Celebrating the Journey

Today dawned as an absolutely gorgeous Spring day, with just the right combination of nip and warmth. It was a day meant for a hike! So, hiking is exactly what we did. We drove down Highway 89 to the Emerald Bay State Park, where the trail to the Vikingsholm Castle begins. The Castle is located directly below Highway 89, at the head of Emerald Bay.

The hike down to the Castle is about a mile long, and offers breath-taking views of Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Fannette Island (the only island in the Lake), Eagle Falls (the only water fall flowing directly into Lake Tahoe), the highway above, and of course, the majestic snow-covered mountains.

It wasn't long before we made it to the beach.

And finally, the Castle:

Then it was time to head all the way back up. It's a steep hike, so coming down had been easy. Climbing back up was an altogether different story, and it felt considerably longer than a mile! But all in all, well worth it, and my family loved it! Ok, "loved" may not be the right word for the emotions they expressed on the hike up; let's just say that they didn't hate it much!

We found April to be a great time to visit Tahoe; ski season was over, and summer tourism hadn't kicked in yet. During the hike, we saw only about a dozen other people. And yet, we managed to run into someone we know. Small world after all!

Tomorrow we wind up our Tahoe vacation and return home. As always, we would have loved to stay longer, but real life awaits. What makes leaving bearable is knowing that, God willing, we will be back again soon.

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” – John Muir, conservationist and naturalist (1838 – 1914)

The night time picture I took of the moon over Lake Tahoe was so dazzling, we returned today afternoon to savor the view in broad daylight. I took these pictures on the drive there.

I can't help being drawn to Americana at its finest!

Lake Tahoe is just as dazzling in broad daylight as it is when bathed in the glow of the moon!

Later in the afternoon, we started a hike in the woods. Walking through the snow is a lot like running through sand; you get a great workout without having to go very far!

We ended our hike and our day down by the Lake!

I am certain that there are several places on Earth where everything beautiful, serene, and pure seems to come together in a perfect blend; I believe Lake Tahoe to be one such place!

Spring rolled around, and I found myself with some unexpected time off on my hands. It was one of those lemons life hands you every now and then. I chose to take it as a sign that it was time to make lemonade. So, lemonade I made. We packed up the kids, dug up our snow gear, and headed off to one of our favorite places for a quick recharge, the north shore of Lake Tahoe, far from the madding crowds.

We left late in the afternoon, and I took several pictures during the drive. I wasn't driving, just to be clear.

Thanks to I-80 closures, it was dark by the time we got to the Lake, but that meant I was able to shoot this picture of the moon casting its spell on Emerald Bay.

The next morning I was greeted by this view just outside the window. A glorious way to start the day!

I took several other pictures around the house where we stayed, as I braved the elements. If you know how I feel about snow, you know what I mean. As beautiful as snow is, must it be so cold?

Over the years I have taken hundreds of pictures of this very scenic and relaxing getaway, and as I continue to take more, the exercise is gratifying as ever, and of course, Tahoe never disappoints.

Enjoy these pictures, courtesy of my camera, a trusty and longtime friend. We'll be busy as we go about our pixel happy ways, so stop by again.