pretty good satellite reception here too as we saw plenty of dishes scattered around.<br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiRGtXkoLW1z5KOC08rWxp5DlKHx01nc7rOeirXep0MYQaTuHygtIZ7-EuwwmroECeK6DctAdwwZ36OtcTz6Btm57rSFbEsaN7xVCO8QJPhjDGXvfC_OED4OrebD6c_zlvA31bALMlluz/s1600/scanned_20140528-0614-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJiRGtXkoLW1z5KOC08rWxp5DlKHx01nc7rOeirXep0MYQaTuHygtIZ7-EuwwmroECeK6DctAdwwZ36OtcTz6Btm57rSFbEsaN7xVCO8QJPhjDGXvfC_OED4OrebD6c_zlvA31bALMlluz/s1600/scanned_20140528-0614-page-001.jpg" height="200" width="154" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake of the Springs Map</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Loop "A" looked nice, more in the trees again. These spots looked busy on the weekend but empty as could be during the week. There were some deer that seemed to hang out down in "A" just about every time we past buy. Section "H" was still closed so we didn't get to check it out. It looked to be higher on the hill so it may have been more of a sunny spot.<br />
When we were doing our planning, we could not find a park map anywhere, so we have scanned the park map and included it here.<br />
<br />
We need to add that there is a great little general store on the property that has soft serve ice cream (yum) and just about anything you will need during the weekend. That is also where you borrow the basketballs and other sports equipment. They have a really nice club house that serves meals on the weekends and holds special events during the week. We didn't go in but it looked very nice from the outside.<br />
<br />
If we missed anything please drop us a note and we will be glad to answer any questions you might have. Lake of the Springs really turned out to be a beautiful and fun place to camp and we are planning our return in a couple months.<br />
<br />
Happy Camping,<br />
<br />
Don & BremdaNevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1Oregon House, CA 95962, USA39.3443429 -121.2651609000000114.4857434 -162.5737549 64.2029424 -79.956566900000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-10310351104493797852014-05-25T12:41:00.000-07:002014-05-25T12:41:05.579-07:00Our 32nd Anniversary GetawayHi Friends,
<br />
<br />
My how time seems to fly by. It is hard to believe that it was 32 years ago that we were married, and to celebrate we wanted to get away for a few days camping. At first we were going to visit Monterey and camp by the beach, but were excited to learn that our friends Steve and Patty were vacationing the same week. They were heading to the hills, to a preserve called Thousand Trails Lake of the Springs. So we changed our plans and made tracks for Oregon House, California.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUzDq4LNsSmzzhkexh2hjji1ncIDvv8vL4nZHeCPUeKniRX1tl_8_mImZp9o5ytfMr5X0aMTgdXHBktvQZ_mTTkfhP0p9AGUPuN8bwZOWgaAQ2bYWtmNmm82ZnkghZVJGsBijEsxnPs99/s1600/1400202546374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUzDq4LNsSmzzhkexh2hjji1ncIDvv8vL4nZHeCPUeKniRX1tl_8_mImZp9o5ytfMr5X0aMTgdXHBktvQZ_mTTkfhP0p9AGUPuN8bwZOWgaAQ2bYWtmNmm82ZnkghZVJGsBijEsxnPs99/s1600/1400202546374.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake of the Springs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To say we were excited would be an understatement. Not only was this our anniversary, but it was also our first camping trip of the year. We planned and dreamed and planned some more in the months leading up to our weekend. We needed, or thought we needed, a few things that we were missing from last years trips. So we got those little niceties like a bbq and comfy chairs, oh and nifty folding table Brenda was longing for.<br />
<br />
The week before our adventure it snowed in Reno and rained on the Western side of the mountains, but the weatherman still promised us that our order for awesome weather was guaranteed. And as luck would have it, it was. When we got to Lake of the Springs it was 95 degrees and just as clear as could be. And it stayed clear all weekend.<br />
<br />
Our good friends Patty and Steve had arrived a day earlier and had found us a beautiful spot under a canopy of trees. Perfect!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWWFeeXAnc_4siJ5X7Ym0X-efw8_73Gh2o0xPzg5KaWeUz6pRqxmmG2-gZfVCJLuRB7_KUTu_6mCcCfd-nEmHAb4qmSCpHLxWylMQ2eAhhE1_BAP1J2T_6UpdLcac6EldEtkg-v6hjJru/s1600/P5160006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWWFeeXAnc_4siJ5X7Ym0X-efw8_73Gh2o0xPzg5KaWeUz6pRqxmmG2-gZfVCJLuRB7_KUTu_6mCcCfd-nEmHAb4qmSCpHLxWylMQ2eAhhE1_BAP1J2T_6UpdLcac6EldEtkg-v6hjJru/s1600/P5160006.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kayaking on Lake Mildred</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
During our 5 days at Lake of the Springs we got to Kayak (our first time) and played horseshoes (haven't even picked up a horse shoe in 40 years). We also went for walks had delicious meals and enjoyed the company of good friends. We both thought Kayaking was just awesome and are talking about getting a couple kayaks for us to enjoy when we camp. We think we might want to learn how to swim too. Probably a good idea...<br />
<br />
What a wonderful adventure this was. We both at one time or another commented that we had just as much or more fun this weekend, than we had on any trip to Disneyland. We can't wait for our next adventure, probably close to home in the hills by a lake. Oh, and we still have to get down to Monterey for a beach adventure. Below is a short video we made to remind us of this special weekend.<br />
<br />
Thanks Steve and patty for sharing an amazing week with us.<br />
<br />
Find Your Bliss,<br />
<br />
Don & Brenda<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fAZLE51l4EM?list=UU30BQMix1CPEclgwy-g5fBQ" width="560"></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1Oregon House, CA 95962, USA39.3443429 -121.2651609000000115.480672900000002 -162.5737549 63.2080129 -79.956566900000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-83524029007631612262014-04-20T20:03:00.001-07:002014-04-20T20:03:03.030-07:00Progress as the Countdown ContinuesHi Friends,<br />
<br />
Still getting things ready for our little get-a-way in May. Just a few days but we can't wait to get on the road and away from the rat race. This weekend we worked at getting the camper ready. The cover is off and she got a nice wash and wax. We have started wiping things down on the inside as well. Just making sure everything still works and there are no little leaks or hitchhikers hiding in the dark places. So far we have found nothing at all.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDd1MtvOTG-JX1JjH2NX4TGQ1A3vaASunQgxlcKH8W-5_G2dozm-bZnqEF0kJwd7wmkpiQ4HQ1ycpg3v3RddJeDkp3O5evPRewP04JH7LINQhG8p8gf-4UQHztMdkN3_71DUlpDd9Ra4F/s1600/IMAG0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDd1MtvOTG-JX1JjH2NX4TGQ1A3vaASunQgxlcKH8W-5_G2dozm-bZnqEF0kJwd7wmkpiQ4HQ1ycpg3v3RddJeDkp3O5evPRewP04JH7LINQhG8p8gf-4UQHztMdkN3_71DUlpDd9Ra4F/s1600/IMAG0520.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a>We are so excited, we have a countdown going on the calendar in the kitchen and we decided to add one to the blog as well. We sometimes feel like the shoppers from the old Mervyn's commercial. They were standing outside the store looking in and saying "open, open, open" over and over.<br />
<br />
Back to work tomorrow, but we will keep doing little things at night after we get home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.myvacationcountdown.com/"><img src="http://www.myvacationcountdown.com/tickers/jpu34izd6hdeaobb.png" alt="www.MyVacationCountdown.com Ticker" border="0"/></a>
NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-6436098506563907052014-04-07T20:48:00.000-07:002014-04-07T20:48:33.527-07:00Spring FeverHi Friends,
<br />
<br />
It feels like Spring in the Nevada desert finally, and I am pretty sure that last snow storm that blew through last week was the last of the strong storms. From here on out we are hoping for Sunny skies and great camping weather. Of course more storms will come from time to time but we think they will be small ones. So it looks like it is time to uncover the camper and get her ready for some Spring and Summer fun.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3huuiOws3diKV9q4fSsSMzvmWIMsBznFpG37qxejwZoptjgrOI78fYBavaTajD8hht-Mdgjf4jb0pqOYngq8b5CTD25L8RfHSJoH5YHApaaZrkYrYrMOtIy4PEKko5u59LTnfNfqCAZY/s1600/IMAG0475.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3huuiOws3diKV9q4fSsSMzvmWIMsBznFpG37qxejwZoptjgrOI78fYBavaTajD8hht-Mdgjf4jb0pqOYngq8b5CTD25L8RfHSJoH5YHApaaZrkYrYrMOtIy4PEKko5u59LTnfNfqCAZY/s1600/IMAG0475.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still Sleeping From Winter Rest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have a Anniversary trip planned in May to the Lake of the Springs Campground by Marysville, but I am thinking we need to sneak away sooner. So I have been considering going just a few miles away to Virginia City. They have a little RV Park there and we can take in the rustic old town and listen to the steam train whistle.<br />
<br />
During the Winter we picked up a few things we wanted to make our adventures more fun. I wanted (and bought) a nifty portable gas fire ring. We thought it would be fun when we visit campgrounds that don't have fire rings or that don't allow wood fires because of the fire danger. We also picked up a gravity lounger for my times of rest. Pretty sure I will be falling asleep in that from time to time.<br />
<br />
Happy camping everyone. Let the Spring camping season begin!<br />
<br />
Don & Brenda<br />
<br />NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-7779452486127113832014-03-24T19:59:00.000-07:002014-03-24T19:59:36.216-07:00RVillage .. Making The Journey More InterestingHi Friends,<br />
<br />
We found this great RV community online called <a href="http://rvillage.com/home">RVillage</a>. It was referred to us by the Living the RV Dream Podcast. Facebook is fine and Google+ has plenty to offer but what is so nice about <a href="http://rvillage.com/home">RVillage</a> is that it is specific to people that enjoy seeing the Country in RV's.<br />
<br />
If you are so inclined and want to find new friends or just want a place to swap camping stories stop by RVillage and see what is happening. If you decide to make a spot there for yourself, be sure to friend us so we can keep in touch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/M4lsZwC5Jqo?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-11826486267390987862013-12-08T09:33:00.000-08:002013-12-08T09:33:14.076-08:00Stampede Reservoir, Logger Campground ReviewHi Friends,<br />
<br />
I thought I would share a brief review of the Logger Campground at Stampede Reservoir, one of our favorite places to hideout. If you are considering this campground maybe this will be helpful.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWc-xrATC4h8o0Kg-rdt3PUSj5cCwK62Tr80gCjNpKEsEB5ZRnmjfJblErFEyMZuBkjG0zhP2sbJ28iVe9rYAvMVhP8c76YGScRgyKEMuKUOA2EKqddQLUp8jBGfVAxrPGpAJ0YK5OUqVN/s1600/P8170138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWc-xrATC4h8o0Kg-rdt3PUSj5cCwK62Tr80gCjNpKEsEB5ZRnmjfJblErFEyMZuBkjG0zhP2sbJ28iVe9rYAvMVhP8c76YGScRgyKEMuKUOA2EKqddQLUp8jBGfVAxrPGpAJ0YK5OUqVN/s1600/P8170138.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>We got our camper pretty late in 2013 so our trips out were few before the cold of Winter set in. Luckily we found the Logger Campground just across the state line in California. Because it was close to home we were able to get our camping skills down without getting too far from the security of civilization. And it is close to stores in Truckee (10 miles) if you forget anything.<br />
<br />
Situated in the pines above Stampede Reservoir, the Logger Campground has over 200 sites for camping. We saw tents and car campers as well as all sizes camping rigs. There are no hook ups in the campground but there are vault toilets that are clean and water faucets sprinkled around. There is also a dump station just outside the entrance that you can use as you leave. All the campsites have a very sturdy picnic table and a fire ring with a grate on it. The campsites we saw were all clean and cared for by the camp hosts.<br />
<br />
Just inside the entrance is a camp store that has things you might need like ice and ice cream or sodas. They also have little keepsakes that will help you remember your trip like stuffed bears and such.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52AJNNIEt6614qku0fHGxaAfK1lZ8prE-0FFYeiHd89Hff74kIWp8Iro2Sib_LVPH-fPM0DycAsGq1Zcu5_zDw5s64vMN5j3amBu1Rq0FvBDf4AMrCm31Y2l5yfZv0BtvV0aaf_vmBiyx/s1600/P9070118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52AJNNIEt6614qku0fHGxaAfK1lZ8prE-0FFYeiHd89Hff74kIWp8Iro2Sib_LVPH-fPM0DycAsGq1Zcu5_zDw5s64vMN5j3amBu1Rq0FvBDf4AMrCm31Y2l5yfZv0BtvV0aaf_vmBiyx/s1600/P9070118.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
It is a very short walk down to the water from the campground. The water was low when we were there but it didn't stop the power boats and paddle boards from having fun. Our campsite didn't have a real view of the water but there are some that back up with an unobstructed view of Stampede. Maybe next year we will try one of those spots out. As it was we woke up every morning to a view of the woods and a beautiful meadow below us. At night we watched deer as they made their rounds o the campsites seeking snacks and handouts. They seem to love marshmallows.<br />
<br />
The camp hosts were great and very friendly. They managed to keep the toilets clean and the campsites picked up regardless of how hard the campers seemed to try and leave messes. We enjoyed our conversations with them and look forward to seeing them again in the Spring.<br />
<br />
We walked around all the campgrounds and <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34zM_-siLD5KQ09bNa_jzB4uyw9zSzlpWfgz1bHZSCDpUigF6-NdwVBscV1jV2e_pZa76z1d4zDVa2PsfetmEepYGZAWUEIpnnq1PNPZ5_qjWaVMIUz9QcGBNk1FhkzCJQRzkZQ3sI6Vo/s1600/P8170137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34zM_-siLD5KQ09bNa_jzB4uyw9zSzlpWfgz1bHZSCDpUigF6-NdwVBscV1jV2e_pZa76z1d4zDVa2PsfetmEepYGZAWUEIpnnq1PNPZ5_qjWaVMIUz9QcGBNk1FhkzCJQRzkZQ3sI6Vo/s1600/P8170137.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>noticed that some looked better than others. Logger Campground is divided into 6 different loops, all with unique and interesting names. Of the 6 campsite loops we found that we liked "Iron Ox" and "Steam Donkey" the best. We loved site 120 in Steam Donkey and that is where we stay every time we come back now, but those 2 campgrounds seem to be the best maintained and the cleanest. They also looked to be the best laid out.<br />
<br />
The roads in the campground are paved and the sites are paved as well. We found it pretty easy to navigate through the maze and found that even big rigs were able to get around with ease. We did need to level our camper with a couple blocks but nothing too extreme. A short drive from this campground is a boat ramp if you are dragging you boat along with you. There were plenty of sites that had room for your camper and your boat if wanted to keep it close at night but use it during the day. There are some sites that are even large enough for three campers at a time, if you are bringing a group.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9P1H673Bqv23faq5aIkpJvgOOlmyRus8IiEaiJOjuAU3ydnWKVq0yfWndocr0pHxWh-44p3WWzm316l5fca0Vtdj37g7Vq9SE06arR7L-M3iHBDAr8QscK0vWMS6BgjDFPIzbDDg4mEw/s1600/P8170154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9P1H673Bqv23faq5aIkpJvgOOlmyRus8IiEaiJOjuAU3ydnWKVq0yfWndocr0pHxWh-44p3WWzm316l5fca0Vtdj37g7Vq9SE06arR7L-M3iHBDAr8QscK0vWMS6BgjDFPIzbDDg4mEw/s1600/P8170154.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
We saw people running, biking and kayaking as well a some that were doing the stand up paddle board thing with their dogs along for the ride. At night campfires come to life and conversations last until the wee hours of the night, but most are not too loud and after they end it is quiet and very dark. Bring a flashlight as you don't want to walk into a deer during your late night bathroom trip. The deer wander the campground looking for anything you may have dropped or forgot to put away. Some find a nice spot in your campsite to get some sleep or rest for the night.<br />
<br />
We are looking forward to returning to this wonderful place in the Spring. Unfortunately the season at this campground is pretty short. Just a few months in the late Spring and Summer before it starts getting cold and they button it up for the Winter. But it is beautiful and affordable when it is open (just $21.82 for a single campsite).<br />
<br />
We give this campground at least 5 marshmallows out of 6. We probably would have given it more but we ate them and shared some of them with the deer. If you are visiting Stampede enjoy and wander by spot 120 and see if we are there.<br />
<br />
Happy Camping<br />
<br />
Don<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LgNImgEwVco?list=UU30BQMix1CPEclgwy-g5fBQ" width="560"></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com2Sierra County, CA, USA39.478308823768685 -120.1337124766601539.453796323768685 -120.17405297666015 39.502821323768686 -120.09337197666015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-80943142387697892672013-11-02T17:23:00.000-07:002013-11-02T17:33:27.792-07:00Our Oroville AdventureHi Friends,<br />
<br />
What a trip!<br />
<br />
With Summer turning into Fall, and our camping adventures quickly running out of days to explore before Winter hibernation, we headed West to the annual family reunion. This year the family was gathering in Magalia, California in the Northern part of the state. We searched all the usual sites for a nice place to park our trailer for the weekend and decided we would stay in Oroville.<br />
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As this was our first stay longer than just one night in the camper, we were really looking forward to spending the weekend relaxing and enjoying all that our little trailer had to offer. Actually it was 4 days and 3 nights by the Feather River at the River <a href="http://www.rvparkresorts.com/" target="_blank">Reflections RV Resort and Campground</a>. We really picked the perfect rv park for this trip. The <a href="http://www.rvparkresorts.com/" target="_blank">River Reflections RV Park</a> was beautiful and very park like. Lots of trees and grass and the wonderful Feather River made all the hopes we had for a perfect trip come true. Even a neat little fire pit was provided so we could make s'mores and toast marshmallows.<br />
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The first evening we walked the 100' or so down to the river to get the stress reduction weekend under way. Right away we were taken by the huge salmon swimming right next to the shore. They were beautiful and we totally enjoyed sitting and watching them swim right next to where we were standing. The rv park is beautifully cared for and is nature at it's best. We wondered and chatted and then came back to the shore to watch the sunset that evening. Beautiful!<br />
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On Saturday we joined the rest of the clan in Magalia for the family festivities. After a slow start on our part, and a full day of family fun, we made it back to the campground just after sunset. Oh well we still managed to make some s'mores and roasted marshmallows and got to spend some time connecting with some good conversation.<br />
Brenda makes an awesome campfire and there is something completely magical about conversations around a good warm fire.<br />
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On Sunday we decided to explore some fun spots around Paradise. I lived around Paradise until about <br />
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1970, so it was like going back home again. I was really surprised at the amount of local lore and streets that I still held in my memory. Navigation was a breeze and we enjoyed the adventure. We made it to Noble Orchards, a family owned apple orchard that has been in Paradise since 1929. It was really cool and we bought some fresh off the tree apples and some apple butter, yum!<br />
Then we drove over to Billie Park and explored a bit. I wanted to take in the view of the canyon I remembered from childhood. I can still clearly remember Grandma taking us on a short walk to see the beautiful canyon. It is commonly called the Little Grand Canyon because of it's size and beauty. It was a little testing of Brenda's fears as all over the park were posted signs warning of a mountain lion in the area. We didn't see any but Brenda was on the lookout just in case.<br />
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We stopped at Foster Freeze on the way out of town. Again this was a place I remember eating at when I was a kid and it still pretty much is the same place, with a couple changes. It was delicious and fun to spend a few minutes here before we left town.<br />
I did manage to find a place to buy a Paradise t-shirt before we left. We stopped at the Golden Nugget Museum to see if they had any for sale or if they could recommend a store to buy shirts and other goodies. This is a small town and it deserves one of those small town/World stories. I started chatting with the nice folks at the museum and well one thing led to another and... As it turns out the one guy that was working at the museum once worked as postman in our little valley here in Nevada. He knew all the folks that we see most all the time and wanted to know how they were doing and how Washoe Valley looked now. He left the valley to retire in Paradise, and where I had left Paradise to live in Washoe Valley it made for a nice conversation. It is really a small World.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzejt16OPIFgfj3A3gCYjw9h-bamdxDIozOMlqRbR5nyJIRiz-8B3QE9Cz93zvaT8qLTt8wldHakG2w9o4Tjs_XeYcR6Ipaqt43YuELUt2TcidR7IQu2Je9CjWSxM7QhrB7KkwlEXpZqmO/s1600/IMAG0663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzejt16OPIFgfj3A3gCYjw9h-bamdxDIozOMlqRbR5nyJIRiz-8B3QE9Cz93zvaT8qLTt8wldHakG2w9o4Tjs_XeYcR6Ipaqt43YuELUt2TcidR7IQu2Je9CjWSxM7QhrB7KkwlEXpZqmO/s320/IMAG0663.jpg" width="320" /></a>Brenda made a nice dinner on Sunday night, and again we finished the day with a sunset and s'mores.<br />
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Monday was time for us to head back to Nevada. Brenda decided that we should take highway 70 back as she really didn't remember going that way during the day before. It was a wonderful colorful trip. Thanks to the Fall leaves popping all over the Feather River canyon, it was both beautiful and refreshing to travel down this road again.<br />
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All in all our first multi day adventure was a huge success and we are looking forward to more travels that will both refresh our spirits and take the stress of life away.<br />
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See you in the campground...<br />
<br />
DonNevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1Oroville, CA, USA39.480593093201385 -121.5760142276610639.474465093201388 -121.58609922766107 39.486721093201382 -121.56592922766106tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-6361207000004936422013-09-29T08:30:00.000-07:002013-09-29T08:30:48.768-07:00Our First Camping AdventureHi Friends,<br />
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So we took off on our first camping trip. Sure it was a short trip, just one night and only about 50 miles from home. But we were excited and it was new and we had a blast. Sure we still didn't know that much about camping or really much about working anything on the new camper... but when did we ever let that stop us before. And what fun is anything new if you already know all the rules and how it will turn out.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Wonderful Camp Spot.</td></tr>
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We made reservations for a spot at the Logger Campground at Stampede Dam near Truckee California. I made the reservations and quickly regretted the decision I made. It seems that rule number one when making a campsite reservation is, "don't pick a site right next to the restrooms." Well I didn't know that rule, or that there were any rules at all. I picked a really nice spot, just a few steps from the restroom. As it turns out the campground map was a little mis-leading and we think we had the most beautiful spot in the whole park. It was quiet and spacious and did not have neighbors right next door.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey whats for breakfast?</td></tr>
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One of the best surprises was a group of deer that came through the campground every evening just about the time folks were getting dinner ready. Smart deer and I am pretty sure you are not supposed to feed wild deer. But as it turns out the whole park seems to have something to share with them. They are beautiful and fun to watch as they meander down to the lake and then later wander from campsite to campsite just in case anyone left something lying around. It will be fun to come back in the coming years to see how the small ones have grown up and the families have changed. Most of the deer we saw were does but we did catch sight of one buck just hanging out a bit farther away from the group.<br />
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I managed to back our rig into our spot the first try and we set up the trailer without much confusion. It was a steep learning curve even with the dealers training class. Un-hooked the truck, extended the stabilizers and chocked the tires. Even the generator fired up on the first turn...it was going to be a great weekend. And it was!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing and taking it all in.</td></tr>
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We joined in the festivities Brenda's employer was having. Good food and good conversation made the afternoon and evening fly by.<br />
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I even managed to find one of my, "it's a small World" moments when I found out one of the employees of Truckee Meadows Water Filters is the grandson of one of my mentors from the airport days of my life. I love those moments when you meet someone that you have known or talked to sometime in the past. They remind me that this is a very small world and we are all somehow connected.<br />
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We ended our trip with a wild Hummer ride up into the hills and looked out over the valley from an old fire lookout. This is really an amazing place, so much beauty it seems to go on forever. We are looking forward to exploring many of the campgrounds close to home next Spring and Summer. That should <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out over the Valley.</td></tr>
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keep us busy for many weekends to come.<br />
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But for now we have more things to learn about this new part of our life. We are just not in too much of a hurry to do it.<br />
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Don<br />
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<br />NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-64400904983317908222013-09-28T20:05:00.002-07:002013-09-28T20:09:53.394-07:00So We Are CampersHi Friends,<br />
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Well we have turned another page in our life and have become campers. To be honest I think we have both wanted to do some kind of camping for quite a while. but have finally pulled the trigger on this adventure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first weekend camping trip.</td></tr>
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In the past either Brenda or I would make some comment to the other that it might be fun to go camping in our spare time. Then one day Brenda came home and said, "let's go look at travel trailers." Actually we were pretty excited about a particular little travel trailer that was really light and cost just a tad more than $13,000. It seemed to us to offer all the basics for camping plus we could pull it with our truck (a GMC 1500). So off to the dealer we went to check this baby out. It was easy to find, sitting right in front of the office and it was open so we walked around and kicked the tires. It was cute as a bug and we were excited. Then we talked to a nice couple that was also looking at it. He mentioned some build concerns to us and told me we would not comfy in this rig. For one thing I would not be able to stand up all the way inside. Oh, and the bed was lightweight and poorly designed if we both wanted to sleep at the same time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All hooked up and ready to roll.</td></tr>
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While pondering our now slightly less desirable dream trailer we wandered around the lot. Eventually we found a row of bigger rigs that seemed pretty nice so we checked them out. By now we had been joined by a sales person that showed a great deal of patience as we jumped from trailer to trailer asking questions and pulling out drawers. Finally narrowing our dream trailer down to just 2 different models. After a bit more pondering and drawer pulling we had our new trailer. A Jayco 19FB, 19 feet long and as we were informed, it would be fine behind our current truck. We would be back in a week to pick it up as they needed to make sure everything worked and was bright and shiny for our first camping trip.<br />
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Time seemed to drag along like molasses in Winter, but a few days before the big camping shin dig Truckee Meadows Water Systems was having for their employees we were hooked up and ready to roll. This whole camping adventure is like learning a new language. There is so much to learn, but there are also endless new memories to be made in this chapter of our life.NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-83910506486542100052012-12-10T10:39:00.001-08:002012-12-10T19:40:50.422-08:00Chasing the UP844 in NevadaOn September 28th the Union Pacific 844 steam train came through Reno/Sparks again. I took some time on the 27th to take the tour like I did the last time it visited. It was beautiful as ever, polished and prepped for everyone to tour and gawk at. In addition to being huge and beautiful, the tours are free to the public. The Nugget in Sparks allowed everyone free parking and a free shuttle to the train. All the drivers had a great attitude and a smile.<br />
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I spent about and hour and a half checking out this amazing train then visited with the folks from the Nevada Railroad Museum and made my way back to the truck. The following morning I waited in West Reno to see the train leave town. Then with some time to spare, I decided to chase her down again by Truckee at Boca. It offered a great view of the 844 coming around a bend and then heading along the freeway towards the town of Truckee.<br />
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I wish you could have been there to see and hear this rolling piece of history as she steamed on past. It is an amazing sight that really wakes up your senses and for some odd reason causes grown adults to start waving as she passes by. Here is a video I made to share the experience with you. Hope you enjoy it and get out to see her for yourself if the UP844 is coming through your town.<br />
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NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-42155583267881841582012-12-09T09:31:00.000-08:002012-12-09T09:31:27.731-08:00Mt Rose Summit Again!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq8kHoZQpiikC_F_4ghdE5SxsAF7zBe0E6hEikvwXhUkmq4bsfyj1ldmiTluqfhvMwlMG2cdhwFHtV3vt21c_Kt72YPiH90KCvbNCv2TTqC8QVvZLYNC9TB5Ej2agXR9EUzQT9Q4cJ-KN/s1600/IMAG0356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLq8kHoZQpiikC_F_4ghdE5SxsAF7zBe0E6hEikvwXhUkmq4bsfyj1ldmiTluqfhvMwlMG2cdhwFHtV3vt21c_Kt72YPiH90KCvbNCv2TTqC8QVvZLYNC9TB5Ej2agXR9EUzQT9Q4cJ-KN/s320/IMAG0356.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made it to the top. Heaven on Earth maybe?</td></tr>
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So it was nearing the end of Summer and I decided to see one of my favorite places again. The Mt Rose Summit trail is my go to thinking and pondering trail. I like to use it to iron out my stinking thinking and get ready for Winter. Usually I make the hike toward the end of Summer right around the time of the Reno Air Races. This year the weather was wonderful as I cleared away a Monday for a free morning to hit the hill again. This year I decided to try and run up to the summit.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down towards Reno.</td></tr>
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I guess I forgot how steep this trail gets as it totally kicked my ass this year. I made it but not before having to go into a power walk up some sections of the trail. Wow, it was steep! It was till a blast and really just what I was looking for to clear my head and make me feel alive. Once at the top I stopped to check out the view and let me tell you it was breathtaking. 360 degrees of amazing beauty. Tahoe, Truckee, carson City and Reno all within a turn at the top. I sat and pondered and remembered all the great thinks I had experienced this year. I thought of the thinks I was going to do in the time before I would be back here again. I sort of just let my mind wander and it was great.<br />
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I took a few photos while I was there to remember the day and then put my head back on my shoulders and got ready for the decent. Ran all the way back to the parking lot coming down then had a cold chocolate milk and a power bar and headed back home.<br />
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What a great day. I still glance up at Mt Rose when I drive down the road and remember the summit and the beauty and the power it seems to have to take my troubles away. Can't wait to get back ... just as soon as the snow melts enough. I do wonder if folks snowshoe to the summit in the Winter? Well maybe someday, for now I will wait.<br />
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Peace, Love and Bliss,<br />
<br />
DonNevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-69483783843751431092012-12-09T09:08:00.000-08:002012-12-09T09:08:19.207-08:00First Half Marathon RunEdRun 2012So after a few months of running, I decided to try a half marathon (13.1 miles). I found one in Douglas County at the High School that sounded like fun. It was called RunEdRun and was to benefit the Douglas County School District. The entry fee was not high and the course was pretty flat so I thought this would be the perfect first attempt at a Half Marathon.<br />
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Between the 10K in Ashland in July and October 7th I got in a few 13 mile training long runs so I knew I could do the distance. I was also pretty sure that I was not going to be up with the leaders. With both of those considerations in check the only thing left to decide was what condition would I be in after the race. I knew to take it easy and not go out too fast so that I would have something left for the last half of the race. I knew that in my mind but must have forgot to tell my legs that. I went out with everyone else, once around the track before leaving and heading to Genoa. I should have known that we were on a pretty fast pace as I could hear the announcer reminding the runners to save something for the end. Oh well I felt great and was running right with the pack.<br />
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Off we went down some beautiful city streets and then out into a farmers pasture. The pasture part was neat because were running on a dirt road and right past cows. The cows looked at us like we were crazy as the farmers opened all the gates and gave us that same "you are crazy" look.<br />
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Once across the pastures we were on the paved roads again and heading towards Genoa. The roads were pretty quiet and amazingly flat. I mean really flat, what a great course for a first Half Marathon. Into the little historical town of Genoa and turn left. We were on our way past David Walley's Hot Springs and some nice homes. Then another left turn and we were on another long flat run back towards the High School.<br />
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At one point we started passing the runners from the shorter races. It was really fun to give them a high five and send some encouragement their way. Some were struggling and a good word seemed to give them a little more juice to keep going to the end.<br />
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Back at the High School their was a finish line and awards for the top finishers. They also had some Spirit competitions for the local schools to compete for money that would go to the winning schools.<br />
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I finished way faster than I ever expected to finish. My finish time was 2 hours and 8 minutes. I probably should have run slower to keep the soreness down after but what the heck, it was a race.<br />
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I am looking forward to my next race now. It will be the Eugene Marathon in Eugene Oregon in April 2013. Not too far off to start getting excited about it already.<br />
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See you on the road...<br />
<br />
DonNevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-78093412387783247992012-08-19T10:33:00.000-07:002012-08-19T10:33:26.197-07:00Thoughts On My First 10K<i>Everyone who has run knows that its most important value is in removing tension and allowing a release from whatever other cares the day may bring. ~Jimmy Carter
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Hi Friends,<br />
<br />
Hope this Summer is shaping up to be everything you hoped it would be. Our days are always pretty exciting in July. We take our week off to get away, travel to Oregon and enjoy some of what we think Summer is all about. This year I have been trying to shed a few pounds and act as much NOT my age as possible.
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While making plans for my adventures I work around the family time Brenda needs with her family, so I tend to make plans that can be changed easily or that really are right off the top of my head.
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This year I Googled about the best runs around Medford and Ashland to see what popped up. I was leaning towards a different run every day. What intrigued me most from my search was the Ashland 4th of July 5K and 10K runs. It seemed to have all the coolio things I enjoy... running, Ashland, The 4th of July ... it might be a perfect solution to my activity calendar. After signing up online and paying my fee I was stoked for the 4th to arrive so the games could begin.<br />
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We got to Medford and I explored some running routes around the in-laws house that sounded fun. I actually got mentally lost a couple times and decided to make my short runs into longer, whats that around the corner runs. It was great.<br />
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The 4th finally arrived and I got up early for my first 10K. I was really excited and left the house before anyone else opened even one eye. I wanted to get to Ashland early to see the little town wake up and get a good parking spot. By the time I arrived runners were already warming up by running up and down Main Street. Folks were pinning their bibs on and swapping stories too. The serious runners toed the line and the gun sounded about 7:45 AM and we were off. I had no plans to win or even compete in this race so I settled in to a spot that kept me out of the way and hoped that I would not clip anyones heels as we made our way down Main Street. Then we turned and what we got next was one of the greatest tours of Ashland you could ever get. Down we ran, passed little homes with beautiful yards in a area of town I had never seen before. It was an Oasis of green fields, streams and small streets. This must be what heaven is like. We made our way to the Bear Creek Greenway and ran back towards downtown along the creek for a few minutes. Then we started climbing the hills back towards downtown. The town had come alive since we left with families and parade entrants lining up for the 4th of July parade. It was great to turn onto Main Street again and see all those smiling faces.<br />
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As I made my way down the final stretch of the run, I remembered someone telling me that you always run as hard as you can as you get near the finish. Not because you are winning, or even among the finishers. But because you will always remember the joy of pushing hard for the finish and the thrill of running hard those last few blocks. I did and it was great! I even managed to find a picture of me running towards the end, having the time of my life.<br />
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I finished near the bottom of my class, but what a wonderful day. I am already making plans to be in Ashland next year for the 4th of July run and maybe staying for the parade that follows. Many thanks to Ashland for letting me run around like a wild man in your little town and not calling the police. Also many thanks to the organizers of the run for making me feel so comfortable.<br />
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Peace, Love and Bliss,<br />
<br />
Don<br />
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<br />NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-35251209583993852882012-07-02T16:23:00.000-07:002012-07-02T16:26:18.241-07:00Wonderful MemoriesHi Friends,<br />
<br />
Wow, I checked out this trailer today and the memories from days gone by just came flooding over me. Shared it with Brenda and she was excited too. When she and I met my car was a bug. We fixed it up and changed it to a CalLook bug after an article in Hot VW's Magazine.<br />
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Over the next few years we had many wonderful adventures in our bug, many that included getting by with pennies to spare. Or getting up the morning after driving all night to see both back tires flat from just being worn out. Or working all night to get the engine well enough to get us to the Bug-O-Rama in Sacramento where we would have the time of our life.<br />
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We are really excited to see this new film come home for us to see together, still, now after 30 years.<br />
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Peace, Love and Bliss to You All!!<br />
<br />
Don<br />
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/45052237" width="500" height="213" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/45052237">OLDER N' FASTER // The California Look : TRAILER</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/stephenbrooks">Stephen Brooks FILMS</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-41479125343814088852012-06-26T06:48:00.001-07:002012-06-26T06:50:19.409-07:00On The Road in Oakland<div><p>The company I drive for has decided to start getting back hauls to help pay the fuel bill for the empty trailer that usually runs between Reno and Hayward. Today is my first back haul.</p>
<p>I wanted to try and make a great first impression for what might be a new, regular customer. Receiving hours in Oakland are 6:00 am till noon and I wanted to be first at the dock. So I left Reno at 1:00 am looking to impress with my super service.</p>
<p>Well it is 6:00 am and now I am told I will be waiting untill at least 8:00 am before they will start unloading. It is sort of funny, but it is mostly just trucking and is the norm for most docks. Sure will be different from carpet deliveries where you work fast and get done early.</p>
<p>Peace, Love and Bliss</p>
<p>Don</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUfzHO957m1MOLZgZRb84U5zEw2T2IaB85VjK2sD0SSL5lLMHjR1P20CfLWJ1yoqiTy7ZjHzlZZTJqCJ3pQ8g595EUyZaC8X9XAO44Q5oIk8T0QuJIZ9gu9WdKztnRk6ILouX-sfoBBpB/' /></div>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-14076497231098346042012-06-15T18:44:00.000-07:002012-06-15T18:44:30.145-07:00One Mans Trash is Another Mans Art<i style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i></i><br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">One man's junk is another man's treasure. -- <i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">unknown</i></i></i></i></i></div>
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<br />
Hi Friends,<br />
<br />
Driving through Yerington, NV right off 95A sits one persons little art display. Sure to many of us the parts would have been junk, but to this Yerington resident it was art and offered the artist a way to express a feeling.<br />
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This artist created some fine animals for his farm, some tractors and what looks like a chariot from the old Roman days. There is even a more interesting way of collecting mail. What a wonderful celebration of creativity in the middle of the country in Nevada.<br />
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May all your days be filled with beauty and celebration too.<br />
<br />
Peace, Love and Bliss<br />
<br />
Don<br />
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<br />NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-90416860892469660832012-06-10T20:39:00.000-07:002012-06-10T20:40:37.609-07:00Junkyard Airplane Art<br />
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<i>The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious. And why shouldn't it be? - it is the same the angels breathe. ~Mark Twain, "Roughing It"</i></h4>
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<br />
Hi Friends,<br />
<br />
We were on our way to Medford a few weeks back and found this coolio junk yard airplane near Susanville, CA. It appears that the crew at the land fill was bored and shopped some of the piles of scrap to get the parts that make this neat bird fly. In addition to the big engine and the huge prop, it looks like a pretty fast bird as evidenced by the swept wings.<br />
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Do you have the story on this bird?<br />
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Hoping all your dreams come true and you always sing on key.<br />
<br />
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DonNevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-21673286157499954412012-06-01T21:51:00.002-07:002012-06-01T21:51:28.578-07:00Musical Family "Art by the Side of the Road"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi Friends,<br />
<br />
Last time we visited Medford, OR I found this family of musicians playing just off the main drag by the library. What a wonderful way to add warmth and fun to your downtown space. It invites you to explore the rest of the downtown space.<br />
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What a treat!<br />
<br />
DonNevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0Jackson County Library Services, 413 W Main St, Medford, OR 97501, USA42.323519 -122.87678342.311778999999994 -122.896524 42.335259 -122.857042tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-69819290586887525462012-05-05T17:09:00.000-07:002012-05-05T17:11:15.170-07:00Our Silver Saddle Ranch Adventure<i>He knows when you're happy
He knows when you're comfortable
He knows when you're confident
And he always knows when you have carrots.
~Author Unknown</i>
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<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Hi Friends,</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>We had planned to take the horses out to the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival last weekend. We hooked up the truck and trailer and had most everything in place for a wonderful ride in Genoa. Then we were off to bed for a few hours of shut eye ...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Somewhere between laying down and getting up the next day the wheels fell off the cart. Neither of us was able to get any sleep and we tossed and turned most of the night. In the morning, both of us exhausted, we decided not to get up early to get to the Genoa ride. Instead we would see what the afternoon brought us.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>We gave it some thought in the morning over coffee and conversation and decided to give the <a href="http://fossr.org/" target="_blank">Silver Saddle Ranch</a> a try. We read about it a few weeks prior and it sounded like just the ticket to keep our weekend ride dream going. East of Carson City on the East side of Prison Hill we found this little oasis of trees and green fields that was just about perfect. Except for few walkers and some folks with dogs we had the park to ourselves.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>We parked and checked out the facilities map and headed off by a little creek lined by just blooming plants. The trails were very nice, mostly dirt and sand (with some areas of small rocks) and mostly wide enough for two horses side by side. There was a great trail that ran around the perimeter or the working ranch and then finished with a short section right down the middle of the alfalfa fields. It was almost more than our horses could stand. Like kids in a candy shop, they munched on the sweet feed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Then we tried the trails that take you into the sandy/rocky part of the park. There was a slight incline that gave the horses a bit of a workout, but it was nothing more than we could handle. Silver Saddle Ranch has the old fashioned drop box type of restrooms like you will find in most parks, and they are in good shape.</i><br />
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<i>We did bring our own water, but found a spigot there if you need water for your horses (or you). We sure had a great time and plan on visiting again soon. Well maintained and a ranch forman on site, this is a nice safe place that we and our horses loved.</i><br />
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<i>Hope to see you on the trail ...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Love and Bliss,</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Don</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Took this video to share. It captures some of the fun we had</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NzJuTCx_1Bk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0Carson City, NV, USA39.1637984 -119.767403439.0653084 -119.9253319 39.262288399999996 -119.60947490000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-33682189360828406502012-04-13T20:38:00.000-07:002012-04-13T20:45:21.778-07:00Spring From Lake Tahoe<i>Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. ~John Ruskin</i><br />
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<i></i>Hi Friends,
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<br>
Work took me back to Lake Tahoe today, thank goodness for the company making mistakes. After a night of pretty heavy snow and some more added in the morning it looked beautiful. One of the best things about Spring snow storms is that they only last a short time and then we get right back into the Spring experience.
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I stopped today at a overlook that I used to always stop at to catch my breath. Lately I had flown right past this spot because I found myself on the wrong side of the highway. Today I needed a good catch my breath break and found it at Logan Shoals near Cave Rock. I really could have taken an hour or two here but had to get back on the road.
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I did stay long enough to breath the fresh air and took some video to share with you. If you find yourself at lake Tahoe and need a moment of bliss check out <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?q=logan+shoals&hl=en&ftid=0x80999ce006fddc5b:0x12741f869db05aa4">Logan Shoals</a> yourself.<br />
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Peace, Love and Bliss
<br>
Don
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/82RGCMWq8Uw?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com02240 Lands End Dr, Toiyabe National Forest, Glenbrook, NV 89413, USA39.119406606362219 -119.954223632812538.922278606362219 -120.27008063281249 39.316534606362218 -119.63836663281251tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-59343784143945117752012-03-19T13:26:00.000-07:002012-03-19T13:36:46.995-07:00Back Over Donner PassHi Friends,
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<br />
Just put together another short video of my last trip over Donner Pass. Thought It is getting late in March so these snow storms will be coming to an end soon, and I will be running to Vacaville on bare pavement again. The Spring and Summer are what make these storms a bit more bearable. With every trip over now I can see the trees turning green again, many with colorfiul flowers on them as they get ready to celebrate the return of warmer days.<br />
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On this trip CalTrans had maximun chain requirements up for the trucks and the roads were covered with ice and a top layer of snow. It was actually not a bad trip over, but I do like to take it a bit slower than the rest of the drivers on the road. My trailer is usually empty heading West over the hill so it has a tendency to slide around a bit more than those with a load. Then again, my thinking is that I drive like an old man so I can live to be an old man.<br />
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So it is off on another adventure over Donner Pass heading West. This time I left the video at normal speed and the sound is on so you can hear the rumble of the chains. It tells a story about a day in my life and reminds me of the glory of Spring and Summer and the warmth of the Sun.<br />
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So strap in and grab a warm beverage and lets get on the road.<br />
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Don<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lYfmrqtQlbQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com1Donner Pass, Tahoe National Forest, California 96161, USA39.3190718 -120.328534639.3067878 -120.3482756 39.331355800000004 -120.3087936tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-69903307594387581632012-03-08T19:53:00.000-08:002012-03-08T19:53:43.414-08:00Lets Go Truckin Over Echo SummitHi Friends,
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Well it was a wonderful day in the mountains so I thought I would share this trip up and over Echo Summit on Highway 50. If you checked out my last post we were knee deep in snow and chained up on Donner Pass. What a difference a couple days make as today brought us temperatures in the 60's and beautiful blue skies as far as you could see. Knowing there are days like these make those snowy days bearable.<br />
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I pushed play as I neared the 600 foot marker and filmed my ride over Echo to Myers. Oh, then I sped it up a bit so you wouldn't have to watch all day. If you look close you might see the two bears hiding along the side of the road.<br />
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Until our next adventure ... keep the shiny side up!<br />
<br />
Don<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yp_ADf241ls?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0Lincoln Hwy, Eldorado National Forest, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96155, USA38.8129628 -120.030183338.6150073 -120.3460403 39.0109183 -119.71432630000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7537023450718684826.post-70049954203152918772012-03-07T17:18:00.000-08:002012-03-07T17:22:44.457-08:00Up and Over Donner Pass<span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif; text-align: -webkit-left;"><i>Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~Lao Tzu</i></span><br />
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Hi Friends,<br />
<br />
It has been such a mild Winter so far and it is almost over. I have been waiting for some time to make a video from my dash cam of a run over Donner Pass in the snow. Well I was finally able to put together something for you the other day. It is not high cinema or award winning, but it was fun to make.<br />
<br />
These late Winter storms can be interesting. It might be 60 to 70 degrees one day and I can be throwing chains the next day. That was the case this week. I was riding the horses with Brenda on Sunday and loving the warm sun then on Tuesday we were driving 60 miles with the tires making their chain noise on the pavement.<br />
<br />
There was not that much snow, but CalTrans must figure if you let the drivers run wild they will hit something or worse. I understand and just take my time getting over the hill. You will probably notice there are a bunch of cars and trucks that are flying past me. It bothered me at one time in my life, but not any more. I figure my job is to get the load over the hill safely and it will take the time it takes. One of my first bosses at Mohawk reminded me regularly that it was just rug and nothing more. Lives did not depend on it and a couple extra hours would not make that big a difference.<br />
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It is kind of fun driving most of the time. When the season gets toward the end and we have been chaining for a few months, I tend to get tired of it. Mostly I get tired of the smell of the road grime and the wet. Sometimes it feels like I am wet for months. Then comes Spring and I smile and enjoy watching the season change back to green and life return to the roads I drive. Soon the Winter grind is forgotten until October brings it back. Bliss!<br />
<br />
Thanks for stopping by. Be kind and follow your bliss.<br />
<br />
Don<br />
<br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y6CpEmqQvmY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>NevadaDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08302880235035851302noreply@blogger.com0Donner Pass, Tahoe National Forest, CA 96161, USA39.3190718 -120.328534639.3067878 -120.3482756 39.331355800000004 -120.3087936