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Pictures: Nancy at Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe; Closeup of flowers climbing giant evergreen; Evergreen with flowers (roses?) climbing tree across street from Elna and Mark’s.

We traveled from Lake Havasu to Lake Topaz just across the border from California in Nevada. It’s a casino, as well as a lodge, store, filling station and really cheap (in price) RV park. We didn’t gamble there, but did enjoy a wonderful dinner at the casino. We stayed there 3 nights and traveled around the area in the Sierra Nevadas.

Lake Tahoe was absolutely beautiful. We traveled around the Lake – it took all day – it was windy with some gusts up to 70 mpg on the ridges. Fortunately, we only traveled on one ridge for a short distance (we were in the car) so the wind didn’t bother us very much. The colors of the lake had a wide range from dark blue to emerald green – beautiful. It’s a bit congested for my taste, but a great place to visit. We didn’t get to Yosemite since Tioga Pass wasn’t open yet, however, they just opened Monitor Pass so we took that on our way back from Tahoe. All I can say is SPECTACULAR!!!! What a sight. Snow capped mountains as far as you could see. One range after another and we were sitting on top of the world!!!

The second day we headed out to Gold Country and briefly visited some of the old gold towns – some are very touristy with little left of the gold rush days, some are still preserved and touristy, and some are just little spots on the road. A fun day, but no panning or digging for gold.

After our stay at Topaz Lake Nancy and I headed for Ukiah via Grass Valley. First we headed to Reno and then cut across the state of California, taking 2 days to get to Elna and Mark’s. Arrived in Grass Valley after crossing the mountains with some hot brakes and was concerned about continuing, but got a tentative approval from a brake guy named Dave, who also gave me some good pointers that his Pappy gave him about mountain driving ( I also consulted my manual and discovered that instead of driving with my overdrive off, it was actually on – dumb me). I took the advice to heart and practiced what his Pappy preached and made it to Ukiah ok. I have since had my brakes checked out and have brakes that are in “excellent condition” so I’m ready to tackle the mountains again.

Nancy, Toby and I had a good time with Elna, Mark, Winston and Maisie. We went to Mendicino for lunch at the old hotel and strolled along the ocean cliffs one day, and then on another day we went to the Redwood groves that are close to here. It was a rainy day, but under the redwoods we were dry. I took Nancy to the airport in Santa Rosa last Wednesday and she’s backround Ukiah and hitting a few vineyards for a little wine tasting. Unfortunately, the cold nights here have damaged the early grape crop, so you chardonnay and pinot noir drinkers take note.

Meanwhile back home in Nebraska the Davey’s have a new addition to their family. Pumpkin, Donna’s new horse, turned out to be pregnant and delivered a filly that Donna has named Chablie (named after her grandchildren). Fortunately she arrived after their last big snow storm.

I’ll be heading out of Ukiah this weekend, probably Sunday, and making my way to Oregon where I plan to spend about a month exploring Oregon country since this is where I may eventually settle – or not. I think Toby will be glad to be on the move again and taking a rest from the energetic Winston and Maisie. He gets worn out trying to keep them in their place where they refuse to remain. And I think they’ll be glad to see him go so they don’t have to keep figuring out ways to get around him. While my site here in Elna and Mark’s driveway is very comfortable. I too will be ready to move on. So my dear family and friends, ‘til later
Love, Kris

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