POSTCARD FROM SACRAMENTO
Sunday,
June 23, 2007
Well, we're in California
indeed!
We had a nice breakfast at our Super 8 in Reno and on the bus for a great day filled
with fresh air. What a difference the
highway scenery was from our Wyoming
and Nevada
countryside travels. Today's sights were
most definitely breathtaking. The sky
was an incredible blue and not a cloud around.
The 40 minute drive up to the 7000+ ft elevation of Donner Lake
was so scenic. On their way to the park,
the kids were busy reading the pamphlet in their packets the Donner Party
history. Right into the park Jim pulled
and we hopped off just in time for the Donner Party movie that was an oldie but
goody. We took a nice little nature hike
and got a real visual of how deep the snow had been the winter the Donner Party
was trapped in the valley – 20 feet high!
Our next stop was our scheduled lunch stop and a fantastic
time at Lake Tahoe! We had such generous hosts: Susan and Grace Frautschi were all set up
with a beautiful spread at the Gatekeeper's Cottage in Tahoe City, just a
little walk from the parking lot at 64 Acre Park – uhhhhhh…….we kind of missed
the turn into the park and drove down alongside the west edge of Lake Tahoe
which was going to be our afternoon drive, so we just advanced that by 2 hours
until Captain Jim was able to negotiate a Y-turn on Hwy 89. Got that part of our itinerary over. The funny part was that Susan saw us turn onto
the correct road, and then miss our turn…..we would have been there exactly on
time. She had turned to her friend and
said, "That's Wisconsin
for you – 11:29 a.m.!") But then she needed to give us about 15
minutes to return! She and Grace
escorted us from the parking lot to the picnic area, got us eating and we had a
fun time catching up. Grace is 4 years
old, and you can imagine her adoring fans in our kids!
After lunch we walked down another path past an area that
was being set up for a wedding…..watch out……in a few years you may have a bride
who's dream it is to have a Lake Tahoe shore side wedding. It was like a fairy book setting. The path took us to the Lake
Tahoe shore where most of the kids stripped down to their swim
suits and braved the 60 degree water temp.
It was indeed chilly! But we had
100% toe dipping cooperation! Susan even
enticed a swimming challenge a $20 prize to the first person who would go out
as far as the geese (about 20 yards in case you were worried!) – and Becca just
jumped in and swam right out there! What
a swimmer! Perhaps we should have swimming
in cold, beautiful, freshwater lakes a fundraising undertaking!
After a couple of hours of loving the sun, playing with
Grace, and enjoying the incredible multi-hued blue water, crystal blue sky, and
snow capped mountains, we had to tear ourselves away………… I am most certain many of us will return some
day! Many, many thanks to Susan and
Grace – what great memories!
We then hopped back onto the bus as we traveled to Sacramento through the
pass. As a matter of fact, today was a
NO MOVIE day! This may have been the
first ever for one of our tours!
The road was pretty beaten up from tire chains drivers need
to have for the feet and feet of snow that comes to the area. There were so many hillsides that showed
evidence from previous years fires but just gorgeous scenery. Our Wisconsin
promptness wasn’t quite on track as we arrived at St. Andrew's United Methodist
Church about 20 minutes
late. What a greeting we got there! All of our hosts and incredible Ruth were
anxiously waiting to whisk our kids away.
They had plans, oh, did they ever have plans! As adults, we're having a relaxing night, but
I think our kids are having great times with their new friends in Sacramento.
We are so looking forward to the church service at St.
Andrew's. What a terrific opportunity to
perform in such a different setting and format!
We have met some incredible people this trip so far, and it's only Day
5! Thanks to Susan and Grace for some
marvelous Lake Tahoe fun and treats and to
Ruth and gang at St. Andrew's.
Til next time,
Sue