Taylor's in Tahoe!

So, I am a little out of order here---but I wanted to include some photo's of our Taylor visit and since I forgot to put the digital card in my camera, I was waiting for some photo's from Minnesota Mom!

Diane and Dave DROVE to Reno (via a visit with Doug & Liz in Hastings, NE) from Marshall for a visit. They drove the same route we did and Dave has been wanting to make this drive West since he's never done it before. And given the expense and "no-direct-flight" options to flying into Reno, even with gas as expensive as it is, a road trip seemed like a fine idea!

We were a houseful of Taylor's! We converted our living-room into the guest room (with a TV) each night with an air-mattress, and Minnesota Mom & Dad were real "troopers" and slept on an air-mattress the whole time. It really was a treat. Mike and I had to work for a couple of the days, though Mike took half a day on Thursday and they all went to Virginia City (up Geiger Pass--our cycling route). The weather was a mixed bag of Spring (cool to warm to windy to snow flurries), but for the most part was wonderful (of course the day they left was the snow flurry day).

On Friday, both Mike and I took the day off, and we headed for Lake Tahoe/Northstar, via Mt. Rose (also our cycling route). Diane and Dave have certainly seen enough snow in their lives (Minnesota is your first clue). But unlike snow in the Northern Plains, Alpine snow has it's own particular charm. And Spring skiing snow is really nice with all the sun and warm temperatures. The timing was perfect as riding the gondola up to the top of the mountains was free (as opposed to paying $17 per person), and we were even able to hitch a ride in the VIP/Members only lifts up to the expert slopes! You couldn't have scripted a nicer day!

Between visits to the new Cabella's, Tahoe, Viriginia City and our little neighborhood in NW Reno, the week just flew. Diane and Dave got to experience their first earthquakes (thank G-D they missed the latest grumblings in the ground)---so it was quite an adventurous week.

On Saturday, true to form for anyplace that actually has season's (no one in California reading me understands this...trust me), the wind pounded us with a cold front. Now anyone who has been reading me for any amount of time knows what I thought of the Marshall Prairie winds. Well---Reno may not blow as consistently as the northern prairie, but when it blows---sigh. 60 mph gusts and a steady 30-40 mph "breeze". While Mike was riding, Diane and Dave and I went shopping for dinner and a movie (The World's fastest Indian---excellent). Yes--we BBQ'd a feast in the blustery wind and enjoyed a lovely last night together.

It was a fabulous time and the house feels empty since they left early last Sunday morning. It is supposed to be 81 degrees today, so we are off for another long bike ride! Happy Sunday!

Shake, Rattle & Roll!

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area---well, earthquakes are no stranger to me. I remember in the 80's when we had some big shakers around the Hayward Fault---and of course I was there in 1989 when the ground rolled like a roller coaster for 15 seconds (felt like an hour) and caused such havoc around the Bay. When you grow up with earthquakes, you're like "whatever...no big deal!"

The country's 3rd most seismic state, after Alaska in California, has been rocking and rolling like crazy lately. Two days ago we had over a hundred measure-able quakes and yesterday we had about 100, and some were big ones! But last night, was the biggest yet at near 5.0 (I think it was a 4.9). Pictures fell off the walls, cups and saucers in the cabinets were knocked over, and Mike and I woke up when the Scrapper jumped right on our heads!

It doesn't help that we are maybe a mile from the epicenter. Sydney is NOT enjoying it. She runs from the bed to the closet all night long. At work she jumps right into your lap. In any case, it is pretty amazing. But so far, we are fine.

It's supposed to be a nice 75 degrees today and Mike and I are off for a long bike ride, to enjoy the spring. We are rocking and rolling here in the Silver "quake" state!

Happy Saturday!

Just like summer!

I've been in somewhat of a non-writing mood lately. Very strange. Even though nothing is really "wrong", it just hasn't felt right either and since I can't really discuss what's up, it is hard for me to discuss "anything". So---lots of silence from me. Nothing to worry about. I have my health, my family and their health and my "just turned 40" husband. But anytime you start a conversation that way, you keep waiting for the "and yet..." part.

But I am not accustomed to feeling down in the dumps. So I haven't written. I also don't stay this way for long since it doesn't come natural for me. So all is well, but this is why I haven't been writing.

Mike and I and a friend headed to Markleeville on Saturday. 74 degrees, no wind and. In other words it was perfect. Ebbetts is still closed to cars (at the first gate even), but this was the first weekend that Monitor was open and plowed! 10-12 foot cuts in the snow, but ridable in shorts and short sleeved jerseys! When I saw how much snow there was on Monitor, I headed over to climb car-free Ebbetts---thinking that there would even be more snow, and knowing that I only had so many miles in my legs and I didn't want to miss Ebbetts because I was out of gas. Mike and Jeff headed over to the other side of Monitor and rode both ways. Studs!.

When I passed the first gate of the Ebbetts climb---there was NO snow really. More on Monitor oddly enough. I love this climb. Mike likes Monitor better, but for me the twisty turns and 11,000 foot mountain peaks surrounding the climb are so spectacular. Even if the road was a sandbox, riding up with no cars is such a treat! I passed the 7,000' foot gate and there were some 4' cuts in the snow drifts, but nothing like Monitor.

Another 800' feet or so though and the road just stopped. Unplowed and no way up. I will have to go back in a couple of weeks to get to the top.

And with the way the snow is melting, I imagine Ebbetts will be open next weekend.

Today was about 80 degrees and I went out again on the local roads for about 4.5 hours. Gotta get in shape to ride up the passes.

So---it has been awhile, but I wish you all a happy Sunday. Happy for the sunshine and expect some changes for these Taylor's in the not so distant future.