Super Moon June 22nd , Boca Reservoir , Ca.

Sunset on the pond !

A Beautiful night at the pond !!!

Sierraville,ca and Lakes Basin.

What a beautiful day. Just had to go for a drive today. I head out to Lakes basin up highway 89 going out of Truckee, Ca. In 30 miles I am passing thru the beautiful farm country of Sierra valley.

  Another 20-30 miles I am up in the sierra mountains in an area called Lakes Basin. I love this place. I come here a couple times each summer to camp and hike. Today just coming to check it out to see if the snow is melted yet. Still lots of pockets of snow . I was only able to do a very short part of this hike which takes you pass many pristine mountain lakes. Made it to Long lake , had a nice lunch , then turned around. I am not much into hiking in the snow. Old snow has a tendency to have hollow spots beneath it, making it easy to fall into never ending holes.

 It was a beautiful day with tons of white fluffy clouds. Warmer then it looks in these photos. Actually was 70 degrees today.

Mountain of Strings Bluegrass festival at Squaw valley.

Squaw valley Mountain of Strings Bluegrass festival was a great way to start the summer off at Squaw valley usa. We had 3 amazing bands. Tony Furtado, Del McCoury band and Yonder Mountain String band all under the beautiful mountains of Squaw Valley. My favorite of the night  was the Del McCoury band pictured below. This is Del McCoury with all his sons. They play a great mix of traditional bluegrass style sure to get you jumping.
The harmonys they sing are amazingly beautiful ! Pure Bluegrass. 



Alida, Esta and myself  enjoying the music!



Fashionistas !

Yonder Mountain string band is an upbeat , high-octane bluegrass jam band.

Boca lake , Truckee,CA.

 Boca reservoir is 5 miles from my house. Do I feal lucky? This time of year it is so peaceful . No boaters yet. Went out to try my new camera yesterday and walked out to the campground which is a beautiful little spot. Sites are all pretty large with most having views of the lake. Firepit and picnic tables. Pit toilets and no water. $17.00 a night .

Point Reyes National Seashore, California coast.

Review of Davenport, a small town on the California coast.

Davenport , California is a small ocean town with population of about 400. The town is presently noted for the spectacular cliffs and bluffs above the Pacific, beaches in between cliffs, surfing opportunities,  whales and brussel sprouts ! Davenport is 10 miles north of Santa Cruz , Ca. There are a couple cafes, and art gallerys with the one hotel being the Davenport roadhouse Inn . This is why I came to Davenport. I found a half price deal at the Inn on Living social.
The Davenport Inn has a restaurant and bar downstairs and the rooms are all upstairs. My room was very nice. Great view of the waves crashing on the rocks across the road. Nice pillowtop beds. Cute place.
The restaurant had $3.00 fish tacos the night I arrived and an Americana all ladys band who was great! A fun assortment of local people turned out.  The fish tacos are wonderful but the real treat was the carmelized brussel sprouts !!!
I spent the day walking on numerous beaches and cliffs in the nearby area and gazing out over a large pod of Whales.
I had a 2 great days in Davenport.  I would recommend the Davenport Inn and Restaurant highly ! Nice Inn with fair prices, good food and a beautiful quiet location.

First day of spring !!

First day of spring. March 20th !!  Spring to me is a time of wildflowers blooming and baby animals stirring. Alltho,  here in the high sierras of California, spring tends to  come pretty late at times. This photo is of the top of Squaw Valley USA in late summer. Great spring flowers.

Lower photo is a yearling cub and was taken in the fall. Still, these photos both are of awakenings which is how I think of springtime. Happy spring everyone !!   

Rajasthan India part 3

 "There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won't go. For me, India is such a place. When I first visited, I was stunned by the richness of the land, by its lush beauty and exotic architecture, by its ability to overload the senses with the pure, concentrated intensity of its colors, smells, tastes, and sounds. It was as if all my life I had been seeing the world in black and white and, when brought face-to-face with India, experienced everything re-rendered in brilliant technicolor."

- Keith Bellows (Editor-in-chief, National Geographic Society)

 

When I left India I was overwhelmed by it and didnt think I would go back but now it beckons to me. India can make one feel very alive.