Into the Wild Blue Yonder Part IV ~ June 3rd - June 7th

June 3rd and 4th ~ The back roads to Hillsboro and our friend's aerie, high on a knoll, are visual feasts. We arrive to clouds and then a light rain. Coming from northern California, where rain has seldom been seen this year, we are enthralled. What, we have to stay inside? What do you do on a rainy day? Let me think: build a fire, catch up, swap stories, enjoy the view, play cribbage and enjoy Deb's cooking.

She is a master chef and loves cook for friends. There is a small chalkboard to the right of the refrigerator with the menus for the day, for arrival night my favorite, Moroccan Pastilla. We can sit and talk for hours at the counter, and sometimes I even get to help out.

The sun came out and we got a bit of walking in and then took the rest of the day to relax. Visiting Art and Deb is like time out at a B&B Spa. To top it off the sky provided us with a heart.

June 5th and 6th ~ We head for Canby to stay with Rod's niece for a couple of days to help celebrate his grand niece Shawnail's high school graduation. First though we made a stop at Champoeg State Park for a long walk along the river in the cool of the morning. 

Got to Canby Friday afternoon and had lunch at the Backstop Bar and Grill. We went back that evening to have dinner with Rod's sister Debby and nephew Emmett before the graduation ceremony. Those without tickets to graduation sat in the bleachers, those with tickets sat on the football field for the ceremony. It must have been 90 degrees on the field in the evening sun, we had shade and a light breeze up in the bleachers.

On Saturday we helped Dawn and Andrew prepare for the graduation party at their place. The entire day and evening was low key and great fun. Met some more of the family. 

June 7th ~ Breakfast with Dawn and family at the restaurant where Shawnail works. It's been in the 80's and heading for the 90's in Canby, so we are heading for the coast. A little side trip to Domain Drouhin Winery near Dayton to pick up a present and then out to Spirit Mountain Casino in Grand Ronde for lunch. 

Domain Drouhin Winery 

Lincoln City was a welcome change: a nippy 61 and foggy, no middle ground in Oregon. Played the penny slots at Chinook Winds where we're staying. Not much luck but plenty of fun on new machines that actually play with you, as in give and take. Tomorrow we head towards home.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder, Part II ~ May 29-30, 2015

May 29th:

After breakfast in Chester it's north on Hwy 89 to Lassen. We never tire of the trip, the mountain air and the views. The journey is uncrowded, the weather gorgeous. Times like this we miss the motorhome and camping opportunities. Cooking outside, sitting in front of the campfire, and star watching miles from civilization. 

We saw a number of these at higher altitudes in pine forests. With a little research we discovered they are Sarcodes sanguinea or Snow Plant. It has no chlorophyll and derives nutrition from fungi in the soil. Learn something new every day. 

Highlight of the day was a stop at Manzanita Lake for a walkabout of about three miles. Saw blue herons, osprey, ducks, geese, goslings, and a muskrat. 

Had a picnic outside the Manzanita Lake Store and then drove down to the park's south gate so the Rodster could do a little fishing. I was happy as a clam sitting in the shade reading some of my Grandfather's letters. Late afternoon we continued on Hwy 89 to the town of Burney where we spent the night at a little hotel in town.

May 30th ~ When in Burney you have breakfast at Blackberry Patch. Once packed up we headed to McArthur Burney Falls for some hiking and fishing. 

Flashback: In 1970 I hiked up Berg Lake on Mt. Robson, in British Columbia, with new friends Bobbie and James. It's a 15 mile hike that took us two days. I had my pup Charis with me and he would often take off ahead of us to explore and then come back and check in. 

The Lodge at Berg Lake

While Rod was fishing Burney Creek I was doing much the same. Hiking on ahead and walking back to touch base. I got in 5.5 miles and found some beautiful places to sit in the shade and just be. 

Walking near fallen trees along the trail we heard the unmistakable sound of chewing. Coming up the path from Lake Britton to the campground we heard the same sound, even louder, coming from living trees. The ranger told us it was an infestation pine bark beetles.

From the SF Chronicle March 2015: "Pine trees across the state have been dying off by the thousands due to pine beetles that take advantage of their drought-stressed bodies. The small groupings and vast swaths of dead trees create an especially dangerous fire hazard in already parched conditions..... experts warning that the situation is on track to worsen". Worst of all this isn't just a local problem, it's happening all across north America. What have we humans done?

After a snack we continue north on Hwy 89 and pick up Hwy 97 to do some exploring on the way to Klamath for the night. The Hwy 97 corridor from California through Oregon is visual feast, a legacy of the volcanic activities of the past: outcroppings, gorges, rich farmland, marshes and large ranches follow the road north. We stayed at the Best Western in Klamath and walked a few blocks to dinner. Early to bed, tomorrow we head for Crater Lake. 

De-Liver Me Tour ~ Game Changer ~ February 5, 2015

A "Game Changer" is a newly introduced element or factor that changes an existing situation or activity in a significant way. The adenocarcinoma on my pancreas is a different cancer than Audrey and Carmine, the hepatocellular carcinomas on my liver. What this translates to is that I am off the liver transplant list for now. I will have to remain clear of pancreatic cancer for 3-5 years before I can be reconsidered. I totally understand logic, especially with so few livers to go around. Truth be told I am actually a bit relieved. The prospect of major transplant surgery, being out of sorts for several months and on steroids and immunosuppressents is a little hard to fathom right now.

Storm Clouds and Sunbeams

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Small blessings ~ Sometimes the least expected is a blessing in disguise. I was close to the top of the transplant list when the pancreatic tumor was discovered with a CT scan and biopsy late last Fall. Had it not been discovered early, and before the liver transplant, the immunosuppressents and steroids dictated by a transplant would have prompted the pancreatic cancer to run wild. 

We met with my oncologist today and as he walked in the door he smiled at me and said "Survived another one, eh?" Here is what we learned. 

Staging ~ The staging of cancers is a complicated process, but here is the country girl's guide to short and simple. 

1 ~ tumor is 2 mm or smaller and hasn't spread to lymph nodes
2 ~ tumor is over 2 mm and hasn't spread to lymph nodes or body
3 ~ tumor has involved lymph nodes but hasn't spread to other parts of body
4 ~ tumor has spread to other parts of the body

I rank as a Stage 3: My surgeon removed six lymph nodes, though only one of the six was was involved. A generalized rule is that patients at Stage 3 have a 60% risk of recurrence of cancer returning or showing up someplace else. 

Normally, in this scenario, chemo would be offered as a preventative measure to keep cancer from returning to my pancreas. However, at this point the cancer is gone and chemo could facilitate the growth of the liver cancer because of compromised immune system from removal of my spleen. It might also cause a flareup of the Hep C which has almost reached "cured" status. Can you spell NO THANK YOU? I swore years ago that I would not do systemic chemotherapy. I've watched too many friends endure hell for no apparent benefit. It's all about the quality not the quantity. 

Under the microscope - Starting today I'll be doing a quarterly blood test called CA19-9 which helps detect early recurrence of cancer. At surgery the marker registered 294. Today's blood test will establish a new baseline, hopefully with a much lower one. I will touch bases with my oncologist again in May. Also, the letter from Kaiser that approves an additional year of medical care from the Liver Transplant Unit at UCSF just arrived in the mail. This is all good news. My orders are to continue to take care of myself: exercise, eat healthy and travel at will. We can do that!

Life Expectancy ~ I had to ask the question ~ There is no one answer, only averages from large trials and large patient data bases and it is only a rough guideline. In a worse case scenario, if the cancer comes back or spreads and cannot be removed surgically, life expectancy is about two years. We are all different though so you cannot read much into that. Considering the odds and bullets I've dodged so far, things are looking brighter than expected. I may indeed outlive the October 2017 expiration date on my American Express Card and see my mid seventies. 

On the Horizon ~ Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! We have friends to visit, seasons to experience, and blue highways to explore. Alberta is calling, we've never seen the east coast in the fall, the aurora borealis, or the poppies in Antelope Valley. The possibilities are endless. 

Alberta 1997

Northern Lights

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Horse Bridge Pawtuckaway State Park

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Life is a Circus Going Somewhere to Happen or How I learned to Love Roller Coasters ~ Sept 25, 2014

Exciting News:The floors are getting redone starting on Monday so we're packing up and moving everything to my studio and the garage. It's the perfect time to sift out the flotsam and jetsam and thin the collection. So far we've donated four boxes of books, a box of collectibles that have been in a drawer for 6 years, clothing, gewgaws, knickknacks and throw pillows. They are dropping off 43 boxes of laminate in the living room this morning so it can "acclimate". Good thing we're off to an overnight adventure this afternoon, headed to the Kelseyville Pear Festival to see Dave Stamey.

My Studio

Outstanding News: I was diagnosed with breast cancer in August 2011. It was caught early due to an annual mammogram. At the time I had a lumpectomy and a four week course of radiation. I had my anniversary mammogram last week and am delighted to report there is no sign of it's return. This means I'm 3 years clear, two go. 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/JpegArt

Icing on the midweek's cake: Our plumbing backed up Wednesday evening. Good thing we have no qualms about peeing in a bucket for the night. Our great neighbors gave us access to their facilities once the sun was up and until Santa Rosa Plumbing solved the problem late afternoon. 

Life is a Journey ~ Enjoy the Ride

Top of the Fifth ~ June 08, 2014

Wild Pitch ~ Ah, the battle of the titans: Best Laid Plans vs. The Monkey Wrench Gang. We thought we might have most of June and July to hit the road, but avast mateys we've hit a wee snag.

Snagged

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Razzafratz ~ On May 28th I had my quarterly CT scan to check on resident tumors, Audrey and Carmine. Well, it seems Audrey found a way to escape her chemotherapeutic bondage wrap, picture muffin top over the bikini bottom. There is an area about .50 cm wide (that's about a 20th of an inch) that is lighting up on the scan. My doc called after talking to UCSF Interventional Radiology. The spot is easy to reach and the recommendation is that I return for another TACE. My appointment date is June 27th. Not at all happy about this development but it is what it is and keeping my tumors in check until Fall surgery date is a priority. 

Hot off the Press ~ I met with the Hepatitis C Clinical Pharmacist on June 6th to get more information about the drug therapy I'll be starting sometime in August. It is a combo of Ribivarin and Sofosbuvir (now known as Sovaldi, the new warm and fuzzy name that patients can spell and pronounce). There is a good chance this dynamic duo can rid my system of Hep C before the transplant, but until we find out how I tolerate the medications we'll probably stay close to home. The other good news is that my insurance will cover the costs other than my normal copays. This is a huge load off our minds. 

We're Outta Here (Thank you Duane Kuiper) ~ We have a window of opportunity the next few weeks before the proverbial shit hits the fan so we be outta here.  On Wednesday we're taking off on one of our infamous Shall We Turn Right or Left Tours: back roads and blue highways. We'll probably be off the grid for most of the time, but will take good notes and lots of photos so stay tuned. 

Christmas Eve ~ Dec 24, 2013

For a majority of the 32 years Rod and I have been together we've spent Christmas on the road: visiting my parents in Arizona or his family in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. We are orphans now, having lost the last of our parents when Rod's sweet pop passed away earlier this year.

We decided to stay home this year and all it did was get us in trouble.  Well, not really trouble, let's say we have a new understanding of an alternate description of adventure.

• Dec 9 ~ through Dec 21 the bathroom remodel runs amok.
• Dec 21 ~ remodel is completed on our wedding anniversary: oh boy we can shower and flush, the best gift ever before we head out for a great dinner at Underwood Bistro in Graton.
• Dec 22 ~ the new plumbing backs up.
• Dec 23 ~ septic tank pumped in case that was the problem (should do it every 5 years and it had been 7) ~ not the problem
• Dec 23 ~ Rod on his belly in the ice plant with a hose and plumber's snake trying to shake loose whatever is keeping the main line to the septic tank from draining.
• Dec 23 ~ an hour later success ~ splat something unmentionable drops into the empty tank ~ Houston we've fixed the problem, all systems go.
• Dec 23 ~ well as long as we're in here we might as well dump the black water tank on our Outhouse on Wheels. This puppy saved us during this little adventure in plumbing.

• Dec 23 ~ get the hall and living room carpets, couch and easy chairs cleaned by Coit due to dust bomb grit aftermath of removing a portion of two of the interior bathroom walls which turn out to be inch thick exterior stucco.

• Dec 23 ~ go to movies to escape the chaos on the kitchen counter and having most of the furniture parked in the kitchen or out on porch while the carpets dry.
• Dec 23 ~ get home from the movies in time to see the last heart pounding 5 minutes of the Forty-Niner game. A fitting end to the season and Candlestick Park.
• Dec 24 ~ I started deep cleaning of one of the bedrooms: as in everything from baseboards to ceiling. Why you ask? Three days ago the afternoon sun was shining in Rod's window when he took a shirt out of his closet and shook it. A cloud of dust rose up and danced about him like campfire smoke. Yikes, cosmic hint, Thor's hammer, Gibb's slap to the back of the head ~ got it.
• Dec 24 ~ Rod finishes installing wainscoting and trim.

After 8 hours of hard labor we took a break at 2:30 and headed out for a walk around the vineyard next door. Sunny and 66 degrees, hard to believe it's winter. Tomorrow we'll tackle Rod's bedroom, the kitchen floor and do windows before heading next door for dinner.  Pizza sounds good tonight!

Hope you're enjoying the holidays with friends and family. The kindness, humor, love and generosity of our neighbors got us through this little adventure, and I use the term adventure loosely.

Think we'll hit the road next Christmas ~ The cosmos and, by then, my new liver willing!

The Visual Road Home ~ Oct 29, 2013

The roads home provide visual delights at every turn. Autumn is a great time to travel the coast. The winds of spring and summer have settled into breezes and the sun remains warm. 

 

Hwy 46 ~ From Paso Robles to Cambria



North of Cambria ~ Hwy 1

 

 Way to Big Sur ~ Hwy 1

 

Golden Gate Bridge ~ Hwy 101



Mt. Tamalpais ~ Hwy 101

 

The Vineyard Trail Next Door

  

If you come to a fork in the road, take it ~ Yogi Berra



We Ride a Serendipitous Trail ~ Oct 28, 2013

For the last three days Las Vegas has hovered at 85 degrees, 70ish at night. A slight breeze came up yesterday and cooled the afternoon a bit.   

I woke up about 5:30am with a soft howl in my ears that sounded like it was coming from the windows. I reached behind the curtains to feel a major draft and realize it's the wind. We are, after all, on the 27th floor. It seems that last night's said breeze turned into a red flag wind warning, with gusts of 40-80 depending on your location. Are those ripples in my water glass?

Windy Day

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We're on the road about 9am and the wind is indeed howling: tumbleweeds and dust devils are dancing in the vast openness, clouds of dust are drifting across the highway. The Expedition holds her own so we barely feel it. As a precaution, however, we keep a healthy distance behind large trucks and stay on the upwind side. A parade of big rigs bobbing and weaving down the interstate is not a comforting site.

Did you know that the first noted use of "serendipity" in the English language was by Horace Walpole? In a letter to Horace Mann in January 1794 he said he formed it from the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip whose heroes were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of. That sounds about right.

We got a little turned around in Bakersfield trying to find our way to Costco so it took a little longer than expected to get there. We pull up to a pump and a truck pulls in behind us. The driver gets out and says "Hi Rod". There stands Jeff,  a friend of his from Santa Rosa. They've traveled together to Las Vegas for the March NASCAR races a number of times. Turns out Jeff is on his way to Missouri on some family business. What are the odds?

We decide to push on towards the coast for the night. Once out of Bakersfield, we head up I5 for a bit and turn left onto Hwy 46 for Paso Robles. It's a road less traveled, freshly paved, winding through ranches, vineyards and rolling hills. The remnants of a storm moving east provide some great visuals.

 
We stayed at the Best Western in Paso Robles last November on our way home from Arizona so we stop there again. They upgraded our room for coming back ~ cool beans. This also means we can walk up to Big Bad Bubba's BBQ for dinner (worth checking out if you're in the area). Long drive today so it's early to bed, looking forward to getting home tomorrow. I love traveling but it's oh so nice to sleep in your own bed.



Bringing Down the House ~ Oct 27, 2013

Today's event is at 1pm so we use the morning to get organized. We always over pack (scouts at heart) but we are prepared for anything. It will make checking out a little easier if we only have to make one trip to the car tomorrow so we schlep the hanging clothes bag (never touched), shoe bag (too hot for boots or slippers), laundry, spare books and snack bags down to the rig. After a leisurely breakfast and a little play time in the casino, we head out to the taxi stand for the short drive to the Thomas and Mack Center.

 

This is the final day of the event and it's going down to the wire. You couldn't have written a better script for 17,000 PBR fans. There are 35 riders in the first round with hopes of finishing in the money. The top 15 move into the final round. If you win the event there's a $250,000 paycheck, if you win the world championship there's a $1,000,000 paycheck. And trust me if you've ever watched bull riding you know that every cent is EARNED.

The riders start from last to first so the top two ride last in every round. Silvano Alves rides Cowtown Slinger for 88.25 points. J.B.'s bull is Harlem Shake, but he's acting up so much in the chute there is concern for the safety of both rider and bull. The judges make the call and J.B. will ride Ford Hammer Down. He's at the chutes on the other end of the arena, so action stops for a bit while he walks down and gets reset. Think about how hard it would be to stay focused after all this hullaballoo. Evidently no problem for J.B. his ride earns 91 points, here's a link:

 

http://www.pbr.com/en/media/videos/2013/10/monster-ride-jb-mauney-91-points-on-ford-hammer-down.aspx

 

In the final go round Silvano rides Big Tex Rocks. The bull didn't perform well so he is again give an opportunity for a re-ride. Much to everyone's surprise he takes the re-ride option on Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey. He scores in the high 80's but the point is mute.

J.B. has won on points with one more bull to ride. He draws Wipeout and scores 93 points. The cheering is deafening. J.B has twice finished 2nd and twice finished 3rd so he is on top of the world. Paycheck for the day $1,250,000

Final Ride ~ J.B. Mauney and Wipeout

Photo credit Andy Watson

“There’s no better feeling. You dream of something all your life and to eventually get it ..... feels like you’ve done conquered the world.”

 

Silvano Alves, the Brazilian who has won the last two PBR World Championships is a total class act and a great ambassador for the sport. As soon as J.B.'s bull is out of the arena, he's out to congratulate him.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_SukoIyhE0k

It's a gorgeous afternoon so we decide to walk over to the MGM grand for lunch. It's 2 miles (sure looks closer), but we've mastered the buck and weave to stay in the shade most of the way. The Vegas monorail starts at the MGM Grand and ends at our hotel so it's a great way to get back home and see yet another perspective of the city.

This a been an experience of a life time, a total rush. There's much to be said for living in the moment, for closing the door on real life for a couple of days and just doing what pleases you.

Street Walking in Vegas ~ Oct 26, 2013

Gotcha! Not what you're thinking at all, curb your imagination and read on. 

 

 

Opened the curtains in our 27th floor aerie to an amazing sunrise reflected in the windows of the Wynn. Since we've been doing a lot of sitting the last few days it's time for a walk. Temperatures are in the mid eighties, which is warm for me, but large hotels cast mighty shadows. After breakfast we take off down the Strip.

There is something for everyone here: shows, fine dining, sports events, gambling, and shopping. Where else could you find the Chapel of the Bells wedding chapel next door to the Strip Gun Club? There are hucksters and entrepreneurs on every corner. People watching is spontaneous entertainment: short story scripts everywhere you look.

Wynn Atrium

 

We declare a turnaround point at the Wynn and stop in to look around. By the time we returned to our hotel we were astonished to find we'd walked 5.3 miles. (iPhone app from Kaiser called Every Body Walk! logs time, distance, calories and your route via GPS).

 

We head out to Thomas and Mack Stadium a little after 5pm. Our taxi driver tells us not to worry about standing in line for the return trip. He handed us his card and said "call me when the event is over and walk up to CVS Pharmacy (about a quarter of a mile) I'll pick you up there".

 

 Eight seconds is an eternity

10 months, 26 events, 71 riders, 2,500 outs and no one has seen a race like this one in the 20 year history of the PBR. It's the best bulls vs. the best riders. The venue was more electric than the night before, the crowd larger and louder.  
 

Since mid season J.B. Mauney has been on fire, overcoming a 3,000 point deficit. Tonight he's in second place, by only 19.75 points, so he rides next to last. The feeling is that J.B. is betting on himself and leader Silvano Alves is betting on J.B. to fail. 

Silvano has a penchant for not taking re-rides and keeping low scores (judges award one to rider if the bull is not performing well) and on a previous night he didn't take advantage of the opportunity and kept a score of 70 something. This may come back to bite him. 

Some of the riders have theme songs and when J.B. enters the chutes you hear the first few bars of George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone" and 15,000 fans go nuts. He scores 90.75 points on Breakdown. Silvano's bull tonight is Trueblood and the clock is stopped at 6.9 seconds due to a touch, 1.1 seconds short of an 8 second ride (rider cannot touch the bull with free arm).

 

Click on the link below to see J.B.'s ride on Breakdown

 

http://www.pbr.com/en/media/videos/2013/10/monster-ride-jb-mauney-wins-round-4.aspx

J.B. Mauney is only 26 and being the World Champion has been his dream for over 20 years. He regained control tonight with only the final two rounds to go tomorrow. Past champion Kody Lostroh captured the moment: "There've been a lot of great races throughout PBR history, but this year with guys swapping places at the Finals, it's inspiring to watch.”
 

We've been screaming, clapping and cheering for a couple of hours and need to take a few breaths and calm down before we reverse direction on the 120 plus steps of what we've dubbed the Stairway to Heaven.  Since we have a personal taxi tonight we just amble out of the arena and stroll over to the CVS parking lot. He's pulling in as we walk up ~ big time tip. Back to the hotel for a late dinner, a little gaming, and a few chapters of Louis L'Amour.

The To Did List ~ October 15, 2013

Now home from our adventure, it was time to take care of some car business. We purchased Ruby the Explorer in April to tow our trailer, but due to my spring and summer of TACE treatments we stayed home all summer while I recovered.

Consequently we had no idea there was a problem until late September when we were finally able to take off for on a camping trip, almost. The salesman assured us the Explorer would tow a small trailer, but she had not been up to the task and we had to return home. See September 25th post entitled Go Back Jack and Do It Again.

We went back to the dealership and told them about the problem. While there, they did some research, and agreed we had a point. Our stand was that they needed to find a solution without more money out of our pockets. In the end they agreed to swap Ruby the Explorer for Pearl the Expedition, to extend the existing warrantee for a year and to refund us $1K. Something to be said for customer service.

Little Bit and Pearl

Looking back, Ruby the Explorer was akin to a high class race horse; pretty to look at, but a finicky and prone to problems. Pearl, on the other hand is more of a Clydesdale: classic lines, sturdy, a little old school (tach and speedometer have actual dials), and up for any task. She more than proved herself on our next adventure.

Clydesdale Horse Magnet

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Sequoia National Park ~ Sept 30, 2013

After breakfast we pack up and head for Sequoia, just south of and contiguous with Kings Canyon. First stop is to see the General Sherman tree. There is 0.4-mile (0.8-mile roundtrip) paved trail that descends from the parking lot to the base of the tree. Going down is a piece of cake, but coming back up the trail is a different ballgame at an altitude of 7,200 feet. Fortunately there are benches along the trail for sitting a spell and catching your breath.

 

General Sherman is between 1,800 and 2,700 years old and, measured by volume, is the largest tree in the world. It's about 275' tall and 36' in diameter. In 1879 the tree was named after the American Civil War general, William Tecumseh Sherman by naturalist James Wolverton, who had served as a lieutenant in his 9th Indiana Cavalry unit. It has survived fires and drought and continues to flourish. It has endured as countless civilizations have come and gone (think about this).

 

This grove is a breathtaking sight to behold and as you make your way back up the trail you'll see a whole different perspective. Next stop is the Giant Forest Museum which provides visitors with an introduction to the features of Giant Forest including giant sequoias, meadows, and human history.

 

From there we slowly head down the mountain on Hwy 198, a picturesque collection of switchbacks, dropping nearly 6,000 feet before arriving in the small town of Three Rivers for lunch. On to Mariposa for the night. We're thinking about heading to Lassen next. 



Off to Higher Ground ~ Sept 26, 2013

After breakfast in Jackson we continued east on Hwy 88 and then north on Hwy 89 to Lake Tahoe. It's an incredibly beautiful drive along the Kit Carson Trail: The quintessential blue highway peppered with historic towns, mines, lakes and hiking trails.

Red Lake, Kit Carson Pass

 Photo by Richard Thelen

Caples Lake, Kit Carson Pass

Photo by George Nejmantowicz

We hoped there might be a room at historic Richardson's Grove on South Shore. My parents and I had stayed there numerous times when I was a kid and I wanted to share it with Rod. Unfortunately there was a large sports event scheduled for the weekend and no rooms at the inn. Oh Well! We'll come back another time and camp for a few days.

Since we're only here for an overnight we booked a room at Stateline that put us in walking distance of a number of shops, restaurants, thrift stores and the lake. Our 15th floor room had an incredible view.

After lunch we took a 1.5 mile walk down to the lake and back. Double points for this one. We're Coastal stock and at an altitude 5,200 feet we were chuffing like a couple of retired war ponies. 

Majestic

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Rod because of the altitude and me because of altitude and 5 months of being a total sloth while undergoing and recovering from 4 TACE treatments to wrangle an hepatocellular carcinoma into submission while I work my way up the liver transplant list at UCSF.

Sloth in a Cup

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I've lost all muscle tone. A visual aide: Think of hula hooping and instead of the hoop swinging around my body, it's all my free range muscles. Good thing they're attached. My homework assignment is to be in the best shape of my life when I get the call from UCSF (probably summer 2014). So it's back to the gym, for both of us, starting in November. This is the No Excuses Tour.